I vote for shaving it off. The mullet has got to go.

I would say shaved, but I'm confused by the below statement
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"There is one parameter, laid out by Kearns and Lo Duca: No messing with the back."
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So, if shaved, would he still have neck hair?
If it has to stay, then good God man, don't have him shave it!

He should dye it red to match the red jerseys - the exact same shade.

Barry, anyone -- why is there so little live coverage of the Nat's spring training this March?
Less than half of the games are on radio. Only 2 TV games on MASN (ugh) before they get to DC at the end of the month. "Gameday" is hidden deep in the MLB cyberspace (not even listed/linked on MLB Scoreboard), and we could only find it thanks to tips from thoughtful bloggers here at The Nats Journal. We paid $14.95 for March (Spring training games) audio on MLB, but then find out that many of the games are not broadcast.

Need to see a picture of the his mullet. and definatly the blond tips! That would be super.

Great story, Barry. We will miss you!

So we get only one choice for haircut and the others relate to color? What if we wanted to see a Fauxhawk or another style? What about facial hair options? :-) I like the natural color. Red = yuck. Too Spezio.

I would also like to see a picture of the near Mullet. And the Crane.

If he wants to maximize attention of a "comeback" then he should dye it red. That would get him all over sports center.

Go natural, clean shaven looks best.
BTW I couldn't figure out how to post pix (by my daughter) of crane so I sent to you and sport desk by regular email.

...or he could do it in navy and red like the rally wigs that are sold for fans.

..."Babe" Guzman. :)

Would love to see the daughter's crane pics. Are we talking photos or line drawings?

Shaved...no doubt about it. If you go to the spring training page of Floridatoday.com, you will see a photo of THE crane staring at the Nats. Go Bergy on 3/30.

Shaved with a trim goatee is HOT.

But I agree with 138, if he insists on keeping the back, please, please don't shave it. That would be taking the mullet look to the extreme. Do blonde tips if he must keep the back.

Jeeves: I'm with you man. I've been defending Guzman since he finished spring training LAST YEAR at .460-something.

PTBNL: Nope, not my Borders. Oh well.

shave it in a horseshoe balding pattern, and keep the back. then dye it red. the bald mullet.

I pity the fool that doesn't have chops like me.

shaved.

"Also,I have a good feeling about Desmond, who has potencially more to offer than Nelson, or some of the other prospects mentioned."

jeeves, just curious, what are you basing this potential of more to offer than nelson or the other prospects on?

p.s. this post CRACKS ME UP. And I'm laughing harder because everyone's answers are so serious.

For NJ: I vote lighting bolts then we can call him Wild Thing!

Full Mullet and/or lighting bolts

Oh. And I cannot wait to see Lannan's pitching tonight. If he does well, he's replacing Chico in my rotation.

I would like to see Nick do something to his head that would show opposing pitchers the intimidating side of Nick Johnson.

I say die it beach blond, and shave the sides of the head, but keeping the top and back. A glorified mullet if you will, something that a wrestler would have.

Come to think of it, didn't the "One-Man-Gang" from the WWE have that kind of cut?

http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/304454152

only pic I could find. There must be other better ones out there.

I suggest he shaves the back into a triangle, and colors it orange, like the slow moving vehicle signs on trucks telling people to keep 100 feet back. If that doesn't keep Nick safe, I suggest he also beeps when backing up under a pop fly.

(Not a crack on Austin- stay aggressive, guys).

Lightning bolts, of course.

'Loved reading your article this a.m. as I struggled with daylight savings time change. Kearns and Johnson are such favorites of mine; they play the game the right way. Would really love to see Nick join his buddy in the opening day line-up.

RED

"Do something outrageous, Bret. You'll know the right time when it comes."

-- David Bowie

Positively Half Street has the best idea - a big warning sign, "Stay Back 50 feet."

I'm with ben:

"Full Mullet and/or lighting bolts"

Let nature take its course and see where we go from there!

