[Cambridge]

RedSoxNation.net caught up with Lowell Spinners manager Luis Alicea at the conclusion of the minor league season. A native of Puerto Rico, Alicea spent 13 years in the major leagues, including one in a Red Sox uniform. The team's second baseman in 1995, he hit .270-6-44 and went 6 for 10 with a home run in the playoffs versus Cleveland. We talked to Luis about his playing days, his experiences as a first-year manager, and some of the prospects he worked with in Lowell.

http://www.lowellspinners.com/images/luisaliceaheadshot.jpg

RSN: Let's start with something unique, which is that you occasionally throw batting practice lefthanded. Tell us about that.

LA: I used to throw better lefthanded as a kid, but when I was twelve my dad had me switch to righthanded because I wanted to play in the infield. This year my arm got a little sore -- I hadn't thrown much for a few years -- so I switched over once in a while.

RSN: In the early 1990s, Greg Harris wanted to turn around and throw lefthanded, but the Red Sox organization wouldn't allow him to. As a manager, would you allow one of your pitchers to do it?

LA: If he's capable, why not? He'd have to prove to me that he could do it and be competitive, but if that's the case, sure.

RSN: Talk about the differences in managerial philosophies at different levels of the minor leagues. I'm referring primarily to winning versus teaching.

LA: I can only talk for this year, but teaching and keeping players healthy is the priority. Winning shouldn't be as important at this level, but it's still better than losing.

RSN: Tell us how you ended up in Lowell this summer.

LA: Basically, the job was available and giving managing a try was an opportunity worth taking. And a short-season assignment was a good way to start, because I wasn't sure I wanted to be away from home all year.

RSN: What have you been doing the past few years?

LA: Not very much. Riding horses, mostly.

RSN: What were some of the surprises you encountered in your first year of managing?

LA: I'd say it was some of the things young players do, like first basemen colliding with runners around the bag. And once, one of our guys rounded first on a base hit and quit paying attention -- they threw the ball behind him and he was tagged out before he knew what was happening. It was one of our better players, too.

RSN: You played for a number of managers in your MLB career. Who among them influenced you the most?

LA: They all had things in common, and they all had differences. I'd say that I try to take a little from all of them. Tony LaRussa, for instance, was a great motivator and a master when it came to preparation. Tony Muser was a believer in working hard in practice, not just going through the motions. Kevin Kennedy let you play -- he didn't micro-manage. Joe Torre was a great communicator. Johnny Oates was the easiest to play for -- he didn't put pressure on you, but earned your respect. Whitey Herzog was great at finding the best match-ups and putting you in the best position to succeed.

RSN: You moved people around a lot this year, with guys like Andrew Pinckney, John Otness and Chuck Jeroloman playing multiple positions. Tell us about that.

LA: At this level you want to see what players can do. Jeroloman has nice hands and can play all over the infield. Pinckney is probably too hyper for the outfield, but he can move around and probably even catch. Otness probably handles third base best, but he'll probably try catching next year, too.

RSN: Kenny Perez was reportedly reluctant to move from shortstop to second base to accommodate Hanley Ramirez in Portland. What are your thoughts on that?

LA: If you can increase your value to the team, it's silly to say you don't want to do something. Players should be happy just to be in the line-up.

RSN: Thinking about organizational philosophies, how important is it to be on the same page with other levels throughout the system? Also, how do you ensure that happens?

LA: We have rovers who help with the communication. We also fill out reports on a regular basis, and need to talk to the organizational people if we want to try something -- they're the ones in charge. If we let a guy go over his pitch-limit, we get a phone call the next day. I've also gotten calls for playing a guy in a certain position when they wanted to see him somewhere else.

RSN: Let's jump over to your playing career for a while. Your 13 years in the majors were split between the American League and National League. Did you have a preference?

LA: I'm not sure about a preference, but there are differences. You need a better bench in the National League because you're pinch-hitting and double-switching more. That's where an ability to play different positions comes in handy. Speed is more important in the National League, too.

RSN: You were with the Red Sox in 1995. What are some of your memories from that season?

LA: The playoffs were memorable, but sweeping the Yankees at home earlier in the season was probably even more so. That's the first time I really understood what the rivalry was all about. I knew about it, of course, but there's a difference between knowing and understanding. I remember us turning five double-plays in one of the games -- I believe I started three of them.

RSN: John Valentin and Tim Naehring were teammates of yours. Tell us about them.

