Photo By Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Dodger newcomer Freddie Freeman may have let go of his old team, but has the team let go of him?
Earlier this month, Freeman spoke on an issue with former Atlanta Braves teammate Ronald Acuna Jr., but the issue was indirect.
In an interview, Acuna shared that he wouldn’t miss Freeman and didn’t speak to him very much to start since he was rude to him in his rookie season.
First, why was this never addressed and what exactly was the rudeness right?
Freeman’s response was a bit more shocking and controversial than we had imagined. In MLB there are rules we know and unwritten rules that are followed. One of these Freeman addressed in accordance with Acuna’s comment saying, "When you put on a Braves uniform in that organization, there's organizational rules. You don't cover the 'A' with sunglasses, you don't wear earrings. You have your hair a certain length. You wear a uniform out during BP. You don't have eye black coming down across your whole face."
So, this here is already a handful to unpack right? The MLB has always had teams that have been strict on rules to represent their investment in the team. After Freeman said this, he also shared that he would miss Ronald, but as an older player he felt that he needed to enforce these rules.
The comment regarding the eye black was a bit of a jab at Acuna’s statement look at the world series in 2021. Not only does it address him, but it represents the team he plays for and what ethics they chose to enforce.
Now, the Braves are not the only ones to get picky with their rules. The New York Yankees are notorious for their very strict appearance policy stating that no players may have beards or long hair. These rules date back to 1991 when Don Mattingly was taken off the lineup because he wouldn’t cut his hair.
Why the rules? Eh, do they matter? I think each team has created such a brand and image for the team, but without the players where would they be? The criticism on the restriction for self-expression has set the MLB back to a time where clean cut was always respected.
This isn’t to say that today, you can’t create a set of unspoken rules on what you would like to look at, but you can’t guarantee that everyone will be on board either.
Contracts are in place to make sure that these rules aren’t breached or broken. However, when it comes to the pure policy of self-expression. Do I think the rule should be changed? Yeah, why not. Do I think that the rule is heavily impacting the sport? Not at all.
Freeman was in the right in speaking his mind about the franchises clean cut look and Acuna was fair in his statements about his feelings towards Freeman. John Lyly once said, “All is fair in love and war.” Who knew he was writing about baseball?
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