No Beard Policy, Gone! Insert Eye Roll…

As you’ve likely heard, Yankees silver spoons owner Hal Steinbrenner announced that he – effective immediately – rescinded the team’s “no beard” policy. Ongoing, “well groomed” beards may, and will be sported by some Bombers.

The change came in part, due to the team’s concerns about being able to acquire the best on-field talent. You see, some potential free agent targets may have qualms about changing their personal appearance based solely on the whims of a petulant megalomaniac felon who’s been dead for 15 years, and this may factor deleteriously into their decision making, we’ve been informed.

It must be said, no mention was made about changing the team’s hair length policy (Cameron Maybin and Andrew McCutchen are two notable former Yankees, among many, who’ve needed to change their locks) and if that is under consideration as well.

Regardless of the now defunct policy’s impact on talent acquisition, here is the bottom line:

The Yankees entered the 2024-2025 offseason with glaring needs at starting pitching, first base, third base, and left field. They acquired the third best (maybe) starting pitcher available, made a half measure move (at best) for first base, and did nothing to address third base and left field.

This is why I was laughing as Silver Spoons and his sidekick GM Brian Cashman tried to explain that this policy change was about something other than embarrassment and self-awareness finally kicking in.

The Yankees won 94 games last season, and a heck of a lot had to go well for them for that to happen. Losing Gerrit Cole for the first half was an obstacle to be sure but otherwise matters fell into place nicely in the Bronx.

Aaron Judge and Juan Soto were both healthy all season and both put up their best seasons. Austin Wells emerged as a legit frontline catcher, the Miami Marlins gave an All-Star to the Yanks at the deadline, and the starting pitching was on the good side of comically fortunate batted ball luck.

And still, they only won the AL East by three games.

Randomness has a tendency to turn around for starting pitchers, as do team wide injury rates. First base was marginally improved (which means little over 162 games), left field is still an enormous “?”, third base is worse than in ’24, and I’m not sure Cody Bellinger is an upgrade over Trent Grisham in the outfield.

This team is looking at a mid-high 80s win season, which may not be good enough to get into the postseason.

That, my friends, is the ultimate goal of the modern era Yankees. Build a roster that can get to high 80s, low 90s wins, “maybe” make a move at the deadline to get into the postseason, then cross your fingers in the crapshoot short series tournament.  This is a far cry from the Dodgers and Mets, who both have a clear goal of domination and don’t care that may hurt some folks’ feelings. I bring up the Dodgers and Mets because entering the 2024 season, Silver Spoons could have thrown $2 billion, with a “B”, into the East River and still had the most valuable baseball franchise.

I remember when Joba Chamberlain dominated as a reliever, with a flamethrower number one and a 12-6 curveball. Then when he became a starter, his repertoire was an endless stream of nibbling 90 mph changeups and sinkers. It was as if he turned 40 overnight and was trying to get away with diminished stuff, except he was 23 and had 80 grade gas. It was tortuous to watch…

And that’s what it’s like watching Hal and Cashman run a baseball team.

Did I miss something? Let me know in the comments, and/or yell at me on Bluesky.

Recommended reading: “The Captain and Me” by Ron Blomberg. Great book that I’ve discussed previously, but there’s a funny story in there about the time George approached Blomberg and Thurman Munson about their facial hair and hair length. It didn’t end well for George…

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