Mini Camp Roll Call: Why Wouldn’t Every Pittsburgh Pirates Player Attend?

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced a four-day mini-camp beginning Monday, January 10.

The list of expected attendees was released by Jen Langosch.  Now there are many reasons to expect players to be added to this list.  My question is simple.  Seriously?

Didn’t the Pirates set multiple records for futility in 2010?  The Pirates have a new coaching staff and certainly the players have other things going on, but is anything more important, more vital, than improving their skills on the ball diamond and getting into the best shape of their lives?

We have heard Pedro Alvarez is getting married.  But even he is listed as “maybe” by Langosch.  Talk the wife into it Pedro, especially since Langosch says the camp will focus on conditioning rather than that start of the pitching programs as it has in the past.

Ryan Doumit (14 VORP- Value Over Replacement Player) and Chris Snyder (Negative 5.1 VORP) aren’t listed as being in attendance which will apparently leave the Bucs with just one catcher at mini-camp.

Ronny Cedeno (11.6) and Pedro Ciriaco (2.3VORP) have been playing winter ball. 

I know, I know this mini-camp isn’t mandatory.  A human being can get out of doing most anything these days.  We get it.  When one boils it down, what in life really is mandatory anymore?  Do you say….I have to go to work tomorrow, or do you say I want to go to work tomorrow?   Think about it.  Read it again.

Each morning we want to go to work.  We enjoy our work.   Looking at some of the players missing from this list, especially Chris Snyder and Ryan Doumit, maybe some of the Pirates don’t. 

Who is expected to be in attendance from the club’s 40-man roster, with positive VORPs listed for players who earned it in 2010:

"Pitchers: All five of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers with 2010 positive VORP are scheduled to attend.   Michael Crotta, Joel Hanrahan (12.0), Kevin Hart, Jeff Karstens, Brad Lincoln, Jeff Locke, Daniel McCutchen, James McDonald (12.5), Kyle McPherson, Evan Meek (21), Bryan Morris, Charlie Morton, Daniel Moskos, Ross Ohlendorf (10.1), Chris Resop (6.9), Aaron Thompson, Tony WatsonCatchers: Jason JaramilloInfielders: Pedro Ciriaco, Lyle Overbay (13), Steve Pearce (1.8), Josh Rodriguez, Neil Walker(29.8)Outfielders: Matt Diaz (4.5), Gorkys Hernandez, Garrett Jones (4.4), Andrew McCutchen (45), Alex Presley, Jose Tabata (14.9)* Both Chris Leroux and Pedro Alvarez (16.8) are “maybes” at this point.The following non-roster players are also scheduled to attend: Dusty Brown, Brian Burres, Josh Fields, Fernando Nieve, Justin Thomas, Cesar Valdez, Corey Wimberly"

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The minicamp story from last January when Doumit, Jaramillo, and Erik Kratz were in attendance for the Pirates to work with pitchers.

Clipped from: mlbgobeyond.mlb.com (share this clip)