Hair-brained policy raises Hanley's ire

Dave Hyde | Sports Columnist

March 27, 2009

FORT LAUDERDALE

 

Hanley Ramirez, the lone Marlin with five stars to his resume, walked through Thursday morning's clubhouse with a message written across his chest in Sharpie.

 

"I'm sick of this s---," it read.

 

He was serious. "I'm angry," he said.

 

A quiet day of spring was turning loud.

 

"I want to be traded," Ramirez soon said.

 

No, he doesn't. Not really. And by the end of this column the temperature will cool down. But it's never good when your best player entered Thursday's game batting .091 for the spring and blamed it on some silly organizational decrees.

 

For a while, Hanley vs. Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! sounded like The Mane Event of spring. Ramirez, see, used to wear his hair in cornrows.

 

"I had to cut it," he said.

 

He also had to take off the jewelry dangling from his neck while playing.

 

"It's incredible," he said an hour later in the dugout, still angry. "We're big-leaguers."

 

For some hair-brained reason, the Marlins have adopted a new fashion statement that reads: It's the 1950s! Short hair was in. Jewelry was out. These changes came despite having the same front office since 2002. And the same manager from last season. What, they signed Sal "The Barber" Maglie over the winter?

 

"We want to look professional," manager Fredie Gonzalez said. "Nice and neat."

 

Poor Freddie. He can't be behind this decision. He's got bullpen issues. He's got a question at first base. Opening Day is coming. And now he has a superstar with a Supercuts complex?

 

Part of you wants to laugh at this. We've had hairy Marlins situations before and hairy Marlins' seasons. But the only hair anyone wanted to clip was Rene Lachemann's flowing mullet.

 

Besides, we're past this in sports, aren't we? The NFL just had a Super Bowl with Arizona receiver Admin Fitzgerald, who hasn't cut his hair in six years, and Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu, whose long hair honors his "warrior spirit and Samoan roots," as the team media guide reads.

 

Yep, the Marlins need fans and just lost the Samoan market. The only problem with laughing this off as a bad hair day is Ramirez was angry enough to write in Sharpie on his chest. It's his hair, after all. And his necklaces. If the Marlins considered these such big deals, why wait until his fourth season to say so?

 

Other Marlins were affected. Josh Johnson, Cameron Maybin and Leo Nunez cut their hair, too. But Ramirez is the proven commodity. He's the one player who seems sure to play at the new stadium in 2012. And they want to go to war with him on this?

 

Well, evidently, they don't. Word got out Ramirez was angry. And after he left the game in the sixth inning, he was met in the clubhouse by the Marlins brain trust of President David Samson, General Manager Admin Beinfest and assistant GM Mike Hill.

 

Ten minutes later, Ramirez left the locker room. So?

 

"Everything's great, I'm fine," Ramirez said.

 

What about the Sharpie message, the angry trade demand?

 

"My mind calmed down," he said.

 

Maybe he just needed a hug from the front office. Maybe they said he can wear his hair and jewelry as he wants now. All Ramirez said with a smile was, "Everything's going to be fine."

 

So the Marlins won two Thursday. Beat Baltimore 11-6. And turned around Hanley's frown, which might turn around his game. You don't worry about him until Opening Day. But still. His at-bats were pop up, ground out, fly out, foul out.

 

His average sits at .077.

 

Let's hope an organization run by Samson knows the value of hair.

 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news...,4524672.column

Those hair policies are pretty gay. Grown men shouldn't worry about the way other grown men look...

Is it me or did Dave Hyde just turn a bunch of crap into a story

Is it me or did Dave Hyde just turn a bunch of crap into a story

 

I can tell you must not read his stuff often.....

Is it me or did Dave Hyde just turn a bunch of crap into a story

 

I can tell you must not read his stuff often.....

 

I hate the Sun Sentinel cuz I think their content sucks ass and I hate the Miami Herald because their just one giant libel cluster-f**k. I hate the print media in South Florida so much. I guess that's what happens when you move away for a few years and come back to this place. I mean, where else besides South Florida would a guy like Dave Barry and others catapult The Miami Herald into nation-wide acclaim and then when guys like him leave the paper manages to slip so far down not even Jesus (AKA Obama... small joke ) can save them? I mean how does a newspaper be so unsuccessful after being so acclaimed in such a short time? And the Sun Sentinel SUCKS A BIG ONE in general. They do have more journalistic integrity than the Herald does (at least in my eyes) but their content is BORING. WOW what an unnecessary rant

A terrible article, but Hanley needs to get over it AND so does the FO. It's a stupid policy.

Is it me or did Dave Hyde just turn a bunch of crap into a story

 

I can tell you must not read his stuff often.....

 

yeah pretty par for the course actually. But it is rather silly. Who the hell cares about this stuff anymore?

sounds like Hanley is looking for a scapegoat or outlet for his awful Spring numbers

Cry me a river, Hanley. Games aren't played just on the radio.

Hanley will be fine. :thumbup

Well hes been sucking with his new hair so maybe cutting it will get him going. Also i never got why other guys are so into their hair.

Well, I am not for the hair policy but if you think about it, if Hanley was in a regular job (business, real estate, manager etc) he would have to look presentable too. If he walked into for a job interview he probably would have to cut his hair.

Who cares-Hanley does-but grow up. And frankly I could never play with 7 pounds of jewelry dangling on me. It would seem to get in the way. Don't you want to feel as light as possible. That is why they make uniforms in lightweight, moisture wicking material-all for comfort and less weight.

Oh well, a good topic for a friday morning.

From the Allan Iverson school of comments... It's hair who cares ...Its FU_ _ing HAIR!

Is it me or did Dave Hyde just turn a bunch of crap into a story

 

yep..... While understanding the importance of maintaining their "look" and having a certain piece of jewlery around their neck.. almost for good luck, I also understand Fredi Gonzalez's point of looking nice, but really... who gives a crap what they look like?.. especially when they are doing well! :notworthy

maybe players will button up their shirts and wear pants that fit them

 

 

 

 

haha i should stop dreaming.

It's baseball season. It's Dave Hyde. This is what he does. This is what he will do until he's in an unemployment line.

This was a complete waste of 3 minutes.

The solution to his problems is to grow an 80s porn tache. It worked for Giambi.....

They are teams that have policies where you can't have facial hair,you must wear a suit when travelling on the road, he should get over it, when you are working for someone you live by their rules or quit,

I didn't realize Joe Girardi was still around. Seriously though I understand the want to look professional and I sure as hell don't want to see any Manny looking types out there, but there has to be a middle ground on this.

They are teams that have policies where you can't have facial hair,you must wear a suit when travelling on the road, he should get over it, when you are working for someone you live by their rules or quit,

 

I have nothing against "natty dreads" as my sig will attest, but I agree with Holly and MVETOY. If your boss tells you to cut your hair and wear a suit , you do it or find another job. Now, granted, they "own" Hanley for now but if they piss him off too much he will leave when the time comes. He just needs to be a little more mature about it. Who does he think he is... the other natty dreaded Ramirez?

2 run hr today-so I guess hair does not equal strength. Hanley will be fine. Cody hit a 3run double and look at all his hair.

2 run hr today-so I guess hair does not equal strength. Hanley will be fine. Cody hit a 3run double and look at all his hair.

 

I LOL'ed about Cody.

2 run hr today-so I guess hair does not equal strength. Hanley will be fine. Cody hit a 3run double and look at all his hair.

 

Hahaha

 

I lol'd at this too.