Why? That’s what I want to know. Why? I could see them doing it if they were in the cellar and ten games below .500 and they wanted to change their whole sense of reality. You might also want to do something like this when you don’t have enough of a team dynamic. The Mets are 21-12. They have a great team dynamic. There was no reason for them to do this.
Now there is all this pressure on Jose Reyes to get rid of the hair that is such a part of his personality and style. I love to see his hair move as he runs and flies and dives. It’s like the trail of a comet. He doesn’t look like anyone else with those curls. That is who the great superstar Jose Reyes is. Why, please, would anyone in their right mind want Jose Reyes to start using a different kind of toothpaste at this moment, why would they want him to start drinking a different beer, why would they want him to change any routine in any way at all? When someone is playing like Jose is at this point you keep everything the same, exactly the same, hoping to fool fortune into thinking that something impossible and perfect can continue forever.
And Shawn Green? With his hair he is one of the best-looking guys in baseball. Without it he looks like John Malkovich playing the vampire Nosferatu. And did it not occur to anyone that Green is in such a beautiful groove right now that, as with Reyes, it would be madness to change anything at all? Have you noticed that before the haircut, Green was fifth in the NL in batting and he has now gone 0 for 7. Didn’t anybody on that team know the story of another Jewish hero who lost all of his strength when his hair was cut?
There were two guys who did need some shaking up, some change. Delgado and Wright. But Delgado already has no hair and on Wright the whole thing would have been funny and cute.
So, who was the instigator, here? Beltran? When did Beltran become an instigator? The rap on Beltran is that he’s a great ballplayer who is a shy and quiet clubhouse presence. He has to choose this moment and this way to stop being shy and quiet?
hi dana – i definitely see your point because i am extremely superstitious in all matters pertaining to baseball, however, i still think team unity trumps superstition. and from what i have read, beltran was not the instigator, wright was. although, i think its nice to see beltran come out of his shell and be a big part of this team in the clubhouse as well after 2 seasons. being jewish myself, the hair cutting and strength connection was not lost on me…maybe it will help his defensive play (we can only hope!) but what is done is done…and as my husband says (who has a full head of thick beautiful hair)…”if it would help them win the world series, I’ll shave my head!”
I see your point too, Joyce. Readers of this blog might want to check out what Joyce wrote about the haircutting on mikesmets.com. I love to see their unity, but I am still worried about Jose cutting his hair. If it would help the Mets win the World Series, I would certainly shave my head, although I have to admit that I am very glad that there is no way imaginable that my shaving my head could help the Mets win the World Series. Good point about Beltran coming out of his shell. I love how relaxed he seems to be this year. He’s even hitting well at Shea.
I agree that if ain’t broke don’t fix it. But I did like the haircut generally, because it reveals serious team unity, which is a major strength generally.
I don’t really give much thought to the aesthetics of players’ hair. Except for Ramon Castro, who is such a chiseled dreamboat that nothing could detract from his stunning visage.
I tuned into the game a little after it started and was so surprised that almost everyone shaved their heads. I would have thought that it would have been done if they were on a losing streak, but since they are playing well, it didn’t make sense. Then when the issue of unity was brought up, I thought it was a nice thing. I do feel bad for Shawn Green. Some men just don’t look good totally bald. However, hair will grow back, and so far their shaved heads have translated to wins. I think Jose Reyes can go for a modified shaved look, maybe just the back of his head. I don’t think he should be penalized if he doesn’t shave. As Joyce’s husband said, if shaving his head would assure the Mets of a WS win, then he would go for it. I think most male fans would do the same.
I like it. It’s fun team building. I also like that they are saying they didn’t do it to end or begin some streak. They just didn’t because they were having fun in the clubhouse and “because they could.” I also heard that Wright was the instigator, and it makes sense because he probably looks the best. I have to agree with J.D. that Castro looks scary. And I do laugh when I look at Shawn Green. In some ways its a great equalizer. Ok, Delgado and Wright l still look the best, but now everyone looks goofy. It’s fun. and the hair will grow back.