Wild Thing: Jays’ Jo-Jo channels Ricky Vaughn
Posted May 20, 2011 12:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Jo-Jo Reyes has never pitched in the California Penal League but he’ll be sporting the same look as its most famous graduate when he takes the mound Friday night against the Houston Astros.
The Toronto Blue Jays left-hander was given a Rick Vaughn haircut by teammate Rajai Davis earlier this week in the hopes of helping end his 26-start winless streak.
Rick Vaughn, of course, is the out-of-control fireballer played by Charlie Sheen in the clever 1989 baseball comedy “Major League.” A delinquent fresh out of prison after stealing a car when invited to camp by the purposely tanking Cleveland Indians, Vaughn’s hair is shaved in a zig-zag pattern.
Reyes – who starts Friday night’s interleague tilt with the Houston Astros – doesn’t mind the look, and is prepared to live with it if it proves to be a slump-buster.
“I’m fine with it,” he said. “My wife asked me, ‘If you win does it stay?’ I said, ‘Umm, yeah.’ It’s just something to have fun with.”
Reyes’ winless run is the longest in the majors since Anthony Young went 27 starts without a victory for the Mets and Cubs over the 1992-94 seasons.
Beyond that is an even more dubious mark, a 28-start winless rut endured by Matt Keough of the Oakland Athletics during the 1978 and ’79 seasons, the longest such drought since 1920.
Reyes and some teammates began kicking around ideas to help him avoid those fates earlier this week. They debated a handful of different haircuts before settling on the one sported by Vaughn, who was nicknamed “Wild Thing” in the movie.
Reyes’ last win came on June 13, 2008, for the Braves at the Angels.
“Just having a little fun with this curse thing,” says Reyes. “Rajai did me up, I got a picture online and I let him go at it.
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“It’s just fun and games right now but once the game starts I won’t be worried about it.”
Told his work with the hair clipper was praised by Reyes, Davis grinned and said, “I’m OK, I have a few years of experience.”
He also said he was ready for an increase in haircut requests should Reyes’ fortunes turn.
“I cut Esco pretty often, usually hook him up,” Davis said of shortstop Yunel Escobar. “He’s got the high fade and I usually clean him up and make him look real good.
“I do myself all the time, too. I keep it nice and simple, and I save the special things for everyone else.”