The benefits of never winning

As dutifully linked below by our good friend Kevin, the AP reported today that Pirates starting pitcher Ross Ohlendorf has found an unusual way to spend his uniquely long offseasons: by getting a real job.  Ohlendorf, a Princeton graduate, managed to snag an offseason (unpaid) internship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, even in this tough economy.  In truth, Ohlendof's gig doesn't sound all that exciting (especially compared to, you know, professional sports).  As told by the AP, it sounds pretty much like what normal people do every day:

Ohlendorf . . . shares a small office with another USDA employee.  His work is mainly focused on animal identification—the nationwide tracking system intended to pinpoint an animal's location after a disease is discovered.

But being so unusually productive has Ohlendorf the talk of the Pirates' locker room.  Fellow pitcher Zach Duke, though not inclined to Ohlendorf's "geek[y]" ways, sounds like he may just jump on board:

"I'm kind of jealous of him after talking to him because he told me he's doing all this stuff, getting to meet people" like Michelle Obama. Duke said he's spending his own offseason "just kind of hanging out."

His current internship is apparently not Ohlendorf's only distraction from the Pirates, either—he also partners with his father in running the family's longhorn business, even managing its website during the season.  So, while Ohlendorf does take time "most days" to work out, you gotta ask:  Should the Pirates start pitching themselves as a part-time baseball team for those like Ohlendorf or Duke who may want to do more with their lives?  Had Ohlendorf been in the playoffs this year he never would have been able to interview for, let alone accept, his current job, which began in October.

And what a waste that would be for who Tim Kurkjian has described as the smartest player in baseball.  It's a good thing for Ohlendorf—and for the country—that there exists a team like the Pirates, who will never  bottle up too much of his time with one pursuit.