Mike Hazen

So wild it is swims so free. It. As he below you're just a little late -- long ago. You know -- from the Red Sox front office is going to think we got only deranged that we are is out of on the bloody -- that we have to hops. Speak via cell -- By a but hey listen I read it Mike's bio and I think the United mentioned this when we had a -- married lives locally -- expert yet expert and has three children I'll bet you he has some Iraqis CD's to Wendy's hopes so that they get transportation do these -- from the fields a school law whatever so -- for the Red Sox front office report. Today's Red Sox front office report is brought you by the dairy conferencing. Specializing in delivering that next generation of HD video conferencing. Audiovisual. And network solutions think you'd have a theory and take it in my case it. From the Red Sox for joining us for today's edition of the Red Sox front office report -- Doing great or -- you've heard baby beluga before I know you have you get to. You haven't. You have on outdated by an excellent I I I was open you're gonna go up what's up front office scouting reports with the kids I know there's a private placement that but. My case that we teach a little bit about the at. Front office reports because you I want to just remind our audience. You're the director of player development for the Boston Red Sox in you guys have been on a roll.

Yeah out you know a couple of years here where things worked out pretty well for a ratings -- young players and at the Major League level and not.

don't know you know you Fed did you has done it you've done a great job with -- Leo that was the draft because of the some of the young talent. Our own talent which is nice. You grew up begin grew up in Abington by -- and and then you went to Princeton you're ball play yourself. Did you played Abington Ohio was there another another school of choice.

No I -- yeah public political cultural way yup and then -- is at Princeton is correct your at all ivy league outfield look. And that's where it's that's where it started --

Jeff by the Padres and and so on and so forth but you what the Cleveland Indians for awhile and I'm curious if you give baseball fans every member of that. -- forum audiences a baseball fan we have realized platter Red Sox Nation. Rock becomes even supposed to be read the major stories just right for the school that he was honestly the schedule like that drive me crazy but that's what we all do actually. You you worked for the Indians for awhile he'd play -- development as well. Anything that you could compare and contrast between either the organization's. Approaches to play development or -- Rome. Experiences. He's in Cleveland and now here in Boston.

Well I think -- a lot of similarities between organization that knows some payroll disparity between union -- talks certainly. Something that we benefit from here and Austin. But I think from philosophical standpoint there's a lot of similarities. Oh you know which -- lost the in the development lost the between these two organizations exist. There's been a lot of crossover you know and cherry and John -- those got -- in the Cleveland organization as well. I do think that your vision -- march pyro those guys have built over there it is something somewhat of a beacon within industry. And I think something other organizations look to would it was a tremendous amount of respect.

When you we haven't played baseball itself one of the reasons I wanted to make sure our audiences aware that as up near you played baseball locally in high school then at Princeton. I'm curious my starts to current current events with the Red Sox how do you folks go vote and kind of follow the talent. That's out this thousands of kids. Young man. Playing baseball at hundreds of colleges and universities and it's -- sometimes as high schools in -- such a massive pool of talent. How -- that the filtering process to find that I'll I'll make the comparison of the needle in the haystack thousands play but only one -- two of those thousands of going to make it.

had to -- questions and short answers yet that tremendous got a and tireless workers got a -- Overturn every rock that that exists in this country and not in this country in the international market you think about. How many countries Europe like baseball that we -- to do on the international market as well which Craig -- So shortly after you have a tireless self was workers that that that rival all over this country and they agreed scouting director -- McLeod who. You know they have to sit through that talent and filtered out would then evaluate it. Press was that out. And and then when the draft -- be able to execute. And get the players that you want to yet sometimes strapping in difficult situations like thirtieth overall where. You know -- the -- level dropped off considerably from 130 though. That's the short.

On how many how many people -- that. -- scouts -- do you have let's say nationwide election.

Well -- 35. Domestically and probably. Thirty internationally.

There was a big numbers that I get asking this question -- let me remind -- row listening audience our guest is Mike -- and he's the director of player development for the Boston Red Sox we're obviously doing half Friday edition of the Red Sox front office report. I'll read sometimes when I'm gone over the NFL draft that is a theory. That you draft the best available athletes other people say no you draft according to what the organization needs. Part of the Red Sox. Approach that question.

