Getting back to the basics.

by Nibbles on Feb 20, 2007 9:00 PM CST Comment 43 comments

I know it is early, and every manager says they will work on the fundamentals. But, I am really buying into Lou working on them this spring. Hey, I'm a Cub fan, I have to believe. I simply don't see him tolerating the same guy getting picked off several times in nearly the same circumstances, outfielders airmailing in throws, or just plain lack of hustle.
I've also been impressed with the two radio interviews I've heard from Ryno about managing in Peoria. Both times he talked about the way he learned things in the Phillies organization. Everybody will approach the game the same way. Hats on straight, everyone dressed the same. Maybe I am reaching the crumudgeon stage of life, but nothing get's me going than 25 guys wandering around the field with no direction. If they can't dress the same, if they don't all learn to run the bases and bunt, they can't be expected to win.
Which brought me to the February issue of the Vineline, and the picture of Cliff Anderson with his hat on sideways. He is probably slated for A-ball. We'll see how long it takes him learn how to show the game respect. And I read in the paper today Samardzija got a haircut.
The malaise is over Cubs fans. I hope we are seeing a bottom / up organizational change.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I buy it all...

... except the haircut thing. I don't see how that affects playing baseball. Uniforms, absolutely. Playing the game the same way, the right way, each man following the same path, absolutely.

But hair? Or facial hair? This isn't the Army, after all.

That said, I like what I've seen from Piniella so far, too. No nonsense, no excuses, just hard work. I wasn't in favor of his hiring, but he's growing on me.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al on Feb 20, 2007 9:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The hair doesn't affect the play.

But it does affect the team. If you have a guy in love with a long mane of hair is he thinking about himself, and how good he looks, or is he thinking team first. I know it seems small, but every friend I have who was in the service talks about how they build unit cohesion. I know the Marine Corps and baseball aren't exactly the same thing, but after the goat herd that was the Cubs last year a little uniformity will be nice.

by Nibbles on Feb 20, 2007 9:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

personal hair styles allow this team to show style and personality. Do we really want the Cubs to be a lame team like the Yankees, or a more interesting club like the Red Sox.

I already know some moron is going to respond to this and say "but the yankees have 26 WS victories". Shut up, it has nothing to do with hair, get over yourself.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 20, 2007 9:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

continuing this point

George Steinbrenner is, essentially, "the man". He's the reactionary figure of baseball. Do we really want the Cubs to follow suit and act like a bunch of squares? I don't.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 20, 2007 9:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you.

I mean I like C.C. Sabathia, and he's a great pitcher even if he wears his hat the way he does. Same thing with Willis.

The Red Sox reflected their personality with their styles, and that was a fun team to follow.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Feb 20, 2007 9:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

Take Johnny Damon. Do we enjoy him more as a clean shaven/short-haired yankee, or his captain caveman days with the redsox.....actually, maybe I'm saying this to the wrong person, since Sparkles probably enjoys the prettyboy version of Damon...just a guess.

Their are numerous examples of this: if I mention Rollie Fingers, I assume most of you immediately think of his killer 'stache. It's commonly believed that Bruce Sutter was inducted into the HOF as a Card because he had his best years in STL...in reality, they did this because he had a sweet beard with the cards. HOF voters love themselves a good beard.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 20, 2007 9:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not true.

If all I cared about was looks, then Z wouldn't be my favorite player. I like players more for their personalities, and Johnny Damon was one of them. I don't like him as Yankee very much. He's just not the same.

Another guy I love that isn't cute is Manny Ramirez. He has a different look and a unique personality. Yeah, sometimes he should work a little harder, but I personally like him just the way he is. Staying with the Red Sox, I LOVE David Ortiz. He might be the coolest baseball player out there.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Feb 20, 2007 9:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you're a better person than me

there's a very simple reason why I only watch softball games when Jenny Finch pitches, and it has very little to do with her riseball.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 20, 2007 9:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You and me both...

BTW, Stacy Dales-Schuman is now just Stacy Dales. And that rocks my world.

by tyger1147 on Feb 20, 2007 10:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Oakland A's of the '70's

did just fine..

Well, sometimes nothin is a real cool hand.

by wicubfan on Feb 20, 2007 9:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Personal style

I have no problem with hair, as long as it doesn't actually interfere with your play (imagine hair so long that you accidentally get it caught between your bat and your hand while you swing -- ouch!). However, uniforms are supposed to be [b]uniform[/b] that means, to me, hats straight, the same pant/sock ratio for everyone playing, and in general a uniform appearance.

Not that I would rather have all that over, say, a World Series championship, but I don't think the two are mutually exclusive.

by gjdow on Feb 20, 2007 9:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

did you see

during the football season, troy polamalu caught an interception, and while trying to run it back he was subsequently tackled by his hair.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 20, 2007 9:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Larr Johnson did that

and it's one of the reasons why he's awesome.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on Feb 21, 2007 3:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And it wouldn't have been

a penalty if he had let go of the hair as soon as he tackled him. The unsportsmanlike conduct was because he stood up and pulled the hair. I thought after that play a lot of those guys would have cut their hair.

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Feb 21, 2007 3:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's about the money

Uniforms worn "uniformly" like the Yankees or pushing the limits of "uniformity" like the Red Sox--the bottom line with it is money. The uniform policy (indeed, the uniforms themselves) exist to present a certain image. If the product doesn't sell, then the product is modified. The Yankees do very well by selling a clean-cut product; the Red Sox do very well by selling a collection of non-conformists. Of these two, which would be a better seller for the Cubs?

My preference is for the Yankees style clean cut image. I cringe when I see some of those tattoo-ed, trashy-looking, branded (with a branding iron) NBA players. Their appearance (and they way they carry themselves, which is closely related) doesn't exactly shout "role model" or "family atmosphere" the way baseball (and especially the Cubs) should.

