40 replies to this topic

[smastroyin]

Hey everyone,

Rob has finalized a time of noon to start the chat. We are going to start with his answers to all of the pre-submitted questions and then go to a live chat after that for as long as Rob wants to hang around. I should have the earlier questions and answers posted by 11:30 or so.

I'm going to go ahead and start adding the questions that Rob has already answered. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions! Rob will be her around noon to answer follow-ups and additional questions.

Please don't post in this thread until at least noon, otherwise your questions might get lost. Thanks

[smastroyin]

Chainsaw 318 asked:

Your blog seems to incorporate more information the the Red Sox minor leaguers than your colleagues, and I was wondering why? Do you have a background in reporting minor league baseball, an interest in prospects in general, or is it just some of the best territory often not covered?

From the people you talk to, does Kevin Youkilis fit on this team as a first baseman after this year, or does he shift back across the diamond? Do you feel his plate discipline will translate into 25 HR power in the next few seasons?

Rob, the stuff on coaches John Farrell, John Tuck and Goose Gregson has been really interesting. How much impact do you see these guys having on players/prospects over the course of the season, and how much have you been able to observe how the coaches work as a unit with Francona and the Baseball Operations people?

Rob's answers:

The simple answer for why I have been incorporating a fair share of info on minor leaguers is that I want to be somewhat knowledgeable about them when they arrive on the major league scene. I know I have kind of beaten the Bryce Cox story to death, but, in my eyes, he should be a focal point this spring. He isn’t far away from potentially answering the biggest question on the major league club, even if that may be at some point this summer or next year. As I put on the blog, when I asked one scout to rate who seemed closest to the big leagues judging by their College World Series performances Cox finished ahead of both Huston Street and Chad Cordero. And in regards to reporting on the minor leagues, other than doing freelance stories for some minor leaguers’ hometown newspapers, my background in that area probably doesn’t stand out.

I think Youkilis’ position will depend on who the Sox can lock up for a corner position long-term (which has been a goal). I still reference the failed trade for Ryan Shealy as a missed opportunity. The free agent market is slim at both first and third after this season (Sean Casey?). I know some scouts think what you saw from Youkilis last year is about what you should expect, but I don’t think you can discount the experience he gained from going through a full season and the physical maintenance that goes with it. Twenty-five homers might be a tad high, but I don’t think it is out of the question.

As for Farrell, Tuck and Gregson, all three are of great value to the organization. Goose has been in the system for a few years now, but Farrell and Tuck are obviously new and making a big impact. The great thing about Farrell in relationship to the baseball operations is that he basically worked in the Cleveland front office in the past few years and understands what kind of questions the decision-makers will be asking of their coaches. I don’t think you should underestimate how important that dynamic has already been thus far in spring training. Tuck doesn’t have to sell himself to anybody. The world of baseball knows when it comes to coaching catching nobody is better, and it has been really fascinating seeing a 34-year-old Jason Varitek willing to break down his game and build it back up because of his confidence in Tuck’s teachings.

[smastroyin]

Rough Carrigan asked a bunch of questions. Anything not in quotes are Rob's responses.

1) A few years back the Patriots held a sort of seminar, at Foxboro, at which they tutored the writers in some of the finer points of football. Would you and other baseball writers be interested if the same opportunity was offered by the Red Sox?

I would be very interested. I know the football writers still rave about it.

2) Do you think the writers covering the team are out of touch with the reality of the experience of fans (e.g. the dreaded virtual waiting room)?

I know I talked to Ron Bumgarner, the Red Sox’s head ticket man, about the situation at length last year. I came away certainly more sympathetic to all parties involved. As for whether or not the media understands everything that goes with living the Red Sox fans’ experience, there is probably some disconnect. But often times those stories are assigned out to other departments, whether it be in sports or news.

3) It may seem hard to believe at times but I think some of the angst in the fan base went away after October 27, 2004. Is there any difference in the attitude of the media toward the team? Less skepticism perhaps?

I think there might have been somewhat of a grace period after ’04, although the benefit of the doubt never reached the level of the Patriots (and rightfully so). Last year I think fueled those who had retreated from their skeptical ways.

4) The dentist dishes the dirt, doesn't he?

Is “dirt” code for Novocain?

5) Have you read Bill James's Abstracts from back in the 80's or his revised Historical Abstract and if so, what did you think of them?

I’m going to be honest and tell you that I haven’t read the entirety of them, or even the majority of them. I am truly fascinated by James’ work, along with the growing waves of information that is coming from the sabermetric community. This isn’t my background, but I have made a conscious effort not to ignore it and embrace it. I might not always agree with much of the ideas, or even attitude, but how can I truly report on a subject if I don’t fully understand all there is to know about it? Those on both sides of the arguments (scouts, stats, etc.) have to understand it isn’t black and white, which is a realization that is still remarkably rare among many in the game.

