Ian Krol

[UK1679666180]

I believe I've mentioned him to Tim, Navin and V have probably heard about him as well.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/draft/draft-dish/2009/267771.html

 

 

About 930 miles north, another one of Baseball America's top 100 high school prospects, Neuqua Valley High lefthander Ian Krol, was preparing for his high school season indoors. The high temperature in Krol's hometown of Naperville, Ill., that day? A bitter 24 degrees and windy.

 

Such is life for amateur pitchers in cold climates.

 

"Those other kids in the Southern part of the country have a lot more advantages," Krol said. "We still get our work done at places where you can hit and throw—in cages and whatnot. We still do live throwing, we face batters, but we have to put a screen up, obviously. We pretty much get all of our work done inside."

 

Notice that he said 'pretty much.'

 

Cold-weather pitchers have to get creative to battle the elements and stay atop teams' draft boards. At the same time, despite getting limited looks, scouts can't completely write pitchers off for poor early-season performances. In fact, an American League scouting director even implements a rule for his scouts to avoid the second start of cold-weather pitchers because of what he calls his "Cal Eldred theory."

 

Winter Workouts

 

Despite the below-freezing temperatures, Krol said he still does a lot of conditioning outdoors. Along with about a dozen other baseball players, Krol stays in shape during the offseason by participating in a winter boot camp of sorts led by a minor league pitching coach.

 

Inspired by the HBO series "Band of Brothers," the coach put together the "Currahee Warrior Program" focusing on improving the strength and agility for the eager athletes.

 

Average High Temperatures

City February March April

Detroit 33° 44° 58°

Chicago 34° 45° 58°

New York 41° 50° 60°

Seattle 49° 53° 58°

Houston 66° 73° 79°

San Diego 66° 66° 68°

Phoenix 70° 75° 84°

Miami 77° 80° 83°

 

Source: Weatherbase.com

Exercises called "The Hill of Doom" and "The Christmas Massacre" had the players dragging each other uphill and pushing cars around a parking lot. For some, it may sound like paying for torture, but the players ate it up, the coach said.

 

"It gets pretty tough," Krol said. "We usually run in snow and it gets us a little tougher and a lot more in shape. We have to run up hills with people on our backs—it gets pretty intense."

 

He knows the winter workouts will pay off with improved endurance this season.

 

"The breed of people that come from the Midwest, they're really hard working," Krol said. "They're not laid back and not spending all their time at the beach, which makes you really relaxed."

 

That said, Krol is looking forward to the warmer weather in his future—whether it's in the professional ranks or with the Arizona Wildcats.

 

2 days before his 1st start of the year (this sat.) and he gets caught drinking for the 2nd time and is suspended for the year.

 

Tim and V, I wouldn't try and catch one of his games....

[Guest]

what a stupid rule. my friend is a teacher at that school. we regularly ran outside (daily actually) in high school for winter track.

[UK1679666180]

I have no problem with that one, you get caught twice, who knows how many times you've drank and not been caught.

 

If you've been caught already and can't avoid drinking knowing that rule, I don't have a problem with the rule and suspending him.

 

He has a 95% offer to Arizona, so unless they pull their offer b/c of this, I don't see it sinking in or impacting his outcome.

 

This will be with him whether it's this June or 3 years from June.

[Guest]

probably save his arm. what kids do outside of school is not the school's business in my opinion.

[UK1679666180]

The full story was...

 

He was drinking and being obnoxious at a Bulls game & got thrown out of the game for bad behavior and then as he was escorted out of the building and was leaving the UC, Cops immed. pulled him over for a DUI and found marijuana in the SUV.

 

http://yourseason.suntimes.com/1500125,032709-neuqua-valleys-ian-krol-suspended.article

 

IF UA pulls that scholly, he better start looking at JUCOs (Chipola).