Family time and Eurotrips: Marlins players make most of earlier than hoped offseason
As the National League Division Series matchups came into focus late Wednesday night, Miami Marlins players and coaches had already begun their offseason around the globe.
Closer Steve Cishek and his wife, Marissa, are expecting their first child -- a girl named Emmy -- on Oct. 14.
Over the past few months, Marissa has put together the baby's room in their new place, though it will likely be awhile before she's in it. Steve doesn't have to give up his man cave. The family dog, Lola, will now need to share attention.
"I'm really excited," Cishek said. "I can't wait. It's going to be a new, huge chapter in our life. We really can't wait for her to come out of there. Excited to be parents. It's a little nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time. I'm responsible for a life. It's going to be a blessing for us."
With her due date, it's hard to predict what might've happened if the Marlins reached the postseason -- something that remained a possibility in early September.
Teammates Tom Koehler and Nathan Eovaldi became dads for the first time this summer. They juggled making their starts and being at the hospital for the births.
"Good timing I guess," Cishek said. "Obviously we'd like to be in the playoffs as a team and everything. It would've been a little tough with my wife being so close to giving birth, but it's one of those things -- we don't make the playoffs and it's disappointing, but on a personal note it's going to be an exciting offseason for me. We want to be playing but at the same time it's going to be an incredible experience."
Left fielder Christian Yelich briefly returned to Miami before flying home to California to hang out with family and friends.
Yelich, who finished his first full big-league season, expects to take a few weeks off before working out again and beginning his routine. He tweeted about Tuesday night's American League Wild Card Game that the Kansas City Royals won on a walk-off hit.
"I don't really have any plans set in stone," Yelich said. "See where it goes. Rest up for awhile, but after that you have to get back in shape and do it all over again next year."
Since spring training, Yelich and other big leaguers have gotten more than one day off in a row just once -- during the All-Star break. He will take advantage of the change of pace. For a bit, at least.
"The last seven months have been me going to the field every single day really," Yelich said. "We're used to that by now. We understand what the season and offseason's going to be like. Two separate times of the year."
Teammates Giancarlo Stanton and right-handed reliever A.J. Ramos, meanwhile, didn't wait long to fly to Ibiza for a trip to Europe. Joining them was former teammate and Minnesota Twins righty Ricky Nolasco.
Manager Mike Redmond was scheduled to visit with the front office during the early part of the week to go over plans heading into the offseason.
Until winter meetings in early December in San Diego, Redmond will fly home to Spokane, Washington, where his family has been since school started.
"Just go home and be a dad," Redmond said. "I haven't seen my kids for over a month now, so that's always tough. Drive them to school and get back into the flow of watching some football games. Hanging out with them."
Last year, Redmond posted a skiing photo that showed off his aerial talent. Will he update his Twitter avatar based on moves he nails this winter?
"I'm sure there will be some skiing," Redmond said. "I'll try to get a better picture than last year. Maybe it'll be a monumental crash. We'll see. I'll try some new tricks this year. I've actually got a couple I've been working on in my mind. See if I can pull them off."
Third baseman Casey McGehee also looked forward to full-time dad duties back home in Tennessee where he could also fish and hunt.
"Just try to spend as much time as I can with the kids," McGehee said. "Do some fishing when I can. Once you get to the middle of November the offseason's pretty much over. It's back to work. Little lighter schedule as far as being away from the house. Definitely try to find some time to have activities other than baseball."
But this offseason is a bit different for McGehee, whose future was uncertain in 2013.
Until signing with the Marlins last December, he spent the year in Japan with his family. He played for the Tohoku Rakoten Golden Eagles, revitalizing his career and earning another shot in the majors.
McGehee, who was named a finalist for NL Comeback Player of the Year on Wednesday, seems likely to resign with the Marlins. He is arbitration eligible. The organization dealt prospect Colin Moran in the Jarred Cosart trade.
"Going to be home a bit sooner than I was last year," McGehee said. "As far as getting ready for the season and stuff like that it's pretty much the same thing I always do. We'll see what happens as far as going forward and all that. But pretty much once the season's over I'll take a little break and get myself going just like I would no matter what. Looking forward to being back here and seeing everybody. Kind of a little better idea of where I'm going to be. Other than that not too much different."
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