6) Is a part of the animosity in portions of the press toward that vaguely defined entity "Moneyball" a resentment that people who aren't in the game and aren't there in the clubhouse are somehow getting past the writers who are and professing to know something that the credentialed don't?

I think there is ignorance in both corners. Again, as credentialed writers we can’t ignore that there are baseball fans out there who devote more time and effort to finding solutions to answers than we do with whatever resources are available. Many writers don’t want to admit that. But at the same time some of those who commit themselves to finding the answers regarding all things baseball have to understand that there a simply some things within the reporting of a team that need player/coach/front office interaction/observation/discourse. For instance, I think that for any writer to dismiss a Web site like this one is not doing their job. Many times there might be a seemingly innocuous comment that could lead to a really good story. But at the same time there are some posters who might be seeing only part of the picture when it comes to how a story has to be rep orted. We can all get along, can’t we?

7) There was a picture of Manny with his toddler son in an issue of GQ last summer which had an amazing caption. It said that he likes to read adventure novels in his free time. Is this true?

I wouldn’t doubt it. There is a lot about Manny that goes unnoticed.

8) Do you think the local media, in general, tries to lead fans toward a more sophisticated understanding of the game?

No. If that was the case you would see ‘OPS’ used in stories and it isn’t. And, to be honest, it shouldn’t be on a regular basis at this point because the bottom line is that, at least in the newspaper business, you are still writing for a reader who is more comfortable with the basics. I think this will be changing in the next few years, but right now much of the media is playing it safe in that regards.

9) Theo supposedly came back to the team with an understanding that the leaking of information to the press would be curtailed. Do you notice a difference?

Yes. I think it has been tightened up in areas where they wanted it tightened up

10) I bought and read your book "Chasing Steinbrenner". It was okay. I liked Olney's better. Do you have plans to write another?

I’ll take okay. Like everything you do in life, you do your best at the time you do it and move on. That was the case with Chasing Steinbrenner. I had never written a book, and was hardly a baseball insider. Now I have written a book and have at least gotten both feet into the inner sanctum that is the baseball world. So I embrace those realities and understand that I did what I could do at that time. It was a lot of fun, one of my life’s greatest accomplishments (understanding the book-writing process is not easy), and allowed me to make a whole new collection of friends. Buster’s book was great, no doubt about it. I do have plans to write another, and like Chasing Steinbrenner, it’s story will be if nothing else unique.

[smastroyin]

Rough Carrigan, continued...

11) Is Terry Francona among the best managers in MLB at communicating with his players? How 'bout at dealing with the media?

I would say Tito is absolutely one of the best in the bigs in terms of communicating with his players. I have yet to talk to one who says otherwise. I also think he has a really good handle on how to deal with the Boston media, which, let’s face it, is often a tough task. It doesn’t hurt that we know how he approaches things and that goes along way, as well.

12) David Wells was outspoken about how he found the atmosphere in Boston claustrophobic for Sox players. As far as you can tell was he unusual in the degree to which it bothered him? Do other players just get away from the crowds more easily because, you know, they don't weigh 300 pounds and have gout?

I think the weight and the gout wasn’t as much a cause for his problems as was the mere fact he chose to live in the city. Some players can deal with the fishbowl lifestyle, and usually they are the ones who take up residence in Boston. But if you want to live in the city because they are closer to places you like to frequent, than there will be a price to pay.

13) Tracy Ringolsby said in a recent article in a Denver paper that the Sox front office has a terrible reputation for being difficult to work with. Do you hear the same thing from other folks around MLB?

No. Listen, some front offices don’t get along with other front offices, and there are definitely favorites to deal with in every corner of the country. But when it comes to being able to make a key phone call or start back-and-forth, it is too narrow-minded to think that the Red Sox aren’t able to execute because of perceived personality clashes.

14) How many MLB executives' phone numbers do you have? What is the usual protocol you follow in contacting one of these folks for background info or a quote?

The answer to the first part is “enough.” Like most reporters, I have different levels of relationships with executives in baseball. There are some who I feel comfortable simply calling out the blue, and then others who I might email to pin down a good time to give them a ring.

15) Does it annoy some of the Boston media that Manny's apparent rope-a-dope strategy toward dealing with the press of saying nothing and letting them flail away at him has worked and that most fans still love him no matter how much invective they send at him?

Maybe. It doesn’t bother me. Sure, I would like to get more insight from Manny, but you do what you can with what you have. For instance, when I talked to Greg Brown, the minor league catcher who served as Manny’s hitting coach this offseason, it was good enough to tell the story. But it would have been a lot better if Manny lent his voice. Still, I wasn’t going to let the lack of quotes from Manny sway the tone of the story one way or another.

