Astros ask Folty to cut his Flow

There is a lot of cool stuff going on Kissimmee, Fla. at the Astros Spring Training. We’ve got new additions in Dexter Fowler playing alongside future stars like George Springer and Carlos Correa. With all that  going on, you may have missed this tidbit of news.

Mike Foltynewicz, Houston’s 2010 first round pick, cut his hair. Not just any hair. This hair was special enough to have its own twitter account. Folty had been growing out his hair for over a year and seemed to be pretty proud of it.

However, Bo Porter seemed to have a problem with “Folty’s Flow” and asked him kindly (read: locked him in a barber shop) to cut his hair.

According to Houston Chronicle beat writer Evan Drellich, the team wants everyone looking “clean” all the time.

I’m sorry, but with all due respect to the Bo Porter and the Astros, that is absolutely ridiculous. You are a baseball team, not a group of politicians. You’re playing a game. So what if a 22 year old employee of yours chooses to have long hair? Why should that matter to anyone?

I think the majority of baseball fans scoff at the Yankees and their policy of only signing players who agree to stay clean shaven and wear short hair, and that is a program with a tradition of excellence.

I don’t care if the Astros run players out on the field in torn up athletic shorts, hawiian shirts and a mullet down to their knees – as long they win. Even if they don’t win, I don’t care what they look like. I think Houston needs to calm down a little bit.

The Astros are not the Yankees – they never will be – and that is perfectly fine with me.

Mike Foltynewicz (photo by Tammy Tucker)