All five NL Central teams are in full-on offseason mode now that the Cardinals have been eliminated from the postseason. Here's the latest from what used to be baseball's only six-team division…
- The Pirates have continued putting their prospects through Navy SEALS-style exercises at all hours, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Outfield prospect Gregory Polanco told Kovacevic that he injured himself in an unconventional drill that included sprints through ice water and leaping into a sand pit. Team president Frank Coonelly stated his support for the Pirates' baseball operations staff in late September, after news of the unconventional training methods surfaced.
- Kyle Lohse, a free agent this coming offseason, said he'd like to play for a winner, B.J. Rains of FOXSportsMidwest reports. The right-hander hasn't been in contact with the Cardinals about a new deal and is expected to sign elsewhere. "There are certain places I'd like to go and certain places I probably wouldn't," he said.
- John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer looks at the Reds' 2013 payroll commitments and determines that if GM Walt Jocketty does anything big this offseason, it will likely be with a trade rather than a free agent signing.
The Pittsburgh Pirates player development is the laughing stock of Baseball.
if they’re just going to put all of their players through SEALs training, they might as well sign soldiers. the soldiers might have a better time understanding fundamental baseball, too.
Look at Lohse being selective … let’s see who selects him for a Gm 7 again.
I guess Lohse has Toronto already crossed off his last.
And 19 other teams. So…?
Ouch! Harsh bro
Lohse would be a perfect fit to be the #4 or #5 starter in the Nats rotation. With Strasburg, Gio, Zimmerman and Detwiler he would fill the spot perfectly!
Wait until a guy like Gerrit Cole sustains a career threatening injury with this non-sense.
I like the idea behind what they are doing but you are right.
coach K has put his Blue Devils through practically the same thing, yet this is non sense? i guess coach K has no idea what it takes to win.
.
just for the record, i dont think it really helps to do the SEAL training, but i honestly dont see how it hurts either.
I would argue that what works for one of the top college basketball teams in the country is very different from what might work for a collection of low-level minor league baseball players.
Let lohse walk.
i will forever hate you for what u did to beltran in game 7 06
A lot of Reds got pretty big raises this coming 2013 season. I can imagine there is about 5 to 10 million max to spend on free agents. I have a feeling that Drew Stubbs could be traded. Reds won’t get much return unless someone is looking strictly at potential,
I also see them going after a mid level free agent to play CF until Hamilton is ready. I am hoping LUdwick is back next season but it has to be between 6 to 8 million tops. Otherwise let him go.
You can cross off Houston, Miami, Blue Jays, Mariners, Royals, Twins, Indians, Cubs, Mets, Padres, Rockies off the list
Dear Brewers management, according to Baseball-Reference.com Kyle Lohse’s “most similar” player through age 30 is Jeff Suppan. Just sayin’.
Lohse is not special.
This is why the Pirates suck; they think its more important for their minor leaguers to run through icy water at 5 a.m. than it is to identify a curveball or changeup. Come on! I’d be surprised if Kyle ‘The Hippie Boy scout/ Crazy Horse’ Stark keeps his job at head of player development.
This Pirates nonsense will stop as soon as one of their well paid draft picks gets a significant injury and the team finds out that the insurance will not cover non-baseball related injuries.
That’s not the point.
This military training may be hindering their potential to make millions.