16) Do writers tend to hang around in small groups of colleagues on the road away from parks the way that we read umpires do?

Judging by the number of visits to Blu Pointe in Fort Myers by media members, I would say that is pretty accurate.

17) Shark or bear?

Huh?

18) Best Truffaut film, The 400 Blows, right?

That was just a warm-up for “Shoot the Piano Player.”

19) What do you think of the vantage point of the Fenway Park press box? Is it too high?

In the first row it is pretty good, and the second is OK. But the third and fourth are ridiculously bad. They are adjusting them somewhat this season, I guess. But it is high … kind of watching a real version of RBI Baseball (for you early 90’s video gamers).

20) Have you ever served as an official scorer in Fenway or anywhere else?

Bradford Memorial Wiffle Ball field, Essex, Mass. That’s it. And to be honest it isn’t something I really aspire to. I know Mike Petraglia is going to be doing some games for the first time this season after doing a great job in Fort Myers.

[smastroyin]

And Rough's last 5

21) How much differently do you watch day games than night games when working? There's much less pressure to beat a deadline with the game story, isn't there?

I think that is fair to say. You tend to be writing during games, regardless, but the day games do offer a bit more flexibility.

22) How much different is the treatment of the press by the organization under Henry et al than it was under the Harrington regime?

Night and day.

23) What's your favorite city on the road and least favorite and why?

I don’t travel as much as some, but in my journeys I really have liked covering games in Baltimore. In terms of milling about in a city Toronto and St. Petersburg are cool. I don’t like New York. Whether at Yankee Stadium or Fenway, those games are just too congested.

24) Do you sometimes despair at the level of discourse on WEEI?

Understand, it’s part entertainment and part information. The key is to not expect one when you know you are getting the other.

25) Members of the local media often disclaim any influence over the fan base, but a large part of the fan base seems to now parrot a gung holier than thou attitude toward J.D. Drew that was pumped out by much of the local press. Do you agree that while the local media's influence is hardly inescapable, it is considerable?

It is considerable, there is no question. We are supposed to know what is going on. It is our jobs. Is it always fair? Hardly. Take the Drew situation … why it was perfectly understandable to question the contract and his health history, not attempting to look at the entire picture isn’t right, either. Listen, there was hardly one person in that hotel lobby at the Winter Meetings who liked that deal. And I had plenty of people associated with Drew in the past question to me if Boston was the ideal landing spot. But we can’t ignore his side totally, such as the fact that his injury problems have subsided for the most part since embracing a new health regimen. Unfortunately, many times it isn’t blood-boiling enough to present all sides of the picture.

[smastroyin]

Twautwein's Degree asked:

Do you feel that the Red Sox prefer to give exclusive stories and/or access to the Boston Globe as a result New York Time's minority ownership in the team?

Not for the most part. Although it is hard to begrudge any reporter/newspaper for capitalizing any advantage they can garner.

[smastroyin]

leeharris asked:

Rob,
do you feel that the very positive response you've received can in any way help to convince the people who pull the strings that in fact there *IS* a sizeable audience out there who are bored to tears with the ESPN-style headline crap and rehashing of old rumour style / scandal / fluff pieces and actually want to know things that - shock horror - the casual viewer may not be interested in or may not get huge ratings. I'd extend that as a more general question to include TV and radio coverage too. In a market (the 'media') completely filled with competing streams of hot air, how can it be taking so long for someone, anyone, to try a different approach, even if it has to have "cult status".
cheers

Thanks for the kind words. I think you will be seeing a bigger shift in approach to stories in the years to come. The news will be instant, and the follow-ups for the next day’s papers will be more analytical. I will be honest – I simply write the stories that would interest me, and thankfully I have a newspaper who allows me to do that. My least favorite series of the year is when the Yankees come to town for the reason that everybody is usually forced to follow the same, tired story-lines. There is no escaping it because of space, time, and interest issues. But the great thing about baseball is there is so many things to talk about, analyze, and dissect, probably more than any other sport.

[smastroyin]

The Honorable Skrub asked:

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. I enjoyed Chasing Steinbrenner.

Without giving too much away from your piece in the annual, can you elaborate on the above? Exactly how long have the Red Sox been hot to trot on Daisooke?

Jon Deeble was on this guy for upwards of six years, with Craig Shipley really getting involved a few years ago. Deeble is the one who has seen him more than 60 times and should be credited with fending off a negative opinion of the Red Sox in Far East circles in tracking Matsuzaka. He said that there were stadiums that wouldn’t let him in the door when they found out he was with the Red Sox. Thanks to Deeble, Shipley, and the signing of Matsuzaka, that has done a 180.

