Per Horace Clarke, NH said this with respect to Pedro Alvarez... "it never works to force players into winter ball."  And today's Trib article about Chris Snyder indicates "he plans to leave Wednesday for his hometown of Houston to spend time with family before resuming rehab Feb. 12 in Phoenix".  Snyder is walking, throwing, and swinging, btw.  I don't expect or want either to play the rest of the year, but there are many ways they could contribute to the team for the rest of this contracted year.  Snyder could be coaching the other catchers (Lord knows, they need it).  Maybe he could scout for 4 months.  I don't care if he is restringing their gloves, he needs to earn his pay.  Maybe NH already told Snyder they aren't going to pick up his option?  Maybe his wife just wants to get out of Pittsburgh for fear of the crazy moped guy?  Why don't player contracts give management complete control over their assigned duties year-round, whether it be team participation, winter ball, conditioning, community service, marketing, etc.?  Does this type of attitude infuriate anyone else, or is it just me?