The Yankees and facial hair

[riverfrontier]

Isn't it time that the Yankees get with the times on things like this? Or do you think (c'mon, I know you're out there) facial hair and tattoos are another step down the anarchy ladder? I bring this up because I'm watching Johnny Cueto pitch, with his dreadlocks, and my mind got to wandering back to the days when the Reds were an aberration in the league with their insistence on black shoes, low stirrups, and no facial hair. I didn't care about it at the time because I was young and unable to grow facial hair. I would have undoubtedly seen it in a different light had I been older, perhaps been more of an A's fan, but it didn't click with me at the time.

I'm all for looking the way you want to look, by the way. It's just a matter of time before something like this gets brought up in the negotiations with the player's union, I believe.

[Rich the Giants fan]

I don't see why an employer can't require it's employees to conform to a appearance code.

[GiambiJuice]

I may be in the minority. But as a Yankees fan, I really like this rule.

[ian2813]

I don't see anything wrong with encouraging ballplayers to take pride in their appearance. It can hardly hurt a team's image to have clean-cut players.

[riverfrontier]

How does taking pride in your appearance have anything to do with not having facial hair? Rollie Fingers famously didn't want to go to the Reds specifically because he took pride in his appearance.

[EdTarbusz]

A lot of facial hairstyles look ridiculous to me. I don't see any problem with the Yankees banning it.

[redban]

I remember the Mets had this policy in 2005, when former Yankee Willie Randolph became manager. I thought Mike Piazza looked much younger without facial hair.

If it says anything though, Piazza the next year went to San Diego with a goatee and longer hair. And guess what happened? He had his best season in 4-5 years!

I see nothing wrong with facial hair. The ballplayers are adults - let them look how they want.

[GiambiJuice]

I see nothing wrong with facial hair. The ballplayers are adults - let them look how they want.

Adults who are being paid a fortune by the corporations that they work for. I'm just imagining what would happen if I showed up to work in shorts and flip-flops tomorrow and tried to give my boss the "I'm an adult - let me look how I want!" argument.

[redban]

Adults who are being paid a fortune by the corporations that they work for. I'm just imagining what would happen if I showed up to work in shorts and flip-flops tomorrow and tried to give my boss the "I'm an adult - let me look how I want!" argument.

And adults who generate a fortune for the corporations that they work for, as well.

It's a fair trade-off; let the players have beards if they want.

[riverfrontier]

Is that what the argument is? Showing up in a shirt and flip-flops? The more the Yankees try and align themselves with corporate culture, the more people who enjoy that sort of thing will like them, I guess.

[GiambiJuice]

And adults who generate a fortune for the corporations that they work for, as well.

It's a fair trade-off; let the players have beards if they want.

Fair point, but you didn't address the second part of my post.

I generate a lot of revenue for the company I work for too.

Nevertheless, I don't fault my bosses for expecting me to conduct myself in a professional manner and represent the company I work for with class and professionalism. I applaud the Yankees for this policy. I don't pay $100+ dollars to attend a game and watch a bunch of thugs in dreadlocks, beards, and corn rows.

[SteveJRogers]

I remember the Mets had this policy in 2005, when former Yankee Willie Randolph became manager. I thought Mike Piazza looked much younger without facial hair.

If it says anything though, Piazza the next year went to San Diego with a goatee and longer hair. And guess what happened? He had his best season in 4-5 years!

I see nothing wrong with facial hair. The ballplayers are adults - let them look how they want.

I know Piazza has the cloud of suspicion hanging over him with steriods, but you are seriously implying his numbers spiked because he was unrestricted in his grooming habits?

[redban]

I know Piazza has the cloud of suspicion hanging over him with steriods, but you are seriously implying his numbers spiked because he was unrestricted in his grooming habits?

It was a joke .. no, I was not implying Piazza's numbers spiked because he let his hair and beard grow.

[GiambiJuice]

I know Piazza has the cloud of suspicion hanging over him with steriods, but you are seriously implying his numbers spiked because he was unrestricted in his grooming habits?

The lasting memory of Piazza that I'll have is that as far as I know he's the only MLB player to hold a press conference to announce that he's not gay. That was priceless.

[9&10]

The Yankee$' ridiculous rule about facial hair is just another reason in a long list of why I hate 'em. I thought that rule would have died off with Steinbrenner, but I guess not.