Manager Terry Francona talked all year not only about those contributions and how they helped the club stay afloat, but also about how accurate the forces at the minor league level were in determining who was ready to help, and when. But who is the most underrated member of the Red Sox’ organization?
Much of that credit can be given to a man who is known to most that work in and around the organization but may not be a household name throughout New England. Mike Hazen, the director of player development, heads a staff of dozens who oversee exactly what his position title implies. And while much of that involves fastball command and defensive footwork and learning to take the ball the other way, much of it includes a mental preparedness for what might be at the end of the tunnel.
Of course, older minor leaguers such as Darnell McDonald, 31, and Daniel Nava, 27, weren’t picking up tidbits each and every day that enhanced them as players. But the culture on the farm enabled them and their youthful counterparts (notably Ryan Kalish and Felix Doubront) to make nothing of the promotion and just keep playing their games.
It also allowed Francona to scribble those names on a lineup card and not worry that the pressure-packed environment of Fenway Park was becoming too much. Take Doubront’s 2010 season as a prime example. The lefty opened the season as a 22-year-old in Double-Portland and dominated. He went 4-0 with a 2.51 ERA, earning a promotion to Triple-A, where he also performed well. And while the system was littered with older hurlers, some of whom already had a taste for the major leagues, Doubront was the choice when the club needed a replacement for the injured Daisuke Matsuzaka in June.
Doubront’s first appearance in the bigs just happened to be the return of Manny Ramirez to Fenway Park, perhaps drawing more media attention than any game on the schedule. Although not much of it was on the Sox’ southpaw he had to notice the intense scrutiny. Five workmanlike innings later and Doubront left with a lead his team would not relinquish, thus becoming the winning pitcher in his first major league start with the eyes of New England on Fenway Park.
The fact that Doubront could be transitioned from starter to reliever and thrown into the playoff push later in the summer, and do it all successfully, just emphasizes the value of preparedness.
Hazen discussed this process in an interview prior to the 2010 season.
"A lot of things get taken into consideration," Hazen said. "We try to figure out what is the comfort zone of the player. Lots of people help with this decision. We take input from the coaches and managers, and all the people in the front office. We talk to the player to help assess his comfort zone. It is a collective decision. We don’t want to overwhelm a guy, but we have to challenge the player too."
Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Bard and Jed Lowrie all completed their minor league development on Hazen’s watch. With the exception of some minor bumps in the road it is safe to say that each of them hit the ground running when their name was called.
Hazen’s task is performed in each and every minor league system and many may go about it in much the same way. But while it is hard to quantify, in the five years Hazen’s been shooting players up the ladder the Red Sox have found perhaps more success than anyone else.
Each day of November, we will explore a different issue facing the Red Sox this offseason.
Nov. 11: How will the shakeup on the coaching staff affect manager Terry Francona?
Saturday, Nov. 13: Will the presence of Mike Lowell (Jason Varitek) be missed in the clubhouse?