Also, a recent thread here on SoSH questioned the quality of reporting on the Red Sox. Why do you think the fans are so down on the coverage of the Red Sox? In your opinion, how do you think the Red Sox beat crew compares to your collegues in other cities.
(if you don't want to touch this one, no problem)

A big part of it is that the non-credentialed baseball-following public is so well educated and immersed in the game’s inner-workings that is has created a divide. If you look at in the sense that reporters have to much more inclusive these days because of the increased information and analysis, than you can understand why they also might be criticized more. I can also honestly say that the Boston crew matches up with any other city. I think if you can cut in this market you can cut it anywhere.

[smastroyin]

Nip asked:

Question 1: Although Russ Conway is well-regarded nationally, IMHO the Eagle Tribune had a locally-focused newspaper for years. It seems to me that with the hiring of Tomase and now you that the Eagle Tribune is pushing for a revival of sorts. While he has moved on, it's clear that the Eagle Tribune has done a great job unearthing two of the freshest writers on the Boston sports scene in years. This questions has two parts

a: How have you noticed the Eagle Tribune change while you've been there? Is there a different feeling now versus when you were hired?
b: Who do you think is responsible for "righting the ship" at the Eagle Tribune?

Question 2: How hard is it to seperate yourself from the story. Without naming any names, Boston has a few sportswriters who are determined to make themselves the focal point of stories. How do you avoid this disingenuous journalistic approach? Is it tough?

Question 3: Have you gone fishing with Roger Aziz yet?

Comment: Even at 11 years old I knew Joe Murphy was full of shit and borderline senile. It's awesome having you aboard.

1A: I have only been there for 1 ½ years, and the change I have experienced came from following John Tomase. He was the one who carved out the position by redefining how the beat/position was approached.

1B: Sports editor Bill Burt deserves a great deal of credit for taking the approach he has.

2: I can just speak for myself, but I never want to be part of the story … not even a little bit. It is nice to get credit for unearthing a story, but getting sucked in is a different matter.

3: Nope.

[smastroyin]

stiffy had a few questions, and even phrased them in English. We and Rob thank you, stiffy!

Our beloved Sox have, given all the years, have developed cliques and cabals or gone the 25 cab route...On this edition with Tek , Curt ,David and Tim [Kapler gone]I can't see a offshoot of negative mumblers off to the side...Is there a clubhouse leader who I am overlooking?...

Mike Lowell

Curt has put an onus on Beckett to step it up...and at the same time Curt is rock solid in the opinion that Josh will thrive...Does Curt's openness play well on this team?...

I think that Schilling’s openness has a valuable and unique affect on the clubhouse. It also helps that this is his third year and his presence on the team has entered into a fabric which consists of an eclectic group of personalities.

It is very odd that with all of the fantastic moves the Trio have made so far that we have Pirandello's "Six Characters in Search of a Closer"...I am dead against Papelbon closing...and I am more adamant the more tempting it becomes with each passing day of ST...is there a real chance that he goes back to close?

There is a chance that at some point in the season the possibility is revisited. Dr. Thomas Gill said as much, making it clear no door is closed. But that door isn’t going to be opened in early April. They want to at least get a decent sample size when it comes to identifying how tight his shoulder joint is staying.

Do you read here?

I have more and more. As I stated before, there are some really good ideas/questions that can lead to stories that haven’t been touched on. To ignore that would not be doing my job.

If you are truly committed to being all you can be as a Sports journalist...If you haven't done so...may I urge you to read Dougie's Diary?

Done.

[smastroyin]

behindthepen asked:

1- What's worse, having to watch Glenn Ordway eat, or being forced to listen to him and his buddies "talk" about sports?

None of the above. I love it all.

2- As fans, usually when we hear a rumor about a trade or something like that, we tend to assume that we're hearing the second it's been leaked; we kind of assume that journalism is just relaying information that you hear around the clubhouse, when in reality there might be more work behind the scenes. Could you walk us through the "life" of a rumor, how long it takes to get it into print?

Man … this is a good one. I guess it depends on the rumor. Without revealing any sources, I’ll give you an example of some of the twists, turns, and happenstance: When Theo was away from the job and it looked as though Dayton Moore was going to get the gig, I called a mutual friend to begin what was going to be the feature on the new Sox GM. After talking about Moore’s background, the person left me with the knowledge that I should be wary of writing the story because Atlanta GM John Shuerholz was great at keeping the guys he wanted to keep. So I went off to do my story. Five hours later this person calls me back to tell me that Moore was pulling out of consideration and the Red Sox didn’t even know yet. I trusted him since the two men had talked, but still wanted confirmation from Moore. I couldn’t get it, but decided I had enough to get it on the internet anyway. Two hours after getting the call, the story was up just before somebody else was ready to report the same. But if I never decided to start my feature story that day I would have never gotten any phone call.

