In anticipation of either the Phillies or Yankees winning the World Series over the next two days, the Associated Press has moved a feature on the topic of baseball players wearing goggles during clubhouse champagne celebrations.

It's mostly full of fans complaining that if you're going to pop the bubbly, you should man up and avoid the damage with a time-honored flinching and a closing of the eyes that will come too late and do nothing.

But writer Jocelyn Noveck also took the time to call up a doctor to get an interesting medical explanation — past the usual "it's alcohol in your eyes, dummy"  — for why baseball players don protective eyewear while engaging in various title parties. 

From the Associated Press:

"Talk to an eye doctor, though, and you'll be converted to the pro-goggle side with the speed of one of (CC) Sabathia's fastballs.

"Champagne has a high alcohol content, high enough to damage the surface lining of the cornea, says Dr. Matthew Gardiner, director of emergency ophthalmology services at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. (For those medically inclined, the lining is called the epithelium.)

"'A corneal abrasion like that usually heals within two to three days, but it can be extremely painful while it's healing," says Gardiner.'"

The Corneal Abrasions. Sounds like a great name for a punk band.

I can't say that I blame ballplayers for protecting their multi-million dollar eyes from the dangers of the champagne spray. Hitting a fastball in the World Series is tough enough ... why make it tougher with burning epitheliums from an ALCS postgame scrum?

Related: 2009 postseason on the Stew, 2009 World Series on the Stew