New San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin is requiring everyone in the dugout to stand on the field for the national anthem. The policy has taken effect during spring training and the expectation is for it to continue in the regular season, outlets reported.

The move may strike some as surprising given the citys liberal bent and former San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick s historic protests several years ago.

But Melvin insisted theres no politics behind the mandate.

Look, were a new team here, we got some good players here, Melvin told USA Today in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Friday. Its more about letting the other side know that were ready to play. I want guys out here ready to go. Theres a personality to that.

He continued, It has nothing to do with whatever happened in the past or whatever, its just something I embrace. You want your team ready to play and I want the other team to notice it, too. Its as simple as that. Theyre embracing it.