The Miami Marlins will not allow their players to have facial hair in 2016.
The new policy was instituted after the hiring of Don Mattingly as manager, and he’s charged with enforcing the rule.
“Guys will whine,” Mattingly said, via the Associated Press. “Some guys like it; some guys won’t. As long as we’re consistent, I think it’s not that big of a deal.”
Reliever Mike Dunn, who has always sported a goatee, admitted that the rule didn’t go over well initially.
“Initially not too many guys were happy about it,” Dunn said. “You can fight it, or you don’t. Obviously I shaved, so it’s OK.”
Mattingly played for the famously uptight Yankees, who are known for their policy that does not allow players to have long hair or anything beyond a simple mustache, which has been an issue for potential free agents in the past. Mattingly wore a mustache during his playing days. Here, though, not even mustaches are permissible. I don’t see the point. It doesn’t impact a thing, so why regulate it?