I think with it even as we -- Getting away from football where where we differ tremendously. You know a lot of times are our top player could be useful. That players could be worked five. The big leagues where we'll ball. You know most players probably 28 we want to get drafted and stepped right into it to the big claw. So I think there's a tremendous amount hurdles there's a lot of uncertainty. Injury there's more performance you know a number of different factors that didn't. Any player's way it's so thereby -- question I think we always usually go best player available because. We don't know how that council and out -- Major -- expecting to -- the -- overall. And they'd it is going to be -- right -- over the future I think that's -- tales but I think -- your drafting first overall when you're getting now. Premier college player David -- proposed the those types of players I think you can do battle a bit more successfully. Work with orchard.

So the NFL basically get state bigots use obviously that the college ranks as as their minor leagues they get they get to let these kids go through CU. Broken. Develop over the years and actually you know who's going to end up getting hurt subject to a lot of injuries and and and and some -- you're not going to waste a draft on. And you guys -- you're you're looking more you you are more likely to address some of my eyes woman.

Well no I mean we can -- ranks as well you'll see that the top your college talent usually gone by the time. We selected there are a lot of times we get left best player available I upside talent. Could be eighteen you'll like it that we can't pass up. But you know again like you said the road and become longer but he each -- that it may but it.

Mike Tom Finneran here again you know as fans will always read about you know the high school phenom the high school Alston. Tries to go up to the next level and all of a sudden the game is just incredibly different and that's true in all professional sports. It's it's that the athletes are bigger stronger faster the game is played at another level with the civilians we hear that but we don't really understand it. Given that reality. When you draft the talent and you know there assigned to a Major League and they kind of begin the day it's the early years of the Korea. The Red Sox organization is the approached kind of like. The marine -- live ammunition thrown to the wolves of those who can make it through make it through. Are is they're. His era a support system way at the guy who has the high school Phnom and had all the girls just sworn -- because he was a high school from. Nobody's -- anymore it's like hey kid you struck out three times yesterday kick your ass in the box and start striking out. Howdy -- to keep that kid focused so it doesn't get discouraged.

Yet another great question and an extremely challenge I think why you know we still -- Watches people outside the organization -- successes we have our our share of failures as well and it's a very inexact science I think. It's the exact opposite what we try to do for the bat and ball on the field we try to individualized and cater to every single player's personal development now. That's not easy but -- 150 minor league players have 150 different that it needs a lot of these. Certainly there's structured discipline that you maintained within eighteen year old kid about eight as the -- you -- these -- our rules how we expected -- in the right way. But then there's also those it would deal with off the field which they have like flight which year. You know -- a girlfriend wife -- BB you know what we do to help there. Internationally. You speak the language you know our our cultural assimilation program where. We try to help those in Japan and Korea Taiwan. And ethnic republic. What are what are the challenges they see in integrating into the country for the first time before the plate plate game so don't -- those summit think that we --

Mikey mentioned it just in the in the recitation of some of them you know the the the foreign. Challenges as well as opportunities. You mentioned the Dominican republic of always been fascinated by this I'm sure you folks have some internal conversations. What is it about that little old country that little island with a small population. In which they produce such extraordinary. Talent in such. Numbers it's it's I mean it's astounding to me it's almost like. In a renaissance Italy coming up with that is he's brilliant satirist and just in a little little period of time and no other part of the world was doing it -- many ways.

Sir. My short of that would be that. The data therefore they have -- on and -- and within that island that is what every young did. Plays for the most part and aspires to be you know there's not a lot of other distractions is not a lot of other things that go on. From a huge structure standpoint they played baseball -- baseball from the times five and 67 years old and that's what is seen as a means to -- and sometimes you know to get off the island -- the true it's it's a wonderful country if somebody has never been down there -- these guys. The amount of -- went down there and he did that you know play very hard and a lot of guys that you never -- that that are academy. Upwards of forty or fifty players that. And I'd never make it to state.

A ball and Albanians from the time there upon my dad gave me a bucket and brush instead go clean the kitchen floor. There god should have been a Major League that's how I don't. Understood you know now it's just an amazing it is it they just the handout from the entire Caribbean which of course has been. A source of fabulous baseball. Wealth and skill and talent for so many many years going back to Louis upper reach you know people will even before the week.

Yes it is such a tremendous culture and tradition that goes along with Latin American baseball Venezuela. You know Colombia Panama the DR and you know it's it's it's it's wonderful place where but he did to grow up they do in this and -- and and and gain.

Not much -- you were talking about how. You know when you're picking thirtieth in the draft does obviously you've lost a lot of that that great talent that was up front that you call the proven college players and -- in the next level. But in the last few years the Red Sox have had actually some pretty good luck and did not oceans -- good luck you've -- Very good success. In in the draft. And in particular class of 2005 to 2000 -- drives will it.

and I were both talking about this earlier in the morning Mike it is this this is unbelievable. And I'm not sure that every member of the our audience is aware of the specific achievement but maybe you could give a little articulation that there.

