PORT ST. LUCIE – This had become like guarding the last Radio Shack with your life.

This was yelling to the heavens wondering why you were no longer being delivered a phonebook.

This was making the argument these words you’re reading would have been produced quicker and cleaner on a typewriter than a laptop.

It was one thing if the Yankees were defending just the antiquated. But they also were defending the indefensible. What were they going to do when a player traded to them – thus, someone who did not agree to their team rules beforehand – refused to shave a beard? What was going to happen when the player pointed out that he might not have a choice of where he plays, but how dare an organization tell him what could be done with his face?