The Yankees have changed their facial hair policy that stood for nearly half a century, and on Sunday, it was revealed that the team will no longer play “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra after losses at Yankee Stadium.
Many fans clamored against both traditions being done away with, and now, in the span of 48 hours, both were eradicated. Why the swift and seemingly sudden change?
Hal Steinbrenner noted the potential of losing players in free agency or trade due to the team’s facial hair policy, but Chris McMonigle says he has a “cynical” reason for why the Yanks chose to make these changes now, and it has to do with distracting fans from on-the-field concerns that they are not happy with as spring training continues.
“‘Look over here.’ If you want to be a Yankee hater and a cynical Yankee fan, the reason this is happening now is because there is an outcry about third base and the payroll,” C-Mac said. “He had a press conference and talked a lot about beards. Who gives a damn? You know what else he said also? That you can’t correlate winning with money. It could possibly be the dumbest thing I ever heard.
“I respect Hal Steinbrenner and I get his point...but what are you talking about? If you went out and gave Alex Bregman $40 million to be your third baseman, he gives you a better chance to win. To say otherwise is faulty and silly and trying to play us for fools.”
Steinbrenner was asked about payroll during Friday’s press conference announcing the facial hair policy update, and didn’t say anything new when it came to his thoughts on payroll. But C-Mac didn’t have any less of a problem with it after hearing it from the owner’s mouth again.
“We know you don’t want to spend over the luxury tax. Just tell us that,” C-Mac said. “Do you want to look at who spends money in this game and who wins? You bet your ass wins and money are correlated.”