Lofgren Placed on Temporary Inactive List

''It's probably for the best,'' Lofgren said. ''I've been dealing with a lot of personal issues this season. I've been talking a lot with my mom and our team psychologist. There's a lot of things bothering me that I can't let affect me because they're out of my control. I have to find a way to put it aside and go out and pitch every day.''

The article includes references by Storm to having Lofgren working in extended spring training for a few weeks to correct 'delivery issues', but also to issues of mental approach and focus.

5 months ago macasson Comment 10 comments 0 recs |

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uh oh

by APV on Jun 15, 2008 2:23 PM EDT 0 recs

i should say that the context of that quote by lofgren is a bit unclear – both in this Fanshot and in Storm’s article. It’s likely that he’s simply referring to his state of mind when runners reach base, particularly after a walk. Alternatively – and here’s where the context would help – he could be talking about off the field issues, hence the reference to his mother. Let’s hope he just likes to talk to his mom about pitching …

by macasson on Jun 15, 2008 3:07 PM EDT 0 recs

It sounds a lot more like off the field issues to me, but whatever it is, I hope some time off helps Lofgren work it out.

Hard truth: Your eyes lie.

by AngG on Jun 15, 2008 5:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Actually, wouldn’t off-field issues make his regression a bit more comforting (or the fans, and their expectations?

Let's Go 2009!

by emd2k3 on Jun 15, 2008 4:35 PM EDT 0 recs

i hear ya, but i meant it in the sense that i hope that there’s nothing wrong (health, etc.) with his mother or other family members.

either way, if he’s really heading out to extended spring . . . well, that’s an odd thing to happen mid-season, no?

by macasson on Jun 15, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

I hope he’s able to work through whatever is affecting him. Stories like this and what Zack Grienke went through that remind you that, for as effortless as these guys make it look, they are young men doing an incredibly tough job with very high stakes. They might have freakish and superhuman abilities, but ballplayers are human too, and it can be easy to forget that, especially when we as fans have such lofty expectations of them.

by mpstable on Jun 15, 2008 5:25 PM EDT 0 recs

I still have no idea how Greinke does it, to be honest. That kid’s ability to do his job with those kind of anxiety problems is freaking astounding.

Hard truth: Your eyes lie.

by AngG on Jun 15, 2008 5:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

yeah, greinke came to mind for me immediately, as well. long road, but a successful story.

by macasson on Jun 15, 2008 6:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

The best of luck to him. I consider us very close actually. Why else would he be friends with me on Facebook?

No really though, I wish him well.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jun 15, 2008 9:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Sounds like he needs to learn how to have fun on the sandlots again. Easier said than done, whatever the source of his frustrations. I’d love for him to recapture his pre-2007 self on the field.

by ken from alexandria on Jun 15, 2008 9:14 PM EDT 0 recs