Then there are the ones where you get information, but it isn’t coming from close enough to the situation where you can run with it. You have to always have familiarity or confidence in your sources. This happened to me just before spring training, as I had the meat and potatoes of the story but couldn’t get the proper confirmation. Four days later (two days before I was going to get confirmation) it broke. Not a good feeling.

3- Who do you think is the most under-appreciated member of this team?

Performance-wise, Manny Ramirez. In the clubhouse, Alex Cora.

[smastroyin]

Cuz asked:

I'm going to throw the standard stock question into the mix, which might be used in future MSP chats:

1) How did you get involved with the Maple Street Press project?
2) If asked, would you do it again?
3) How does it feel to associated with this collection of assclowns?

Publisher Jim Walsh was nice enough to ask me if I wanted to participate. Like a lot of people, I was really impressed by last year’s edition and knew this was going to be just as good if not better. If time permitted, I would love to be involved again. And I’m honored to be associated with these particular inhabitants of the media big top.

[smastroyin]

BoSoxNut asked:

Rob: What possessed you to leave the Lowell Sun for the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune? At least Callahan left it for The Herald. But the Eagle-Tribune????

Both fine papers, but for me it was a totally different job description. At the Eagle-Tribune I have been allowed to sink my teeth into the Red Sox beat primarily, while also delving into features and various pro and college coverage. Again, a great deal of credit has to go to John Tomase who helped carve out the position at The Trib before I arrived.

[smastroyin]

Fris asked this question but it was after Rob downloaded the questions, so he didn't get a chance to answer it yet, I'm going to put it here as the first question to be answered because I think it's a good one.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Peter Grilli, the President of The Japan Society of Boston, and he shared some interesting information concerning calls from John Henry and other members of the Red Sox front office early on in their pursuit of Daisuke in order to learn proper etiquette, and to allow them to use basic Japanese greetings, and properly write short notes in Kanji. I found this intriguing, and a real testament to John Henry's (and the Sox front office's) foresight in ensuring they were completely prepared in their wooing of Matsuzaka. Do you discuss this aspect of the pursuit in your piece? Also, in a related question to Skrub's, do you know when in the process the Sox first contacted The Japan Society for help.

Thanks for taking our questions, Rob.

[smastroyin]

This is Rob's answer to Fris's question:

I have been negligent in contacting Peter and intended to do so this week. This is a fascinating aspect of the courtship, and is even more interesting if you look at it from another perspective: Do the other communities within a clubhouse (ie Spanish-speaking, etc.) feel slighted by the attention given to the Japanese. The Red Sox have put Japanese characters on the back of their business cards, but not Spanish translations. I understand why this is so, and am not making it a big deal, but is an interesting angle that was brought up to me. I hope to talk to Peter very soon, and thanks for bringing up a great angle.

We are now open for general questions including any follow-ups to what is above.

[smastroyin]

Rob,

When you talk about how long the Sox were after Mats, it really seems to go all the way back to his high school tournament.

At that point, were there other major league teams that were starting to put effort into scouting him, or did that wait until after his Olympic appearance?

[Rob Bradford]

Rob,

When you talk about how long the Sox were after Mats, it really seems to go all the way back to his high school tournament.

At that point, were there other major league teams that were starting to put effort into scouting him, or did that wait until after his Olympic appearance?

I think he really came on teams' radars when his international career started blossoming. Deeble had seen him in high school, but you have to remember he was still working for the Florida Marlins up until 2002 I believe. So it's all how you look at it. But once they got going the Sox clearly took pride in seeing Matsuzaka more than most, often in stealth mode.

[smastroyin]

Since they have seen him so much, is there really a feeling that the Red Sox know a lot more about him? A lot of talk during his pursuit focused on the variability of pitchers coming from the Japanese league to the majors. Daisuke is a little different because he was better in Japan and he is still fairly young. What other qualities did they see that they think make him less of a gamble?

[Cuzittt]

Rob-

You've discussed Bryce Cox quite a bit on your blog, for good reason. However, with the experiences of Craig Hansen and Cla Meredith the past two seasons, and Theo Epstein admittance that perhaps they were both rushed, what would it reasonably take for the Sox to bring Cox up? A solid half a season? Less?

[Rob Bradford]

Since they have seen him so much, is there really a feeling that the Red Sox know a lot more about him? A lot of talk during his pursuit focused on the variability of pitchers coming from the Japanese league to the majors. Daisuke is a little different because he was better in Japan and he is still fairly young. What other qualities did they see that they think make him less of a gamble?