Lightning Bolts would be awesome

Natsfan1a,
Looks like a juvie sandhill in the pic on Floridatoday. I must keep you posted the next time a sandhill stops in MD as they have several times in recent years, mostly near Poolesville. Can you tell I am another birder?
Regarding the haircut. I thought maybe Kearnsy and LoDuca meant that NJ's back couldn't be shaved! But maybe you folks are right about the back of his head. I vote lightning bolts.

No lightning bolts -- Curly W !!

Lightning Bolts and Blonde Tips, i think

Shaved lightning bolts on the sides. haven't seen that look from Nick yet.

Business in the front, party in the rear. Go with a #2 on the front and sides, with lightening bolts on the sides, and leave the back untouched.

If we're voting for a curly W, he needs a perm as well.

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No lightning bolts -- Curly W !!

Posted by: NatBisquit | March 10, 2008 09:09 AM

Shaved is the way to go.

How about a discussion of the fact that chico has just had his third bad outing in a row. He's pitching himself out of the rotation. I'm now guessing the rotation will be:

Nats: Patterson, Bergmann, Perez (L), Redding, Lannan (L)
IR: Hill
AAA: Detwiler, Chico (L), Mock, Clippard, Hanrahan/Bascik/someone else

Also, who else is getting excited by the hitting of our new outfielders?? Every game milledge is like 3-4 with power and speed, Dukes is lighting it up, Pena hits bombs. Could we be a hitting force this coming year??

Gotta go with the the lightning bolts on the sides! Maybe they will help him look like he's running at least a little faster...

Is a 70s hockey style perm an option?

Nick should definitely maintain the mullet. The mullet is another fashion trend of the 80s that is coming back into style. The look is taking hold in California and is will gradually make its way back east over the next couple of years. I've started mine back up after a 19 year hibernation. Oh, that's right! Nick is from Cali. No wonder.

I'm all about the Nationals red for Nick, as long as he promises not to grow and dye a soul patch the same color. As someone previously noted, that's way too Spezio... and that's an especially bad comparison to make, as of late.

Agree with Bethesda Fan...MLB audio coverage is a ripoff for Nats fans..terrible!

Like Nick clean and close cropped

Good call on red, people! Red hair like the nats would also look pretty spiffy with a navy hat on top of it! Talk about team spirit...

I'm excited, Sec131. So is Geoff Young of the Hardball Times, who had Lastings Milledge as one of his 9 storylines for 2008:

Lastings Milledge

When I saw Milledge play in the Arizona Fall League a few years ago, I was expecting to be underwhelmed. I'd heard the hype, but the numbers didn't sing to me. They barely spoke to me, in hushed tones: "Nice bat, could draw more walks, could hit for more power." And then I saw him, and there was a substantial disconnect between what the stats said and what I was watching.

I hate when that happens.

Milledge showed terrific bat speed, and he hit everything hard. I mean, really hard. The name that jumped into my head was Gary Sheffield. And then I thought, "Oh great, now I'm one of those guys hyping this kid too much."

But all I can tell you is what I saw. And what I saw was a guy who hit the snot out of the baseball. Not to harp on the Sheffield comparison, because that's a lot of baggage to lay on a kid who doesn't need any extra, but when Sheffield was traded in his early 20s from the team that drafted him, it did wonders for his career. Why couldn't something similar happen with Milledge?

Definitely lightning bolts. He should have one on each side and they should be just like the lightning bolt on "Wonderboy" from 'The Natural.'

ohh i want to see a "Slick Nick" - clean shaven. i love this post - Nick & Austin are my 2 favorite players and i hope they both have great years - their best ever - and with the Nats!!! what did Zimmerman mean in yesterday's article that Nick is the most "bizarre" person (he added in a good way)he's ever met? i am going to spring training 3/20 and i sure hope to get my pic taken w/ Nick :)

The Mud Flap. Shave all but the back of it.

My vote is the lightning bolts!