LA: Valentin was a good player -- very hard-nosed, and a good hitter. Naehring was awesome. He was a good guy, and he played hard, and he played hurt. A lot of times he was out there when he probably shouldn't have been, and you wouldn't even know it.

RSN: Tim Wakefield was a big part of the team's success.

LA: He was the savior of the team that year. He won two games in three days once, and every time we were struggling he'd come through and pitch a great game. He was a huge part of our success.

RSN: Mo Vaughn and Jose Canseco were there, also. Everyone knows they were great hitters, but what were they like in the clubhouse?

LA: Mo was one of the leaders. When he spoke, everyone listened, and where he went, everyone followed. Jose was Jose. He always did his own thing and didn't care what people said. That doesn't mean he wasn't a great teammate, though -- he was. He was a lot of fun.

RSN: Let's come back to the present. Which player impressed you most at Lowell this summer?

LA: Christian Lara. He's going to be a major leaguer, and it could happen by the time he's 21. He's very instinctive, he has a good arm, he's a switch-hitter who can run -- he can compete at any level, he's that good.

RSN: Does he remind you of anyone, past or present?

LA: Does he remind me of anyone? Actually, he reminds me of me. Seriously.

RSN: Matt Van Der Bosch had a solid year, which included setting a team record for steals. What were your impressions of him?

LA: He's a good player. He had a lot of quality at bats, and he's fast, but there are things he needs to improve, too. One is improving his bunting, so he can take better advantage of his speed.

RSN: Patrick Perry tore up the college circuit but had a disappointing season at Lowell. How do you view him?

LA: It was a real, "welcome to pro ball," for him -- moving up to a different level without an aluminum bat -- and it drove him crazy. He had bad mechanics as a hitter, with no real load or separation. Pitch recognition was a problem, too, but he did improve later in the year. As a matter of fact, he probably improved more than 50% from beginning to end. He did that by working hard and staying after every game, trying to get better, and it showed.

RSN: Among other players who underachieved, which have the most talent?

LA: That's a hard question to answer, but it might be (Matt) Ciaramella or (Heriberto) Guzman. Ciaramella has a good swing -- it reminds me a lot of Raphael Palmeiro's -- but he doesn't know how to hit yet and he's not strong enough. Not playing in a top-level program might be a part of that, like with Perry and a few others. Guzman might be the most talented guy on the team, but he over-swings too much. He'll drive one up the gap, and the next time up he'll try to hit it twice as hard and twice as far. There are other guys, too -- they have tools but almost look like they're blind at times, judging by some of their at bats.

RSN: Let's talk about a few of the pitchers. Who are a few that stood out?

LA: Anibal Sanchez is one. He definitely has starter potential at the major league level, but at 20-years-old his command isn't quite there yet. Tommy Hottovy looks like he's major league all the way. He's the most mature and throws three pitches for strikes, consistently. Andrew Dobies is similar -- a major league candidate and a good athlete. Barry Hertzler is another. If he can learn to believe in himself, the talent is there. He's willing to work and throws 93-94 with heavy sink.

RSN: How about R.J. Swindle -- how does he project?

LA: I can see him as a situational lefty down the road -- a Tony Fossas type. I'd like to see him pick up a few miles per hour on his fastball. He does know how to pitch.

RSN: Let's close with a few questions about your early years. Who did you follow growing up?

LA: I grew up in Puerto Rico and mostly only saw the playoffs and teams that were more popular. I liked Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine" and Pete Rose.

RSN: What about your early playing days?

LA: I played on good teams and traveled to places like America and Venezuela. Guys like Reuben Sierra and Benito Santiago were on my Legion team. The baseball down there is good, and I was fortunate enough to play in the major leagues. Now I'm trying to help younger guys who are trying to do the same thing. A lot depends on the organization, but I can see myself staying in this role. I think I have things to offer.

[theycallmemattmo]

Nice job Cambridge. You didnt happen to be in Vermont when you did that interview were you? I say this because when Lowell was playing Vermont toward the end of the season, there was someone interviewing Alicea, it could be many people, but it doesnt hurt to ask. If so, if you saw a shaggy haired skinny employee possibly with oversized aviator sun-glasses, you could have seen me.

[Cambridge]

theycallmemattmo, on Oct 9 2004, 10:24 PM, said:

You didnt happen to be in Vermont when you did that interview were you? <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No, I haven't had the pleasure of traveling to Burlington for a game. I'd love to do that next summer -- preferably to see the Spinners -- and hopefully Alicea will still be at the Lowell helm. Most people I've spoken to feel he did a good job, and along with being professional he's quite personable.