Good question. First of all, he has pitched in large settings, under big spotlights, and succeeded all along the way. This was one of the positives people pointed to when looking at Jose Contreras, that pressure was nothing to him having already pitched under the glare and threats of Fidel Castro. But the difference in the two are substantial, I'm told, and a big reason for that is the ease in which scouts could see Matsuzaka numerous times compared to Contreras' sheltered career in Cuba. In terms of what made Matsuzaka stand out from the other pitchers is that he was simply the best. And while you do often hold your breath when it comes to seeing how Japanese players translate, this is a guy who does have a pretty good sample size against some of the world's best hitters outside of the Far East.

[Rob Bradford]

Rob-

You've discussed Bryce Cox quite a bit on your blog, for good reason. However, with the experiences of Craig Hansen and Cla Meredith the past two seasons, and Theo Epstein admittance that perhaps they were both rushed, what would it reasonably take for the Sox to bring Cox up? A solid half a season? Less?

You're on to something. The organization is cleary more wary after the Meredith and Hansen situations (more Meredith than Hansen). I would agree that it is going to be a solid half a season at the least before Cox is considered. Another aspect of his situation is the relative newness in regards to his changed delivery/approach. There hasn't been enough time between when Cox began dominating and now for the organization to feel he is locked in for good.

[Talon]

Rob -

Thanks for coming to chat with us weirdos today.

My question is this. We all know that unless something really bad happens management wise that Terry Francona is the manager of the Boston Red Sox for as long as he is fit and able to manage. Having said that, do you think that the Sox are not so secretly grooming his replacement as we saw with Bill Haselman (who left the team as he did not want to manage in the minors) last season and now with DeMarlo Hale/Luis Alicea and possibly Gabe Kapler.

[smastroyin]

Is this scuttlebutt about JD Drew changing amongst your colleagues now that he has shown up and people can see what he is doing? How about his teammates?

I'm personally excited to see him in the lineup, though I understand the concerns about his health.

[Rob Bradford]

Rob -

Thanks for coming to chat with us weirdos today.

My question is this. We all know that unless something really bad happens management wise that Terry Francona is the manager of the Boston Red Sox for as long as he is fit and able to manage. Having said that, do you think that the Sox are not so secretly grooming his replacement as we saw with Bill Haselman (who left the team as he did not want to manage in the minors) last season and now with DeMarlo Hale/Luis Alicea and possibly Gabe Kapler.

I don't think there is any kind of Terry Francona timeline in mind when thinking about developing managers, but the organization cleary has groomed some guys for a potential future in the big seat. Take Alicea for instance. Here is a guy that could have clearly gone to coaching the majors right from playing, or at least one year in Lowell. But the organization wanted him to manage at both short-season and then full season A before integrating him into the world he already knew. It took some patience on Alicea's behalf, but it is paying off right now. I think you can look for a similar track for Kapler. Did you know, by the way, that Scott Boras tried to hire Alicea after his playing days to become Carlos Beltran's mentor (of sorts)?

[Rob Bradford]

Is this scuttlebutt about JD Drew changing amongst your colleagues now that he has shown up and people can see what he is doing? How about his teammates?

I'm personally excited to see him in the lineup, though I understand the concerns about his health.

From the media's perspective, the J.D. Drew situation has been enlightening this spring. He has been great to deal with, open, honest, and playing very well. We, of course, have to keep an eye on his health because of his history, but also can't ignore his recent history since changing some of his ways. We can all agree, I think, that if healthy he is a very good complement to Ortiz and Manny in that lineup.

[smastroyin]

I have two more and then I'll stop.

1) Is Luis Alicea as cool in person as he is in my imagination? He was one of my favorites from that 1995 team (which will always have a soft spot in my heart anyway). He seems like a hard worker and a guy who loves his job and loved working with the kids.

2) If you look around the board, you will see a discussion about Craig Hansen's mechanics. Has been word been going around Spring Training at all that they are going to try and let Hansen go back to the somewhat violent mechanics that he used in college? He really needs that slider to be effective, I think. His fastball is too straight without another pitch setting it up.

[Cuzittt]

How is the world of blogging changing the "old-world" of newspapers? In particular, certain newspaper blogs (a lot of the stories from the Globe's Extra Innings, for example) seem to be quick releases for news items, rather than more traditional blog/opinion pieces. Your blog, on the other hand, seems to have quite a bit of additional content?

Within the same context, how much do you go to Red Sox Blogs (as opposed to message boards) to gauge opinions or even to get information?

[Rob Bradford]

I have two more and then I'll stop.