Well why you know having having five got off the draft reached levels especially -- speed was highly potent. It is. You know extremely extremely difficult. And again. Top quality out. And it on his first round have news. Those types of players and we they -- we don't. The player development you don't you'll -- play those players with me count the Lowry Ellsbury Roy you. They're born in other war with that town and that big league players when you drop. -- thirty over all more challenging. In the picking first but there are still plenty big leaguers in the draft at that stage I think it is a work of art on.

City do you would you credit that to the the scouts out in the field those 35 in you know the 65 guys that are out there looking for the talent. Or to that the organization that helps bring them up to nurture them through the system is all.

Yet -- it definitely look there's there's there's apart every one of I think in in all scroll ball player development scouting player in the the ultimate player but. We we wouldn't be anything without scouts that we you know you can't you can't have a good -- system without pop all the power in those of the got the fun.

My case and as I guess is the director played development fall the Boston Red Sox. Curious Mike as you again as you go through the that the challenges you look at other organizations you shared with us -- respect. An aberration for a what marks a pyro is built over in Cleveland any other organizations that you look at it and kind of stepped back and say with respect. You know that team that club they did go -- about it the right way who else out there is doing at the Red Sox way the Cleveland when.

I know of people or use the the yankees you know what they do. Oh they've a they have tremendous amount specs in the industry I personally. They they do anyway eagle watch they're young teams play. The level of town waigel audit it's pretty impressive another. Had a little down here it immediately well they definitely a lot of respect industry as well -- between you know you hear that a lot but. The -- twins waited competed with their payrolls of of their limitations. You know consistently producing some there'll players. Get a lot of moms -- tremendous respect street.

Give us a sense Mike if you can a view a busy season you've shared with us the scale of that he you know the enterprising of the international. Challenge of the domestic challenged. Hundreds thousands of play is playing as we say you're trying to. -- that haystack and find that needle. And an end -- do it on a regular basis. But he has to be a very intense. Period of preparation and analysis. When is the busy season for you folks the busiest season and actually what does the next drafted -- that talent looked like he saw accomplished --

Well I you know -- I'm not directly involved with the drought -- which I think and it. The out there they're busy season runs from about January through June when they do all the -- It's sort of the players they had the draft takes place on June brought some player developments more little more like slow burn of the -- The -- he spring training them lightly -- that runs from April September and then we have the -- Programs like instructional league down in Munich in. I think that we run in December and January up from Austin. Those things that we deal with a player development so. Scouting a little bit more concentrated from January to June and then we we kind of pick up the pieces at that point there's there's the year.

If for somebody of draft the glitzy drafted graph previous and his don't like catcher he looks like -- triage does Sharon student of history and tell Mike it looks like -- tree on dust. That's -- as a compliment opera -- it be another 65 on a Hollywood half that's what it means they could also be playing little gap -- I bought the lab. But for the instructional leagues if you draft somebody. -- they had direct contractual obligation to go to instructional league ready just in Iraq the at the end of his minor league season. A good season we'll see you next year by the way if you want to work on the fastball a curve where having an instructional league down in Arizona and a couple of weeks is an option dollars in mandatory.

I don't know the first the first seven years we -- week. Have pretty good control. -- schedule on on seat in seat and off -- instructional league it is -- invites. Quote unquote invite. But if you're invited these ya gotta show exact spot -- the climate in this totally optional but -- for.

You know I reminds me like whatever is the speaker of the house and I used to invite somebody in my hand I have to. On the right need to be there at -- ice the loaded already terrified about yeah -- eleven fighting title of the grand -- load god greetings from the commonwealth of you know -- pays -- did great with the attack had taken up a lot of -- and I we could talk about it forever and have a which is why we love to do this. Front -- those Red Sox front office report as of Friday feature so let -- days ago he gets an important step to do and congratulations to Mike in the whole club. On that class of 2005. And how well does not mean -- when he talks about Adrian liked -- that in this but the yankees Stewart well can -- but seriously step back from the little -- think of what every other Major League teams thank you see the -- performance of weld his best ever in his. Competing again I'll say -- boldly. In the post season. This year as well this definitely via and in and they have these fabulously successful drafts and upload it seems a recurring basis on the so far so good and so what what might go and we also thank. The dairy conferencing because in with a spots. At today's edition of the front office report. In the dairy delivers the next generation HD video conferencing audio visual and network solution drop -- short timeout. And then back to you in a moment on eighty M 680 WRKO.