RSN: You share a birthday with both David Eckstein and Ozzie Guillen. Do you have much in common with either?
MC: I'm probably more of a player like Eckstein -- a smaller guy who's thought of as a gamer. I model my game after his, because while he's not a showcase guy, he gets the job done. I know that I can't intimidate anyone with my physical tools, but I can intimidate them by going hard on every play and forcing mistakes.
RSN: What about Guillen, who often speaks his mind rather than being politically correct?
MC: I look at him as being real -- a real person. He's scrappy as a manager, which is what he was like as a player. In today's world, you can offend a lot of people by saying what's on your mind, but I don't think there's malice in what he says. I'm not sure I always agree with him, but I can see where he's coming from.
RSN: You're similar to last year's 32nd-round.pick, Jeff Natale, in that you're a middle infielder from a small New England school who does a good job of getting the bat on the ball. The knock against Natale is that his defense lags behinds his offense. How are you with the glove?
MC: I consider myself good. I'm pretty steady and don't make a lot of errors. But while I'm fine fielding ground balls, I am working on my range and fine-tuning my technique with Crabby (Lowell manager Bruce Crabbe).
RSN: What are you doing to improve your range and technique?
MC: Footwork is part of it -- the balance of your feet -- but so is your approach when the pitcher delivers the ball. If a sinkerball guy is on the mound, right-handed-hitters are more likely to roll over the ball and pull it, so I'll want to be more up the middle. You want to pay attention to the hitters, too. Hitters have a plan. Some are dead pull, while others are more inside out.
RSN: Your double play partner here has been Ryan Khoury. What has it been like working with Ryan?
MC: It's been good. We're friends, and have a connection in that we played against each other in the Coastal Plain League. He's different than me style-wise, though. Ryan makes everything look nice and easy, while I'm more about catching the ball and getting rid of it. As a second baseman, you're not as flashy. You're mostly just squaring balls up.
RSN: Have you always been a second baseman?
MC: My first two years in college I played second, short, and third, but for the last two it's just been second. I can play the outfield, too, but second base is probably my home now.
RSN: Do you feel you're better served by playing only at second base, or would playing multiple positions increase your chances of reaching the big leagues?
MC: I want to elevate my defensive game to the highest level, and any scout will tell you that the best way to do that is by focusing on one position. Still, the more places you can play, the longer you're likely to stay in the game, because the team will move you if you can hit. I've always been a hitter, and your bat is what usually gets you to the big leagues.
RSN: You got off to a slow start with the Spinners this year. Tell us about that, including how you got yourself back on track.
MC: I went 3-for-31, so it was definitely a terrible start. When something like that happens, you start wondering if you'll ever come out of it, and it took a lot of patience and heart for me turn it around. Confidence is huge in baseball, and I had to make some adjustments. The biggest ones were mental. The more you struggle, the farther you try to hit the ball, and it takes discipline to stay with your approach rather than trying to do too much.
RSN: Have you made any physical adjustments?
MC: One thing I’ve done is shorten my stride and focus on hitting the top of the ball. If I happen to catch one, that's fine, but in batting practice I'm trying not to hit the ball in the air. I want to hit line drives and hard ground balls.
RSN: What is your biggest goal for the off-season?
MC: I'd like to increase my speed, but also my size. I'd like to put on some more weight.
RSN: As a middle infielder, are you concerned that putting on weight might hinder your range?
MC: Not really. I don't have a big frame -- I have longer arms and legs, and a shorter body -- so my range shouldn't be affected. What I'll mostly be looking to do is strengthen my core and my legs. I think I have a good idea of what makes a good professional player, and I want to meet the standards the Red Sox have for conditioning.
RSN: You grew up a big Red Sox fan. Do you follow all of the New England teams?
MC: It's baseball and football for me, so I'm definitely a Patriots fan. One thing that impresses me is that they run their team really well, much like the Red Sox. They have a lot of "team" guys -- good clubhouse guys. Camaraderie is important, and both teams seem to have it.
RSN: You have older siblings.
MC: Yes, I have a brother and a sister, and I look up to both of them. They've really spoiled me over the years. They have great families, too. I love to play with my nephews. My sister and brother-in-law are really big fans.
RSN: What are you into off the field?
MC: My life is mostly baseball. Most anyone who knows me will tell you that. I do like classic cars, though -- muscle cars. When I was in high school, I had a '69 Camaro that my dad and I rebuilt.
RSN: What might we find you doing when you're hanging out with your teammates?
MC: Lately, a few of us have been playing "Guitar Hero," which is made by PlayStation. We've been taking it on the road with us, and a lot times we'll order food and just hang out and play. Jeff Farrell is probably the best at it. Ryan Khoury and Zach Daeges play, too. Zach has a real guitar, but I think he actually plays this one more. I'm not really that good, but I have hit better since I started, so I'm trying to play a lot.