1) Is Luis Alicea as cool in person as he is in my imagination? He was one of my favorites from that 1995 team (which will always have a soft spot in my heart anyway). He seems like a hard worker and a guy who loves his job and loved working with the kids.

2) If you look around the board, you will see a discussion about Craig Hansen's mechanics. Has been word been going around Spring Training at all that they are going to try and let Hansen go back to the somewhat violent mechanics that he used in college? He really needs that slider to be effective, I think. His fastball is too straight without another pitch setting it up.

Alicea is a great guy who I've known since he was here during the Sox playoff run in '95. Remember, his stint with Boston was very short because of Boston's insistence that Wil Cordero man the second base position. A lot of teams were going with the Baltimore model of power at a lot positions, but Cordero couldn't turn the pivot from day one. I know Alicea has really enjoyed working on trying to help Julio Lugo with his footwork, which is the cause for the majority of his throwing errors. What he showed Lugo was that the shortstop has a tendecy to cross his feet even on set throws. They are trying to get him to stay with wide base on such tosses.

I was in communication with someone with the Red Sox this morning and they were very excited about the performances put on by both Hansen and Delcarmen last night. As many of you know, Hansen's slider was rated as the top one of among college players entering the draft the year he came out but it had flattened out in the last few years. I know when I asked John Farrell at the Winter Meetings who he was most looking forward to reach their potential, Hansen came to mind right away. The Red Sox will always tell you that the guy who came in against the Rays in his first big league outing throwing 97 mph four-seamers wasn't the guy they drafted to a certain extent. His strength leading into the draft was a fastball will movement and that slider.

[Sille Skrub]

Deeble is the one who has seen him more than 60 times and should be credited with fending off a negative opinion of the Red Sox in Far East circles in tracking Matsuzaka. He said that there were stadiums that wouldn’t let him in the door when they found out he was with the Red Sox.

A few follow up questions:

1) Are there reasons other than Millar that the Sox are so negatively viewed in Japan?
2) What did Deeble do to prove our mighty awesomeness to the Japanese?

Thanks again, Rob.

[Rob Bradford]

How is the world of blogging changing the "old-world" of newspapers? In particular, certain newspaper blogs (a lot of the stories from the Globe's Extra Innings, for example) seem to be quick releases for news items, rather than more traditional blog/opinion pieces. Your blog, on the other hand, seems to have quite a bit of additional content?

Within the same context, how much do you go to Red Sox Blogs (as opposed to message boards) to gauge opinions or even to get information?

I am fairly new to the world of blogging in terms of the actual execution, but I can say that is has been mind-blowing in my short time doing it. I think newspapers simply can't write the same way they always have because of the ability to add instant information. For me, the blog was initially nice ... sorry, I just spilled iced tea on my laptop ... oh well, got to go on ... it was nice to get a lot of info out there which I normally would have to cram into a story or wouldn't be able to find a home for. But as it went along I saw the multiple purposes it can serve, such as getting Matsuzaka's pitches up right after his first start, or summarizing a story you might right for the next day on the blog, beating the competition to it. In terms of getting a gauge on what is going on, I try and use everything. Blogs are obviously a little more time-friendly, but maybe not as inclusive.

[The Gray Eagle]

Let's pretend the regular season starts tomorrow, and in the first game, the Red Sox are up by one run to start the bottom of the 9th. In your opinion, who would come out of the bullpen to pitch that 9th inning?

[Rob Bradford]

A few follow up questions:

1) Are there reasons other than Millar that the Sox are so negatively viewed in Japan?
2) What did Deeble do to prove our mighty awesomeness to the Japanese?

Thanks again, Rob.

The Red Sox had a terrible reputation in the Far East stemming from some perceived shady business dealings involving their then-Far East scouting department. While virtually nobody will go on record talking about the era of ill-will, the fact that Deeble wasn't allowed in certain places just because of his affiliation should show how deep-rooted it was. Deeble had the good combination of good people skills, a solid network from his work both in the Far East and manager of the Australian National Team, and flat-out work ethic. I you can't underestimate the first two, especially when having to weave your way in and out of places not normally tread upon by scouts.

[Rob Bradford]

Let's pretend the regular season starts tomorrow, and in the first game, the Red Sox are up by one run to start the bottom of the 9th. In your opinion, who would come out of the bullpen to pitch that 9th inning?

Right now, as we sit here ... Tavarez. Will that happen on the very first game? My feeling is that there is a less than a 50 percent chance.

[Cuzittt]

Based on your time in Fort Myers, is there anyone (likely to be on the major league club) who was surprising (positively or negatively)?

Also, is there anyone who will be in the minors that will be a surprise based on their current prospect status?

