MIAMI -- If All-Star center fielder Johnny Damon has to be clean shaven, then so can the youthful Marlins.

New Marlins manager Joe Girardi may no longer be part of the Yankees organization, but he is bringing his New York influence to Florida.

 

According to a story in the Palm Beach Post, Girardi has instituted a clean-shaven policy in his first season with the Marlins.

 

The Marlins and Yankees may be polar opposites in terms of payroll, but when it comes to facial hair Girardi is in agreement with George Steinbrenner, who long has had a similar policy in New York. Abiding wasn't a big deal for Damon, who no longer sports the heavy beard and long hair he had when playing for the Red Sox.

 

Facial hair has never been an issue in the history of the Marlins. In fact, the 2003 World Series championship squad was known for players sprouting whiskers on their chins. The prime example was pitcher Josh Beckett, the Series MVP, who beat the Yankees to close out the World Series. Beckett's beard was the target of jokes when he made the late night talk show circles after that series.

 

A number of offseason trades have stripped the Marlins of players who took the field with facial hair, including Mike Lowell, Luis Castillo, Todd Jones, Carlos Delgado and A.J. Burnett.

 

Now with one of the youngest teams in the league, Girardi doesn't see a lack of facial hair being a problem.

 

"With our guys, it shouldn't be a problem," Girardi told the Post. "They're probably too young to shave anyway."

 

Girardi added: "To me, the idea is to look professional. I understand it's important to players to have their own style, and I don't have a problem with that. But I want players to look neat and clean."

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...t=.jsp&c_id=fla

 

I personally dont like this.. I think players should choose how they want to look... But hey its his decision!

I, for one, am glad to see this. Kudos to Girardi

I don't see a problem with this.

Whatever, I disagree. If the players want facial hair and it helps them play better, then go for it. I think it's a little ridiculous. We aren't running a business meeting here, we're trying to win ballgames. What's next, no uniform numbers over 50 because it looks weird and unprofessional? Come on. Guys are superstitious, I know some ballplayers don't shave if they're in a slump or in a hitting streak, and whatever works for the player should be fine.

Half these guys are too young to grow anything anyway

 

 

 

but also, who cares

MIAMI

 

"With our guys, it shouldn't be a problem," Girardi told the Post. "They're probably too young to shave anyway."

 

 

 

:lol

 

 

What player on our team has any facial hair?

I think it's a silly policy. Oh well, whatever.

In the words of the great Monty Burns, "Mattingly shave those side burns!"

I don't see how it is a big deal. It's not like all their individuality is ripped from them, they have plenty of other ways of putting their own mark on their service with the Marlins. But if the manager of the team wants them all to look a certain way for whatever reason, that's his perogative. He's paid to tell them what to do, and they're paid to listen to him. Comes with the job.

 

It's nice to have the option of whether or not to shave, but the Marlin players get that from November through February every year. Most here who work in an office job aren't allowed to come in with serious amounts of facial hair anywhere, and it is indeed the job of the athlete to come in and play baseball every night. I don't think it is very far fetched to ask them to look a certain way when it is not only asked but expected of professionals in other fields.

Whatever, I disagree. If the players want facial hair and it helps them play better, then go for it. I think it's a little ridiculous. We aren't running a business meeting here, we're trying to win ballgames. What's next, no uniform numbers over 50 because it looks weird and unprofessional? Come on. Guys are superstitious, I know some ballplayers don't shave if they're in a slump or in a hitting streak, and whatever works for the player should be fine.

 

 

I agree... many players can be superstitious.. I mean who cares if they want to grow facial hair. Hermida is on a 20 hitting streak and he doesnt want to save because he thinks its lucky, well, good for him! he shouldnt HAVE to shave if he doesnt want too..

Haha, that crap on Beckett's face was disgusting anyway. Learn to trim dude.

 

I haven't seen any of the new guys with facial hair anyway, probably won't be an issue. Whatever...

 

One wonders how last year's team would've reacted to this... :mischief2

It's a petty policy. I can see the desire to have the guys look professional. But that can be accomplished without banning facial hair.

I've got no problems with this.

Admin you should institute a no-facial hair policy for mods.

 

Das would go down swinging.

The clean-shaved rule is a good one. It make the team look clean-cut and will improve the image. The Reds had that rule for a long time also, and even when they were struggling in the standings, the team was well supported.

In the words of the great Monty Burns, "Mattingly shave those side burns!"

:lol :lol That episode was great.

 

Admin you should institute a no-facial hair policy for mods.

 

Das would go down swinging.

 

Now we're talking, great thinking there.

 

BTW I'll support the cause and go clean shaven when Spring Training begins.

Ok, I like this policy. It presents conformity and unity among the players.

 

We have nothing to lose by this.

Too bad he didnt make all the players wear their socks up

Admin you should institute a no-facial hair policy for mods.

 

Das would go down swinging.

 

I wouldnt shave. There is only one company I would do that for, its not this one.

 

I think clean shaven policies are dumb myself, but its what it is, if the manager wants to implement it then thats their decision.

 

I cant say I support it, but I cant say I am opposed to it also.

 

Its one of those things.

In the words of the great Monty Burns, "Mattingly shave those side burns!"

:lol :lol That episode was great.

 

Admin you should institute a no-facial hair policy for mods.

 

Das would go down swinging.

 

Now we're talking, great thinking there.

 

BTW I'll support the cause and go clean shaven when Spring Training begins.

 

 

A couple of other Monty Burns quotables:

 

"Scour the National Leagues, scour the American Leagues, scour the Negro Leagues"

 

 

MB- "Strawberry take a seat. Take a lap and hit the showers"

 

DS- "But Skip, I've got nine homeruns this game"

 

MB- "It's called playing the averages!"

I wonder if Lowell would have shaved his goatee and Beckett shaved his soul patch or whatever the hell they call it, if both weren't traded.

Silly policy, but really not a big deal.

stupid policy

So this is another aspect of the more disciplined approach toward coaching we have been reading about Girardi recently. A more disciplined approach by Girardi during the preseason can only be good for our team, I think. These kids are going to go through many rough times during the course of the upcoming season and Girardi needs to toughen them up as much as he can before they are thrown to the wolves if they are going to have a fighting chance to win games.

God I hope he doesn't make Vargas cut his heavenly locks.