Pablo Sandoval decided to work out in Venezuela this winter rather than at the facility the Giants use in Arizona:
The Giants are concerned because the Panda in past offseasons always seemed to gain weight when he went to Venezuela. But they have some reason to be optimistic this time because Sandoval knows not only that the Giants need him to be in great shape for 2014, but he needs to prove he can stay in shape and produce if he wants to cash in when he reaches free agency after the season.
Furthermore, the Giants have reached the point where they feel they have done all they can to prod Sandoval, and no matter where he works out, it’s up to the player to do what he needs to do without being babysat.
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Sandoval has some good reasons to be in Venezuela. His little girl and many family members live there. Plus, Michael Sandoval told me that Pablo wants to prove to the Giants, by getting fit on his own back home, that he is more mature and has learned from all the mistakes he has made in his career.
In addition, since there is a food shortage in Venezuela, Sandoval might not be able to find enough food to eat!
Maybe Pablo gets kidnapped and his kidnappers put him on a diet to save on food expenses
I suspect players who work out outside the US in the offseason can’t get tested, and steroids and other PED’s can be pretty much had OTC in some countries, so no paper trail. Thats probably a consideration for players in the wake of Biogenesis.
Would love to know more about the testing program in the offseason. Heck, even the regular season and playoffs. I mean do players get tested Home and Away or just at home, are they always tested (sampled) at the park before games, weekends?, are there certain months nobody gets tested, do they get tested more often in the playoffs?