[SoxScout]

I saw in your blog that you noticed Murphy was bigger than last year; but you also said you do not see him really fitting a spot in Boston. Do you think the Sox will be content to have him as an insurance policy in AAA or do you think they are actively looking to move him, Houston and Florida are said to have been interested in him...

Small sample size of course, but he has had a decent spring so far, nice walk rate, hitting .300, but all six of his hits have been singles.

Brandon Moss had definitely outplayed him and they will both be slated to be corner OFs in Pawtucket.

Edited by SoxScout, 13 March 2007 - 11:59 AM.

[The Gray Eagle]

Two questions, if you have time.

1. How much influence would you say that Dave Wallace had on Tito's bullpen usage decisions last year? Would he usually offer an opinion on who should get warm and/or come into the game? If so, would Francona usually listen to his advice? Or was that up to Francona alone?

Or Francona with advice from Brad Mills?

Obviously the final call was being made by Tito, but what kind of influence if any did the pitching coach have on those kind of pitching decisions?

2. How do you expect Varitek to hit this year? Was last season just an off year with the bat for him, or should we expect similar offensive production again this year from him?

Thanks.

[Rob Bradford]

Based on your time in Fort Myers, is there anyone (likely to be on the major league club) who was surprising (positively or negatively)?

Also, is there anyone who will be in the minors that will be a surprise based on their current prospect status?

I don't know if he is going to be on the major league club, but Bryan Corey certainly game out of the gates impressing a lot of people. As he said when asked if he is out of options, "I'm out of everything," so his year might have to be with another club, but I know a lot of scouts were already keeping an extra eye on him. Javy Lopez was in the same boat. Coco Crisp was so good last spring, so I think people were expecting him to come out of the gates firing again, but I don't think people understand that he didn't start hitting from both sides until late January because of his finger surgery, and that might have put him behind what he normally is a bit. Unlike Manny, Coco has always hit a lot in the offseason.

Devern Hansack remains intriguing, but like Cox, I think they want to see a bit more before committing fully.

I have to get going now, but I want to thank both SOSH and Maple Street Press for allowing me to do this. Go buy the Annual, it's really, really good stuff. I'll keep an eye out on this thread for anymore questions and will try and answer them tonight. You can also post any questions any time on the blog at www.bradfordonbaseball.com. Thanks again.

[ShaneTrot]

Rob, thanks for the time. The Sox have a good OF prospect (Ellsbury) and two guys who are decent but are closer to Boston (Moss and Murphy)? Who is trade bait and if Ellsbury continues to be good in the minors is there a chance Coco gets the gate after the season? Or is a big market team like the Sox not going to take the chance with a heralded rookie falling on his face like Brian Anderson did for the White Sox last year at such a key position?

[templeUsox]

Rob, sorry to get here late. I have a couple questions if you have time.

1) Do you plan on doing a story on the Sox evolving approach to the draft? It seems that in the short time Theo has run the drafts, there has been a punctuated equilibrium in terms of how quickly the strategy has shifted. Have you unearthed any information in your numerous chats with Jason McLeod about what adjustments the Sox make from year to year?

2) How secretive/protective are the Sox about their international scouting operation?

Edit: Also, I want to tell you how much I and others appreciate your great work.

Edited by templeUsox, 13 March 2007 - 12:05 PM.

[Cuzittt]

On behalf of Steve (who set this up) and the rest of the Dopes, I'd like to thank Rob for coming out to chat with us today. And, please do visit his blog (if you haven't already).

-Brandon

[Frisbetarian]

Rob, if you do happen back here, I have a follow up to my first question concerning Peter Grilli of the Japan Society and the Sox. In your response you said,

I have been negligent in contacting Peter and intended to do so this week. This is a fascinating aspect of the courtship, and is even more interesting if you look at it from another perspective: Do the other communities within a clubhouse (ie Spanish-speaking, etc.) feel slighted by the attention given to the Japanese. The Red Sox have put Japanese characters on the back of their business cards, but not Spanish translations. I understand why this is so, and am not making it a big deal, but is an interesting angle that was brought up to me. I hope to talk to Peter very soon, and thanks for bringing up a great angle.

Interestingly, I had originally written a second question concerning differences in the treatment of minorities in baseball, both by the teams, and by the media. I was going to specifically ask about Latinos, as I am Latin, but I deleted the question thinking it was too controversial. Since your response raised that very issue, however, I would like to ask you if you think that Latin ballplayers are the victims of a double standard in baseball by either Major League Baseball teams, or by the media? Does the old saying, "Este juego no es de nosotros. Es de ellos, del Americanos." (It is not our game. It is theirs, the Americans) still hold?

If you want to skip this question, I certainly understand.

Yo la tengo,
Fris

Edited by Frisbetarian, 13 March 2007 - 12:52 PM.