Hi Barry: Just a note from Mom. I vote for the clean cut look and oh, one other thing, I love when he wears his pants up high.

I guess if I'm going to play I should declare myself.
I've taken the kool aid and fully support "the plan."
I'm not at all convinced the Lerners are cheap.
I think we should plan to go into the season with Guzman, Flop, Belliard, and Boone or trade one for propects. Don't trade any of our prospects for MI help unless it is an absolute steal, at least not this year.
Angelos has destroyed a wonderful organization.
I'll try not to feed the troll.
NJ should go natural opening day then...die it red if we win and blue if we lose and continue that throughout the year. After a win the day before he could take his position then doff his cap showing the red for victory to the thunderous applause of the assemmbled multitude. If we've lost the blue could bring on the encouraging chant,"Let's go Nats". I realize the constant dying may result in the complete loss of his hair, but, if I can't have hair, why should he?
Let's play two!

My browser froze up when I tried to post earlier so I'm trying again.

I appreciate the offer, HALjr. I'm on the VA-bird list and do see the rare bird alerts posted there, but I don't tend to venture very far afield ISO rare birds - perhaps after I'm retired that will change. :-) Wonder what birds we'll see at the new park. Some of my RFK faves were a peregrine falcon in the rafters and common nighthawks flying overhead at night games during migration.

---

Natsfan1a,
Looks like a juvie sandhill in the pic on Floridatoday. I must keep you posted the next time a sandhill stops in MD as they have several times in recent years, mostly near Poolesville. Can you tell I am another birder?

In honor of the Beijing Olympics, Nick should let the back of his scalp continue to grow out, braid it in a long queue, and shave the rest of his head. He could always convert it back to a mullet after the season

The poll is now "voteable," with the results available off-site.

Ooh, I see that there is an embedded high tech poll function now. Barry has come very far in his web skills. :)

On a facial hair throwback note, how about a Rollie Fingers handlebar or an Al Hrabosky Fu Manchu?

Not shaved if he's really willing to go all wild and color it red or something! Shaved is so boring in comparison and he's done it before. I'm all for mixing up the hair styles and going a little outside the realm of normal. I like the red idea (or blue? It is Manny Acta's favorite color!). But I also like the shaved lightning bolts idea. I don't think blond tips would look good with his thinning hair.

Oh what I wouldn't give to be able to video tape salon day!! (hmm... can they do it this weekend?? hehe)

faNATic was too fast for me. Lightning bolts are running away with the poll. LOL!

Nice job on the embedded poll, Barry.

I love that we're in on this practical joke.

Nick's going to get them back good, I'm sure.

maybe he should shave everything *BUT* the lightning bolts. so bald with a crewcut bolt on either side... in red.

All I can say is that AP had better not miss on the photos for Nick's hairstyle unveiling as they did with the crane. ;)

---

maybe he should shave everything *BUT* the lightning bolts. so bald with a crewcut bolt on either side... in red.

BTW, is the polling based in D.C. or Florida? If Florida, depending on the outcome, Nick may want to demand a recount. (Sorry, I couldn't resist that one.)

This is only a hunch, and is based on nothing more than intuition, whimsy or some combination thereof...

...but I think Kearns is going to be the guy this year.

I'm not going to predict numbers. I'm just saying. I smell it.

"I'm not going to predict numbers. I'm just saying. I smell it."

I know Kearns is a country guy and all, but he might want to consider showering more than once every few days if you can smell him all the way up in Minnesota...

I'm with the Curly W crowd. And dye one side red and the other side blue.

Nick, since you are probably reading this: Welcome back to the field. Count me among the many who are looking forward to seeing you in a Nats uniform and on the field all year long! I love Dimitri too, but with your skills defensively and offensively I'm sure you are going to be earning the starting gig.

Hair today, gone tomorrow. Shave.

Maybe something like Osirus Eldridge had for Illinois State, Mohawk and Curly W shaved in the side.

