Willie Randolph sets a rule for Mets players

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 19, 2005, 8:30 pm

Clippings: Willie Randolph's "no facial hair" edict (mustaches only) was still being discussed on Saturday, especially when Jason Phillips walked into the clubhouse with his goatee intact. Phillips joked that he didn't want to get in any trouble, and quickly disappeared into the bathroom to shave the hair from his chin. He emerged with a mustache, but after 20 minutes of ribbing about looking like an adult film star from the 1970s, he went back in and lost the mustache.

Randolph, meanwhile, took a quick walk through the clubhouse and gave a peek at Pedro Martinez, who'd also complied with team rules by removing his goatee. Randolph gave Martinez a smile and a wink as he walked by.

"I had no concerns about Pedro at all," said Randolph.

Matt Ginter had to lose a monstrous goatee as well.

"I went around and I couldn't find him," joked Randolph. "I thought I knew what he looked like. I didn't realize it was him until I looked at his name on his back. He looked cute."

I like this! It reminds me of oldschool coaching and really helping a team to have an identity on and off the field. So far, I really like what Randolph is doing--keeping the team as a team instead of letting everyone do their own thing.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 19, 2005, 9:20 pm

The Diamondbacks had this rule until Randy Johnson was signed...that rule went away : )

No need to screw with a player that wins the Cy Young award four years in a row for your team

You don't like the hairy beasts of Boston?

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 20, 2005, 1:20 am

I had no problem with what the Boston players did last year. Superstitious lot, baseball players. What I am indeed all for is players putting the team over themselves. Of course, the Yankees have had the facial hair rule for years...I remember Mattingly getting in a stink over his mullet years back.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » February 20, 2005, 9:52 am

The Red Sox was like the reverse of clean-cut, sort of like the Dirty Dozen mentality. Worked pretty well in my estimation.

Randolph is shooting for a team mentality. With the Leiter's and Franco's gone, the "chirping" will be much lower. If anything, they'll be interesting to watch, so long as they can stay even mildly healthy.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 20, 2005, 11:46 am

I like the idea. It is sort of old school. Kind of demanding the players show respect for the game in a weird sort of way. I hope it helps their team attitude.

I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what the Mets can do this year.

Mplor · Post by **Mplor** » February 20, 2005, 5:45 pm

I hope the Mets first charter flight crashes into Scott Boras's home and everyone dies in a glorious ball of flame.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » February 24, 2005, 11:10 am

Feel the love

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... d=95747885

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 24, 2005, 12:26 pm

yes, the reason the mets chug so much cock is their facial hair.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » February 24, 2005, 2:32 pm

Welp, at least someone actually gives a shit about them. The entire Braves team could be brought up on steroids charges and the story wouldn't even make the Male Enhancement ad section of the Sporting News

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 24, 2005, 4:00 pm

Chidoro wrote:Welp, at least someone actually gives a shit about them. The entire Braves team could be brought up on steroids charges and the story wouldn't even make the Male Enhancement ad section of the Sporting News

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA!!

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 24, 2005, 4:07 pm

Seriously though, I really like what is happening so far with the new guys, veterans and the younger people. This is the first time in a while that the Mets font office is actually trying to make a real run into September. They will be getting a bunch of attention for their upsoming network of course, but it seems like they are actually committed to being a good team.

I am not going as far as saying there is going to be a subway series this year, but I think that the Mets, if they stay healthy, can actually give the NL East some life past the All Star Break. But then again, it is not even March yet..

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 24, 2005, 4:59 pm

when your shitheap of a team can come in third in the division.

THEN you can talk shit

miir · Post by **miir** » February 24, 2005, 5:41 pm

New York has 2 baseball teams?

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 24, 2005, 8:59 pm

I find it amazing how fast all the hay and farm animals get cleared from Turner Field before the season starts.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » February 25, 2005, 12:36 pm

We all know that Turner Field should just be turned into the largest bowl of grits

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » February 25, 2005, 2:00 pm

ooh burn

shea stadium is literally a fucking toilet, and the creatures that flow through its turnstyles are subhuman by any measure except comparison to a Phillies fan.

please can i sit in a shithole under LaGuardia's approach path!!

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » February 25, 2005, 2:15 pm

A phenomenon unknown to Atlanta, people do actually sit there. Are there even turnstyles at Turner or do they just let anybody who is cold or wet wander in from off of the streets?

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 25, 2005, 2:17 pm

This, is the face of optimism. Even Mr Met knows that it is about time for an NL east winner to actually make it to the World Series.

Talelor · Post by **Talelor** » February 26, 2005, 8:20 pm

What happened to individuality. Personally, I say keep the work on the field, someone's facial apperance shouldn't be of concern, especially with the Mets. I don't even think they know how to spell victory. What I'm saying is less time on this, more in the batting cages.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » February 27, 2005, 6:07 pm

Baseball is no place for individuals while on the field. Baseball is about acting as one entity and being a team. Sadly, MLB has gone away from this for the most part. People like Bonds and Kevin Brown, etc. have been allowed to do whatever the fuck they want to do in and out of the clubhouse and that ruined the game.

Discipline and teamwork, that is what matters. It may not account for more W's, but it does count for integrity--something of which is quite scarce these days in professional sports.

I posted this because it is the first time in many years that (at least in the eye of the media) I have seen a team truly start to gel from day 1--extra swings in the cage, more hours on the field--just to try and be better. I absolutely am thrilled with what I have seen happen to this organization and its players and I hope this TEAM > ME attitude carries on until (hopefully) September.

Wingnuts like Bonds, Giambi, (formerly) Canseco, etc fucked this game up just as much as the non-steroid primadonnas. I am glad Randolph is setting an 'image' framework around which the players can bind themselves as opposed to letting them run riot.