NEWSLETTER
As we discussed this morning in the Bullets, some players have reached the end of their pre-lockout prescribed offseason training program, and now are left in limbo as to how they should exactly proceed in ramping up for(?) or staying merely in shape for(?) the season, whenever it might arrive.
A lot of players have found groups to work together in training, or local teams to train with. It’s good, and it’s better than nothing, but it’s certainly not the same as any kind of official program. And also, not every player has access to a good group or facility. So, knowing that things are likely to stay shut down for a while, the MLB Players Association is trying to set up support:
The MLBPA has organized a ???fully staffed??? stadium and facility for players to train in Mesa, AZ, according to sources familiar with the situation.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) February 28, 2022
The Cubs’ Spring Training facilities are in Mesa, so that’s pretty handy for them, I have to say. Oh, but, uh, yeah, this a terrible sign in relation to a deal. Not that we didn’t already know that, as MLB has acted like it was ready to cancel games for months now, and threatened as much earlier today.
I just feel so bad for the players right now, particularly the young players and prospects who are on 40-man rosters, and are having their entire offseason and spring ramp-up thrown into disarray (for the THIRD STRAIGHT SPRING). It’s gonna mess some guys up, either by way of injury or a lack of readiness or the simple inability to do the kinds of things you otherwise do in the offseason (develop and hone new pitches, build up velocity, change swing mechanics, etc.). Yeah, they can try to do that stuff on their own, but teams – especially teams that have invested heavily like the Cubs – are much, much better at it. This just sucks so much.
