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Pirates demote struggling rookie OF Polanco

By WTOP Staff

WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping Gregory Polanco can use a little time out of the spotlight to fix his swing.

Pittsburgh sent the 22-year-old rookie outfielder back to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, believing a week in the minors will help Polanco break out of his freefall.

Polanco made his major league debut on June 10 and recorded at least one hit in his first 11 games but has slumped since the All-Star break. He is just 1 for 30 since Aug. 13, with his batting average dipping to a season-low .241.

The Pirates plan to recall Polanco when rosters expand next week provided he works his way back.

“The timing is off in his swing and I don’t think the best way to spend the next week was with him sitting on the bench,” Hurdle said. “This will give him an opportunity to get down, get some at-bats and get out of the spotlight that is here … so he can help this ballclub in September in a very positive fashion.”

Hurdle gave Polanco a few days off last week but it provided no immediate dividends. Polanco went 0 for 3 in a 4-3 loss to Milwaukee on Sunday.

Polanco’s slump coincided with a surge from reserve outfielder Travis Snider, who is hitting .319 with six home runs and 18 RBIs since the All-Star break entering Monday night’s game against St. Louis.

Snider excelled as a pinch hitter before becoming a regular in the lineup over the last three weeks. Hurdle wasn’t certain Polanco would benefit from serving in the same role while he tried to tinker with his swing.

“We want him to go down there and he’ll get an opportunity to have four to five at-bats a night without magnification on him,” Hurdle said. “We want him to keep it simple, ‘Get your foot down early, get your barrel to the ball, hit it where it’s pitched and come back Sept. 2 and help us.'”

Tabata hit .289 in 62 games with the Pirates earlier this season but has spent most of the summer in Indianapolis following Polanco’s promotion.

“I know I’ve got to do my job, got to work more 100 percent, 200 percent,” Tabata said. “You know it’s frustrating sometimes but if you’re not strong, you’re done.”

The 26-year-old Tabata — who is making $3 million this year — batted .281 with 12 RBIs in 39 games in the minors before being recalled. He thrived in a similar position last fall, hitting .312 in September as the Pirates earned their first playoff berth in 21 years.

Pittsburgh also activated shortstop Clint Barmes off the 15-day disabled list and designated infielder Jayson Nix for assignment.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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