New York Yankees Spring Training Begins with Beards, Blunders, and Injuries
The sounds of smacked balls off heavy lumber and thrown pitches laying terrible thuds against treated leather. It's the sound of baseball reborn, and in the spring, hope springs eternal. However, though every team begins the same at the starting gate, the favorites always show subtle signs of what is to come. This is Spring Training in Florida, and if the news coming out of the camp of the defending American League Champion New York Yankees is any indication, it's going to be a wild ride of uncertainty with odd injuries, concerning fundamentals, and the end of shaving, at least for some setting the early tone.
The first important news coming out of camp concerned Yankee tradition. It did not come in the form of a Marcus Stroman rage against authority, the re-signing of Aaron Boone to an extension with no rings to show for it, or the shadow of DJ LeMahieu’s comeback. It was the end of the era of the clean-shaven Yankees. The New York Yankees officially ended the rule against beards so long as it's well groomed, no Duck Dynasty here. Devin Williams was bending air with the news. Hal spoke of the reasoning behind the rule, which dates back to his father, George Steinbrenner.
The boss was the most vocal owner concerning the rule of no facial hair, even though it had been a Yankee hallmark for most of its existence. George was about discipline. It made for an interesting situation with a late ‘70s Yankee team full of characters. The infamous conversation between the boss and Lou Piniella told the story best. It saw the Yankee veteran try to convince George that the man behind the greatest story ever told had a beard and that the higher authority was enough to justify the beard. Steinbrenner compromised. He stated if Piniella could walk on water, then he could have facial hair. George passed without witnessing that miracle.
Catfish Hunter and Thurman Munson were rebels of a sort on those teams with their Oakland man fuzz and Fu Manchu, respectively. Some players on the current roster tried to push the limits as far as allowable such as catcher Austin Wells with his pornstache. Tim Hill with his Marlboro man mustache, and Jon Berti last season with a throw-back barbershop quartet version on his upper lip. If anything, this relaxed rule should remove some of the tension that daily shaving does over the course of a season. It is something that number one Yankee prospect Jasson Dominguez should consider adopting. After a sun-blinding drop of a ball in his last game, the narrative crew came out once again harping on Jasson’s defensive liabilities that, before last season, were never an issue. A nice full beard, perhaps a Wolverine mutton-chop look, would suffice to disguise the Martian until he is ready to show his off-planet talents. Someone needs to remove that Kryptonite from the left field grass so Jasson can resume being the Superman we all know is hidden behind the Clark Kent humbleness.
Finally, we have Giancarlo Stanton. The man chiseled out of stone but as vulnerable as an elderly wheelchair resident in the Sunshine State, was basking in the glory of a remarkably dominant postseason. His clutch performances helped the Yankees get to the World Series. For once, the fans spoke of titanic home runs, not hamstrings or failing knees. Well, an injured Stanton returned to the headlines. It was reported that he had tennis elbows in both arms and that it dated back to last season. Anyone familiar with the Yankees knows that they are never honest about injuries or their timetables. The origin of this injury or what impact it will have on his season is fully covered in mystical riddles not to be revealed until the real games begin. So, in summary, the Yankee spring can be symbolized thus far by a mistake-prone outfielder with a well-groomed beard and useless muscular arms.
