I received this email from faithful reader Dick Bennett of Tampa during the Rays-Red Sox game Tuesday.

“Is it true that all MLB players and coaches must wear a complete uniform during a game? Wasn’t Joe Torre fined last year because he was not wearing a uniform shirt under his jacket? If this is so, how is it that Terry Francona of the Red Sox appears to consistently violate this rule? As I sit here watching the Sox manager go to the mound to make a pitching change in the sixth inning of tonight’s game, he is clearly wearing a red turtleneck shirt under his partly-open jacket showing no evidence of a uniform jersey. It seems like he never wears a jersey under his jacket. Am I missing something or is he breaking the rules?”

The short answer is yes.

You might remember that last August during a game between Boston and the Yankees, Francona was summoned in the middle of a game for a uniform check by MLB security. Baseball acknowledged its mistake on the timing.

Torre was, indeed, also warned about his apparel. And, of course, we remember how Lou Piniella used to dress down all the time during his tenure with the Rays.