We’ve seen players like Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon and now Kevin Youkilis join the Yankees and adhere to the club policy of no facial hair. With Rays ace David Price to hit the free agency market after the 2015 season—and, thus, very likely depart Tampa Bay—might he be inked to a megadeal in the Bronx?
Not likely.
Check out this portion of an article on FoxSports.com from Jon Paul Morosi, where Price is discussing how much he loves playing for manager Joe Maddon:
“Joe wants us to be comfortable in our own skin. He doesn’t care what we do in the locker room. He doesn’t care what type of music we play, how loud we play it. He doesn’t care what we wear to the field, because that’s not going to help us be better baseball players. That (would give) us more reasons to mess up, more reasons to get a fine, more reasons to be mad about coming to the ballpark because you have to wear slacks and a collared shirt in 100-degree weather.
“It’s a joke to me, that I had less rules in college than I would on some major league teams. That’s not my style, man. I couldn’t do it on some of these teams I hear about. I couldn’t do it. I’m a grown man.”
Price spoke for several minutes about “how good we have it here,” even making special mention of the team’s athletic training staff. He added: “If I ever did hit that free-agent market, there would be teams I wouldn’t sign with simply because of the stuff that I’ve heard—every rule they have. Being here since 2007, being treated like a grownup, given that respect and freedom and space—it grows on you.”
Taking note of his beard, I told Price he’d have to shave if the Yankees traded for him.
“I wouldn’t stay there very long then,” he responded. “I wouldn’t sign a long-term deal there. Those rules, that’s old-school baseball. I was born in ‘85. That’s not for me. That’s not something I want to be a part of.”
Repoz
Posted: February 20, 2013 at 02:38 PM |
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1. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: February 20, 2013 at 03:15 PM (#4372790)When asked about his iconic beard Price said "it's a $175 million you moron! You honestly think I liked my beard that much? Stop smoking crack." Price was 21-4 with a 2.11 ERA for the Central Florida Rays who had hoped their recent stadium improvements would enable them to keep the lefty.
In Boston local t-shirt vendors have created shirts emblazoned with a picture of Price's beard and the words "David At Any Price" to mock the southpaw.
Oh, and Price rocks. So does Joe Maddon. And the whole freaking team.
Hypocrites.
Sounds rough. Especially the Bataan Death March type 30-second stroll from his air-conditioned car to the air-conditioned stadium.
Smitty*, is that you?
Be that as it may or not be that, the rules are dopey beyond reason. Honestly, there's no rational reason for them unless it's just about showing those smart-ass players who's boss.
1. If you are hung over or sunburned and can't play, you lose a day's pay.
2. I do not ever want a hotel detective to knock on my door and wake me up in the middle of the night becuase of soemthing you did.
3. If the big feller is dripping, you have the clap, so see the trainer (Harry Jordan) as soon as you can.
Well, at least the tobbaco juice wont get caught in their beards.
What the hell were guys doing that they were so sunburned they couldn't play? Was this a big problem at some point?
It was for Marty Cordova.
I still remember being psyched when Jeff Reardon went to the Reds.
It's Phoenix. I'd imagine you spend a day sitting out by the pool without your shirt on and you'll be a lobster.
Eh, I don't get the ire. So what? They make you shave facial hair and request that you don't look like a gangsta when you arrive at the park. Big effing deal. Personally, it's not for me, but hey if you want to play for NY, those are the rules. If they believe having some parameters in place that help develop some cohesion amongst the players, then so be it. BTW, NOT a NY fan.
If you sign there as a FA, sure. But MLB is set up so that players don't always get to chose where they play.
There are certainly issues about the draft system, but the minimal dress code for team events and travel is pretty low on the list.
Heh.
Was there every any doubt about this?
The previous owner was a felon who committed the wrong kind of no- fun-felony he deserved to get caught at, but mustaches are out? What a world.
Catcher Dann Bilardello: "We were lucky they let us have eyebrows."
good times
Suits are one of the classic "gangsta" looks.
Yep. Only time in my life I ever experienced sun stroke was after sitting beside the ASU pool for, I guess, a couple of hours right after moving out there in August.
I'd bet that the first Hollywood movie that depicted an adult gangster without a coat and tie was probably not until the early 1970's. I guess they all wanted to be properly dressed for their funerals just in case they never made it back from the office.
"
What he really meant was.."It wasn't the best thing to say because when I am a free agent I need NY to help drive up the bidding for my services to ridiculous amounts. I won't play there anyway, but they will serve their purpose by inflating my price by 20-25%."
(I can logroll with the best of them ;-))
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