Mike Rice

Mike Rice

Want to know more about Mike Rice? Get their official bio, social pages & articles!

 

Rockies Pitchers Staying Ready

Colorado Rockies pitching coach Steve Foster. (Photo: YouTube)

The waiting is the hardest part.

While Major League Baseball waits for the go-ahead to ramp up for a unique and likely abbreviated season, Colorado Rockies players and coaches are staying in touch and staying ready.

Rockies pitching coach Steve Foster spoke with reporters on a teleconference on Wednesday, April 8 and said they are communicating with their guys.

"Most of my communication has been by talking to guys on the phone or texting," Foster said. "We set up pods throughout our system top to bottom with our pitching coaches overseeing each of the pods. We have started doing Zoom meetings."

Foster said the idea is to stay engaged and help the players through what can be a challenging time.

"We give a YouTube clip or article for all of our guys to read," Foster said. "Coaching isn't just coaching when we're on the baseball field. It's life coaching as well. Sometimes life goes in directions we don't expect."

Foster says the pitchers are staying ready, all while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

"They're all staying active. They're all lifting still, playing catch. They're staying in small groups, most of them with just one other guy. They're meeting as a pair and getting their work done but mostly following the rules, staying at home, doing what the public health officials have instructed us to do."

Foster said the pitchers are trying to find the balance between staying ready but not overdoing things.

"Guys have to continue to keep their arms going," Foster said. "When we're given a heads up as to when this will crank back up, it's going to take a normal 20 to 25 days, somewhere in there, to get guys built up enough to where you could play games."

Foster said until they get the green light, he's been trying to stay busy around the house while his family gets used to having him around this time of year.

"Their schedule certainly has been different with dad being around, I have not pruned apple trees in my life but I've done that now. I'm checking things off boxes that I haven't been able to do for most of my entire life," Foster said.

The full teleconference is below.

4-8-20 Steve Foster teleconference

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content