So, I'm all for the hair code, the facial hair code, and rules regarding visible tattoos and the proper way to wear a baseball cap.

by Rev Gunia on Feb 20, 2007 10:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It seems to me...

... that making a big deal about haircuts/facial hair makes it an issue, while simply ignoring it as a personal choice would allow focus on baseball.

The only way it should be an issue is if it interfered with playing the game, as in the football example given above.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al on Feb 21, 2007 4:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I may have mentioned this before

But I think unusual facial hair should be required for baseball players. It makes the game more interesting. All the Cubs have had recently is Matt Clement's chin growth.

PAGAN!

by Jesse Guam on Feb 21, 2007 9:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Good point. Although I'd draw the line at scraggly stuff like Randy Johnson has.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al on Feb 21, 2007 9:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Randy Johnson

I don't think any facial hair could help Randy Johnson. He's an unfortunately ugly man, scraggly facial hair or not.

That being said, I think he should grow a huge handle bar mustache. That would rock.

PAGAN!

by Jesse Guam on Feb 21, 2007 9:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

It would. But I don't think he's capable of that.

Best Cub facial hair ever: Tim Blackwell.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al on Feb 21, 2007 9:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rod Beck

needs to win something, mullet and a fu mancho? c'mon

keeping mediocrity at bay

by flyball on Feb 21, 2007 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Shooter!

Thanks flyball--you're definitely right.

This is a picture of Beck from his SF days, but I think you'll all agree that he does win:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:RodBeck.jpg

PAGAN!

by Jesse Guam on Feb 21, 2007 10:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I forgot about Beck.

Absolutely. But Blackwell still ranks high on the list. So does Bill Buckner, for that matter.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al on Feb 21, 2007 10:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I always likes Beck

he paved the way for other random players like Borowski, Bellhorn that I really liked

I even held out hope that Gerut or Grieve would have had a great run with the team

keeping mediocrity at bay

by flyball on Feb 21, 2007 12:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Shooter

had that menacing look and arm swing, who couldn't like his "stache? Classic Beck, when making his comeback in Des Moines would sit up his lawn chair after games by his mobile home and fans would stop by and bring him beer. Common guy, would be great in the bleachers!

Spendry!!!

by mrcubsfan on Feb 21, 2007 1:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Beck in the Bleachers

Now if we could only get Rod Beck to join us for BCB day...

PAGAN!

by Jesse Guam on Feb 21, 2007 1:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If I knew how to find him....

... I'd invite him.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al on Feb 21, 2007 1:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorta torn on this one...

...and if Samazardja was a veteran, I wouldn't have a problem with him having his hair however he wants. (Nobody ever made Todd Walker shave his chin stubble. For those curious about him, apparently he and the Padres are going to arbitration.)

But Samadamadingdong is a rookie, a guy who has barely been in A ball. So I'm far less likely to care that Piniella has made him take a whole five inches off his mane.

by cwyers on Feb 21, 2007 10:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

get a haircut and get a real job

thanks to the delaware destroyer for the title. it,s just the way pinella is.he,s old fashioned.i hear he suggested jeff get a haircut. smart kid for listening. this could be your mgr in a couple of years

by NOMAR on Feb 21, 2007 1:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It is all about professionalism..

...it has nothing to do with the military. I turned down a good-paying job a few years ago because their policy was no facial hair. They are professional athletes and if management deams to set grooming standards then so be it. These guys are getting paid an absurd ammount of money, they should respect what management tells them to do. That's just my opinion.

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Feb 21, 2007 2:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

yes

but what if a lot of the fans, myself included, prefer the players to wear various types of hilarious facial hair? It is a business, after all, and they should work to please the customers.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 21, 2007 3:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My point exactly!

Thanks Thelonious.

Let's start a petition requiring the Cubs to all grow goofy facial hair.

PAGAN!

by Jesse Guam on Feb 21, 2007 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I enjoy..

...facial hair which is why I turned that job down a few years ago and took one for a little less money. The point that I am making is that when a company or team is managed or owned by individuals that wish to hold a standard of well groomed professionals then that is what those professionals should do. After all they own/manage the company/team. If you don't like it you have the option to not sign a contract with them.

For the record.....I don't care about the facial hair/ hairstyles of these guys and personally I like to wear and see different styles.

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Feb 21, 2007 3:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Handlebars...

for everyone. Period.

UZI

"I'm not pissed because you said 'gizzards', I'm pissed because my fingers are burning" - My wife, Christina.

by Ozgreeder on Feb 21, 2007 3:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

I think there's a place for lambchop sideburns, over grown soul patches and fu manchus.

And just in case anyone needs more inspiration...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_types_of_facial_hair

PAGAN!

by Jesse Guam on Feb 21, 2007 3:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait, wait...

I've got an even better idea. Every week, each member of the Cubs organization, from top to bottom, wears a different facial hairstyle. Maybe every two weeks or at least a month, but something like that would make me love this team even more.

UZI

"I'm not pissed because you said 'gizzards', I'm pissed because my fingers are burning" - My wife, Christina.

by Ozgreeder on Feb 21, 2007 4:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Building

Or when the player hits a slump/losing streak, they have to change facial hair styles.

We should definitely buy a minor league team.

PAGAN!

by Jesse Guam on Feb 21, 2007 4:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

last year

my buddies agreed to pay me for each week I wore a ridiculous variety of facial hair that they chose, so I wore (among others) a civil war beard (big chops blending directly into a fat stache with nothing on the chin), a porno 'stache, an even thinner john waters 'stache, and Hitler.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 21, 2007 4:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs