Should Padres Follow Marlins Lead with Facial Hair Restrictions?

Don Mattingly, fresh off by what any other franchise would consider a successful 5 year run in Los Angeles and three straight division titles has taken his talents to Miami. There he inherits a team that has some of the best individual talents in the league with Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez but has failed to mesh and develop a successful mix the past few years and gone through a lot of managers. Now he is trying to “clean up” the team – literally – with no more facial hair.

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The team had a no-facial hair policy back in 2011 but abandoned it under noted eccentric manager Ozzie Guillen. Now the former Yankee who battled the Yankees no facial hair policy is bringing it back: “Guys will whine. Some guys like it, some guys won’t. As long as we’re consistent, I think it’s not that big of a deal”

While certain players in MLB in recent players have gotten nearly out of hand with facial hair, it also seems to be a bit of a stringent policy in an age where people are talking more about chemistry after watching the Giants and Royals over the past couple seasons.

That said, would we really be missing much if Andrew Cashner shaved?

Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is a longtime Yankees fan so its clear where this policy comes from. On the other hand, I certainly believe in the principle that “perception is reality”. Being clean shaven is easier to be seen as disciplined than having facial hair and over the course of a season can quickly be seen as disheveled or unfocused.

Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was afraid that he would look 16. The Padres Cory Spangenberg has the same problem without his chinstrap facial hair look as well.

Another lesson Mattingly likely hopes the lesson shows his players is that they are equals. No one player can be allowed to grow more hair than another or get away with things. Being clean shaven requires daily consistency – and the Marlins and the Padres for that matter could certainly use more of that.

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What do you think? Do you think the Padres should institute some sort of clean shave policy or fine leaving the clubhouse as it is today?