TOKYO (AP) 鈥 Old-time baseball players would be appalled.
Italy's dugout at the World Baseball Classic comes outfitted with an espresso machine. And it's getting lots of attention.
鈥淲e are kind of shocked, actually, because this is something in Italian culture that鈥檚 sort of like water. I mean, coffee would be right after water,鈥 Italy manager Mike Piazza said.
Piazza said he was content with the Nespresso machine in the dugout, but dissatisfied the coffee was being served in a paper cup and not a ceramic one.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 like espresso out of a paper cup. It鈥檚 kind of sacrilege,鈥 Piazza said. 鈥淏ut when it鈥檚 the only option you have, you have to deal with it. Maybe next time we鈥檒l bring the metallic machine with the copper eagle on the top and someone in there knocking espressos out. You have to make the most with the tools you have."
Andre Marcon, the president of the Italian Baseball Federation, said he was content with the exposure Italian baseball was getting 鈥 even for its coffee habits.
鈥淩ight now we are the most followed national team for a series of things which took place connected to our 鈥榞ood old Italian customs鈥,鈥 Marcon said.
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