231-I believe you caught me up. Generally, I do my homework. This time I went by the blog about Nelson in the last post. Since, I checked stats and write-up in my trusty Prospect Handbook. Quite nice with good defensive potential (that was the part that bothered me). Won't happen again.
That being said, I do still have a good feeling about Desmond. (I realize Desmond can't take my 'good feeling' onto the field with him) But I've always liked excellent defensive players who, according to some, have leadership qualities. And he certainly came on like gangbusters last August. But I'm still somewhat red-faced.

I remember at the beginning of the 2006 season when NJ had his hair cut really short and a thin mustache on his upper lip.

Watching him on TV with with my brother one day I commented that his mustache makes him look an awful lot like an ... [adult entertainment] star. The analogy sticks, too. He's quiet, confident, strong, and he knows how to use his ... lumber.

I love it when he goes deep.

Ok I'm done.

Back to your regularly scheduled [family entertainment].

Ouch. Was that seriously a leadoff home run? What was the count?

I guess I should have read Barry's article in today's paper first.

I'm glad I'm not the only dude who thought that about Nick's old 'stache.

s'ok, jeeves. i didn't know if you'd seen something or were operating on gut. everything i'd seen on nelson and/or the other rockies SS (name escapes me) showed them as better prospects. sadly neither is quite ML ready, tho. but considering the dearth of MI talent in our minors, more is better than less and i'd still at least consider either.

I say go jet black and cut it like Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn. Perhaps some thick glasses would be a good complement.

Bolts

Lannan gave up two, but Lastings got a hit and stole yet another base.

Looking good, kid.

Box score looks like Lannan calmed down some in 2nd inning. Anyone got specifics?

has milledge been caught yet this spring?

Yes, Milledge has been caught.

I don't believe he has.

4 stolen, 1 caught.

Simple, but elegant, lightning bolts.

Lannan's looking good, huh?

My response on Milledge was not an argument- I think we posted at the same time, essentially. I take your word on the CS, NatsNut.

That would make 80%, though, which is what he needs.

I didn't take it that way +.5 St. ;)

In fact, all three of them hit at the same time.

I knew he got caught at least once, but then double-checked to see if I missed any.

BTW, it's easy to check here (it updates immediately):

http://tinyurl.com/yvxfog

new post. Zim spotlight.

Red Mullet with Lighting Bolts of course!

you sure that's right, NN? i could have sworn he'd stolen more than 4 bases. i would swear he's stolen more than one base twice. but those are the stats i see on espn and mlb.com, too. i guess i was thinking of the same day twice or something.

i find it amusing that on at least a couple of fantasy sites, i've seen milledge listed as single digit steals (and both around 400ABs) for season forecasts.

Today's stolen base makes LMillz 5 of 6 on the spring, but the point here is that he's been/being successful and it'll be nice to see some action on the basepaths this year.

Two games with two steals as well.

Barry,
There's a feature on the Twiigs poll page that allows you to see the results without leaving the web site...

Bird nerd alert. After looking at the Florida Today pics, I'm not convinced that the bird was an immature sandhill crane, as the photos do not resemble the bird pictured at the link below.

http://tinyurl.com/2c85sx

natsfan1a: That's a juvenile sandhill ... take it from one of the "locals." A number of the birds can be found along the housing developments that stretch the length of Murrell Road (which extends from the north end of Melbourne to Rockledge), in very close proximity to Space Coast Stadium.

natsfan1a: That's definitely a juvenile sandhill crane ... take it from one of the "locals." The birds frequent the housing communities located along Murrell Road, which stretches from the north end of Melbourne into Rockledge, an area in very close proximity to Space Coast Stadium.

(Apologies if this is a repeat post; I think I clicked the "cancel" button the first time.)

Thanks for the positive ID, disenfranchised. I hope to make it to ST one of these days and to check out some of the local birding as well. (The submit button is a cruel mistress. I know. I've been there. We've all been there. ;) )