Guerrero in the house
Vladimir Guerrero arrived in the Orioles clubhouse a few minutes ago to take his physical, accompanied by a couple of friends and agent Fernando Cuza. He appeared to be in good shape and was sporting a goatee, which may have to come off under the Orioles restrictive facial hair policy.
The physical will take most of the day and the Orioles are expected to hold his introductory news conference at the Ed Smith Stadium facility on Friday. Of course, it's been more than a week since he agreed to terms on a one-year, $8 million contract, so I wouldn't get too cozy with any set timetable.
No word on whether Guerrero will remain in camp and work out with the position players or wait until Monday's first full-squad workout.
Good sign: While Guerrero was unpacking into his locker, the first thing he pulled out of his Texas Rangers bag was a Superman T-shirt.
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A Baltimore native, 
Comments
This is excellent news. Thanks for the update.
Seeing how fans and media were so successful in lobbying for Vlad to be signed, do you think we have the power to persuade the club to allow him to keep his goatee?
Posted by: Dave | February 16, 2011 9:35 AM
glad he brought the shirt, we'll need it from him!!!!
Posted by: Andy | February 16, 2011 9:43 AM
Am I the only one annoyed by the the Front Office's policy on facial hair? It seems silly and pointless to me. These are grown men, do they really need someone to tell them how to look? This is an Angelos rule correct?
Posted by: Mark | February 16, 2011 10:02 AM
I wonder if the people complaining about the facial hair policy would mind it so much if the team had the success of the Yankees, who have a similarly restrictive policy if not tighter.
Posted by: CSB Jack | February 16, 2011 10:35 AM
i think it is a good idea to have a rule to be clean shaven and to keep the hair cut.i sure wouldn't want long hair or a beard in hot weather.
Posted by: leonard | February 16, 2011 10:43 AM
@mark - agree facial hair policy is idiotic. Look at the fur flying in the super bowl - clearly long locks do not impede performance.
Posted by: Tom in Seattle | February 16, 2011 10:45 AM
second that mark.
grown men, playing a game.
maybe lack of facial hair is what has been holding us back?
been holding me back for years...
maybe angelos can't grow a beard either?
Posted by: pjclark4 | February 16, 2011 11:37 AM
i third the objection to the facial hair rule. Can we have a story? An opinion poll?
Facial hair didn't hurt Brian Wilson last October. The Orioles could use a beard to fear.
Moreover, the policy makes Baltimore look like a conservative small town, not the free-swinging metropolis with attitude that we all love.
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Jeff Z's reply: Feel free with the opinion poll, but we write about this or mention it every spring. It's not changing. Millar had that huge campaign to change it and it went nowhere.
Posted by: section 34 | February 16, 2011 11:39 AM
Mark, that facial hair rule has been in effect since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954. ... I remember Eddie Murray challenging the team rule in the late 1970s and ’80s.
Heck, the Reds don't allow ANY facial hair. I remember Rollie Fingers decided to retire, rather than sign as a free agent with Cincinnati and shave his trademark mustache.
Yep, I remember a lot of things; just not anything of real value! LOL
Posted by: Kevin on Shore | February 16, 2011 11:52 AM
Any update on whether or not he passed his physical?
Just want to make sure there are no negative surprises.
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Jeff Z's replay: Obviously Richard, we wouldn't sit on news if we had it. Also, if you remember the physicals of Derrek Lee, Kevin Gregg, Koji Uehara and every other guy the O's signed this offseason, the physical results don't usually come back within 24 hours. Should know more either tomorrow afternoon or Friday morning.
Posted by: King of the Donkeys | February 16, 2011 12:25 PM
let them have hair, what could one losing season with hair mean, after 13 with no hair?
Posted by: Joseph Miotla | February 16, 2011 2:56 PM
Picture of the Guerrero entrance?
Posted by: Patrick | February 16, 2011 3:14 PM
Why have arbitrary rules that may further discourage reluctant players from signing here. It's no longer 1954! Make rules regarding integrity and character, not personal style.
Posted by: rjs | February 16, 2011 3:58 PM
Just to be clear, the facial hair rule was not around during the Eli Jacobs era. Remember Rick Sutcliffe? Anyone? Anyone?
Oh, and the Yankees have a facial hair and a hair length rule. (Not sure about the Orioles on the latter.)
The rule is stupid, though.
Posted by: waspman | February 16, 2011 5:19 PM
mattingly! trim those side burns!!
Posted by: mr burns | February 16, 2011 7:55 PM
@ c montgomery burns
That was classic! One of my favorite Simpson episodes!
http://comeyoumastersofwar.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/mattingly.png
Posted by: The Squirrel | February 17, 2011 12:09 AM