CLEARWATER, Fla. - Another day of practice had finished Saturday, but there was still work to be done. Andres Blanco needed a haircut. He was in luck.
Pedro Beato, a righthander trying to earn a spot in the Phillies bullpen, has claimed the job of clubhouse barber. He cut Blanco's hair in the washroom, just a few feet from Blanco's locker stall. Beato, a self-taught barber, showed Blanco pictures of cuts before getting to work. Beato started cutting hair 10 years ago when he was in the minor leagues. He works for tips.
"It started with guys going to places that were pretty bad and me going to places, having to pay for it, and getting someone that didn't put too much emphasis on it," Beato said.