Washigton Nationals say Nyet to Afro
Nationals manager Manny Acta, concerned that injured infielder Dmitri Young's big, curly Afro was becoming too much of a distraction, told the injured first baseman after Thursday night's loss to the Mets to have his hair cut before he showed up for Friday night's game here.
Young, who is protective of his locks, complied. He sported a more trimmed look when he surfaced at the clubhouse.
Acta's order was not as sinister or arbitrary as it might sound. First, the manager knew Young's "special barber" was in Miami. Second, he said that Young told him he planned to have a trim while here anyway.
"It's not like you're going to see him with a shaved head," Acta said, smiling.
Acta said he requested the haircut in the interest of team "structure" with the Nationals.