Dioner Navarro, Rays:

He opts for the true goatee, a look I never had the guts to pull off. When I had facial hair I always made sure I had it both above and below my mouth. So, while it’s not my choice, I have to tip my hat to Dioner. Bravo, my friend. Bravo

Hoops is a bona fide star behind the plate, and has a really nice crop of face fur. Sure, he is pretty off and on with the beard, but it looks great in this picture

Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox:

If you scratch the screen, you’ll smell testosterone. Seriously.

I don’t think there is any real question about his credentials. He has facial hair. Win.

It’s an attempt. You have to give him that. It’s well groomed. You also have to give him points for that. But there is a problem. It’s thin. It looks intentionally thin. That means it’s indecisive. I’d hate for that sort of indecision to find its way onto the field. If it does then Chuck Knoblauch could have some company in Yiptown.

This one was tough. There are very few 2bs with facial hair. Luckily, we can actually find one with some baller skills to match.

Eric Chavez, Athletics:

Eric says: “OK society, I’ll conform to your modern ways. I’ll shave every day. But I will not let you tell me that I have to shave my entire face each and every day. I will only shave around my nose and mouth every three days. The other days I will let it grow scruffy, and you will accept that.” Yes, sir. We will.

Aside from being one of the top 3 third basemen in the national league, he also has tha cool “Wooly Willy” type of beard. Very magnetic.

Jimmy Rollins, Phillies:

Moderately kept. Not as out of control as Youk, but not as tightly cropped as Harold Reynolds who looks like he spends hours plucking stray hairs. But Rollins doesn’t have time for that kind of stuff. He’s too busy getting to the hole behind second.

Ok, so his chin is a little dirty. It’s. Jose. Reyes.

I have nothing more to say.

Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners:

It looks a little like a kid who is just realizing hair is growing on his face. He says “What the heck” and lets it do its thing. He thinks it looks cool and grown up, but really it just looks sloppy and immature. Let’s just be glad that Ichiro doesn’t take that approach to hitting.

Manny being Manny, except when it comes to cleaning his face. I really wish he’d deal with that messy mop on top of his head. I’d still put him in my outfield though.

Jason Pridie, Twins:

Our first name that’s not widely known, and our first player to forgo the razor altogether. He’s either an up-and-coming player (and some sources say he’s worth picking up and socking away on the farm if you are in a deep AL league) or he’s just some guy who wandered out of Minnesota woods in a Twins cap. And we are willing to admit that this may not be the smartest choice in terms of fantasy, but we had to have someone who just didn’t bother to shave on our team. Had to.

I’m assuming at this point that last season wasn’t a fluke. Ludwick owners really hope not. This guy really put it together in 08, and given his stats, and his goat-like chin, I’m not leaving him out of my OF.

Magglio Ordonez, Tigers:

A little bit of pop, a little bit of average, a little bit of facial hair.

Vlad looks more and more like Eddie Grant every year. His goatee isn’t nearly as dynamic as in the past, but he still puts up the big numbers.

Carlos Zambrano, Cubs:

He goes with the same look as Ordonez – neat, tidy, tiny. It’s an almost pointless amount of facial hair really. It’s less than what is being sported by Bartlett and Navarro and, to be honest, that’s disappointing. But it’s there and for that you have to give Carlos a knowing nod of appreciation.

No one will argue that he’s been a very solid starter for years. Oh, and he has better facial hair than the Big Z. Although, in a bar fight, I’d rather have Zambrano at my back. He looks a bit like James Gandolfini in that picture.

Francisco Cordero, Reds:

I didn’t know that Cordero had amassed more than 200 career saves coming into this season. You want to know what I did know. He’d have the facial hair. Whether or not it’s a true goatee or the ‘stache and beard combo, Cordero doesn’t like his face naked. And that’s why we like him.

Clearly, the Mets don’t have the same facial hair policy as their crosstown rivals.

Todd Helton, Rockies:

Kevin Youkilis looked at Helton and said, “OK, that’s nice, a little thin, but nice.” Todd Helton understands that athletes are role models.

I certainly couldn’t ignore Youk’s massive facedo either. If it weren’t for Pujols his bat would have been at first base.