Struggling Cardinals infielder hoping healing power of the 'stache breaks slump

Baseball players, as a rule, are notoriously superstitious. Whether it is eating the same meal (Hall of Famer Wade Boggs supposedly ate chicken before every game, among other equally bizarre demonstrations of neurotic behavior), wearing the same t-shirt under their jersey to not stepping on the baseline, baseball players are willing to do anything they perceive as giving them some sort of mental edge between the lines or give them a sense of confidence.
Case in point: St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brendan Ryan. Mired in a horrendous slump at the plate which has left him hitting a horrendous .167 with a measly 6 RBI. His horrible offensive production has drastically cut into his opportunities to play and Ryan was desperate. And when shaving his head last weekend didn’t produce positive results, Ryan went ahead and did what any other sensible person would do in his position:
He began growing a mustache.

“I am doing anything possible to make some good things happen, so whatever it takes,” Ryan said Thursday. “It started with shaving my head and that didn’t work so we’ll try the mustache and hopefully that will get things rolling. …By the end of June, you’ll start seeing some color.”

There is some method to Ryan’s madness…somewhat. Last season, while sporting the fantastic soup-strainer you see pictured above, Ryan batted a respectable .292. He has also dug out the “Respect the Stache” t-shirts Cardinals players made last year. Can’t hurt, right?

“Just because. Why not?” Ryan said. “I’m trying to pretend it’s almost opening day, it’s a fresh start.”

Here’s to hoping the new ‘stache brings Brendan Ryan good fortune. Speaking of which, you should totally check out my Fu Manchu. It’s killer.
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Ryan growing out mustache in newest attempt to end slump [St. Louis Globe-Democrat]
Cardinals’ Ryan hoping ‘stache can help snap slump [USA Today]