There's no Paternity Leave in Baseb...oh, wait

I heard a news story today that seemed relevant to Competent Parent. This season, for the first time, Major League Baseball players can go on a paternity leave. Granted, some players have been away from their teams for the birth of children before, but the new policy for 2011 means that players don't need permission from their teams to go. In that way, it runs parallel to MLB's bereavement leave policy. FMLA, this is not; players can welcome their progeny for 24-72 hours.

Interestingly, Colby Lewis of the Rangers, the first player to take advantage received some flak in the press. A Dallas newspaper bonehead moaned about how pitchers only start about 30 games a year and made fun of Lewis for having his priorities all messed up. Fortunately, in a sign that some sanity still reigns in sports, people inside the game - including Lewis's pitching coach, Mike Maddux - have defended his leave and the policy.

I think it's great. I think it's about time. I will not make a joke about Steve Garvey.