TAMPA — Aaron Decide solely wanted one phrase to clarify how he’ll method the Yankees’ amended grooming coverage.
“No,” the smiling captain mentioned Saturday when requested if he’ll develop a beard now that the Yankees are permitting “well-groomed” ones. Decide typically sports activities facial hair within the offseason, however he doesn’t plan on doing so on the sector.
That’s to not say Decide doesn’t help the Yankees’ rule change, which Hal Steinbrenner introduced on Friday. Nevertheless, the reigning MVP was “definitely shocked” by the announcement, and he shared some combined ideas on the removing of a coverage that was carried out by Steinbrenner’s father, George, within the Nineteen Seventies.
Steinbrenner reached that call after years of pondering on the topic and newer conversations with folks inside and out of doors his group. Gamers like Decide, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton have been a part of these talks, which finally left Steinbrenner involved that the Yankees’ coverage may hinder their efforts to amass and retain expertise in a contemporary world the place beards have change into the norm.
Decide, who’s shut with Steinbrenner, didn’t really feel as strongly about that.
“If that little rule is going to stop you from coming here, then you probably shouldn’t be here,” Decide mentioned. “If a little rule like that’s going to stop you from doing your job, then — I don’t know. I haven’t heard too much about it stopping guys from coming here, but [Hal] dug in a little more than I did on that.”
Decide added he’s by no means actually gotten the sense that gamers didn’t need to be a part of the Yankees due to the outdated rule, although he added “it’s tough to say.”
Decide spoke minutes earlier than Devin Williams talked with reporters.
Williams, acquired from the Brewers over the offseason with none say within the matter, mentioned that the Yankees’ outdated coverage would have factored into his long-term plans.
“It’s something that I would consider, for sure,” mentioned Williams, an impending free agent.
Williams additionally shared his opinions with Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman after initially reporting to camp with the thick beard he wore in Milwaukee. Williams, clearly sad with the outdated rule, shaved for the Yankees’ first official exercise, leaving a permissible mustache. The trim sparked dialog on social media earlier than Williams then took group photographs with a noticeable-but-light beard.
The pics have been snapped earlier than the Yankees modified their coverage.
“That’s my preferred look,” Williams mentioned of his beard. “That’s how I feel most comfortable for myself. I can’t really speak to other people, but I know that’s how I’m most comfortable.”
Whereas Decide didn’t view the Yankees’ former beard ban because the impediment that Steinbrenner feared it might be, he did perceive the proprietor’s reasoning.
“If this is something that’s going to stop us from winning games, or stop us from getting a player, or stop a certain guy from not performing their best, why would we put that in the way of what our ultimate goal is?” Decide requested. “So that ultimately was the big decision maker right there.”
Nonetheless, Decide felt some attachment to the Yankees’ guidelines of yesteryear, as he’s been shaving because the membership drafted him in 2013.
“This is what I know,” Decide mentioned. “This is what I’m used to. When I look around the building and look at old photos of the past legends and people that played here, they all followed that rule. So I just tried to follow their path. But I didn’t really think it was that big of a deal until it really got brought up these past couple weeks.
“I think the rule will be good. I think it’ll help a lot of guys, and if it gets us a couple more players and will help us win games, I think everybody will be on board for that.”
Decide additionally made it recognized to Steinbrenner that he wished the Yankees’ different look pointers, akin to outlawing hair beneath the collar, to stay in place. Steinbrenner didn’t make every other tweaks after saying the beard change.
Whereas some could discover the Yankees’ previous and current restrictions “outdated” — a phrase Steinbrenner used himself when discussing the beard ban — Decide believes the foundations set a normal that’s been distinctive to the group.
“That’s one thing I learned all the way from the minor leagues up: you have those certain rules that teach you discipline, teach you a certain way,” Decide mentioned. “And that was my big concern. I didn’t want a lot of these rules to start changing. A lot of these separate us and make the New York Yankees a standard.
“I understand the facial hair policy, but let’s keep a lot of these other things in check.”
