louinterview

This interview was published in the Holbrook Jr. Sr. High School newspaper- The Holbrook Bulldog- in May of 1999. The interview was taken in march 99 at spring trainging in Fort Myers, Fl. at City of Palms Park.

It's the bottom of the ninth, two outs, full count, bases loaded, and your team is down by three runs, how do you feel? That's the typical question you would think one would ask when interviewing a professional baseball player, but I have an "inquiring mind" and a sense of originality.

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Lou Merloni, a member of the Boston Red Sox, while in Florida for their Spring Training. Lou is a 28 year - old utility infielder, picked up by the Red Sox in the 1993 June draft, and is beginning his first full season on the major league team. His big break came last year when he was called up from the Pawtucket Red Sox on May 9. He started in his first major league game on May 10, when the Sox played the Kansas City Royals and won 3-1. His first home game was on May 15, against the Kansas City Royals, in which he hit a 3-run homerun in Fenway Park.

On June 29, however, he was placed on the Disabled List with petella tendinitis in his left knee and was unable to play until September 12. Overall, he made 25 starts, 22 at second base and 3 at third base.

A. As a child, who'd I look up to, huh? I think I looked up to my parents. Yeah, that's the best way to go. I looked up to athletes but my parents showed me how to be the person I am.

A. My favorite player on the Red Sox...Wade Boggs. Growing up, watching him hit, I thought he was one of the best players in baseball.

A. The passing of Joe D. Well, it's always tough to lose someone like that, someone you look up to, one of the all time greats. When I was young, I might have rooted for the Yankees a little bit, so that makes it even tougher, and it's very, very sad.

A. I think winter is a good time to get yourself better; you know, you can get yourself stronger. You can go to the indoor cages up there now; there's a lot of those now. Go and get some swinging in, and work on your swinging, and get some instruction. I know for me one of the things I did in the off season was to try to get stronger.

A. The younger players, huh? On our team? Well, I think the only advice I can give them is to go out there every day, and play hard, and be thankful for what they have. Keep their quiet a little bit, and give everything they have everyday.

A. That was pretty exciting. My parents were there; it was their 33rd wedding anniversary; so with friends and family being there, I think it will be something I will never forget. I have a tape of it, and I'll be watching that for many years.

Q. There are some professional athletes who collect memorabilia. Do you have anything in particular that means a lot to you?

A. Memorabilia - wise, I'm kinda just getting into that now, I'm getting a lot of guys on my team, to sign some bats and things like that, guys I looked up to, other players, Cal Ripken signed a ball, things like that. I try to keep it around because it will be nice in years to come, playing up here and having things like that, knowing them and getting them to sign some stuff, put it up in the house.

A. Past or present? Who would it be and why? That's a tough one right there. I think, I think the one guy I would like to play with , past or present, would probably be Ted Williams. Watching him hit, have him dissect everything, and he's just a great thinker, great hitter, student of hitting; and I think someone you could really learn a lot from.

A. The hardest thing for me to say no to. Wow, I would never say no to... that's a good one! Got me thinking, huh? I probably would have to say my mother's cooking. Never have and I don't think I ever will.

A. Eh, it's no thrill. He's not that good anyway! (Everyone laughs) It's a lot of fun because I'm good friends with him, so we have a lot of fun out there, because of our friendship; it's a pleasure to watch him and some of the things he can do.

A. The hardest part, I think, is the mental part of the game. Having to play every single day with two days off a month. Getting yourself ready to go out and play at that level every single night, no matter how you feel, or how tired you are, is probably the most difficult thing.

Lou started in the Red Sox fourth game of the 1999 season and played well both offensively and defensively, hitting a double and assisting first baseman Jose Offerman with a double play. He has been filling in for those infielders who are sick or temporarily injured and switching off with second baseman Jeff Frye this season. I wish him the best of luck this year in his rookie season, being grateful he took the time to share his observations with us.

Recently there has been a lot of conflict between Lou Merloni and the officials on the Red Sox. He was sent down to the Red Sox minor league team on April 25. His good friend and teammate Nomar Garciapara, who usually keeps his quiet, has been questioning the decision of General Manager Dan Duquette. Hopefully, he will soon return to the Boston Red Sox and continue with his, so far, excellent season.



	An Interview With Lou by Jennifer Sterling This interview was published in the Holbrook Jr. Sr. High School newspaper- The Holbrook Bulldog- in May of 1999. The interview was taken in march 99 at spring trainging in Fort Myers, Fl. at City of Palms Park. It's the bottom of the ninth, two outs, full count, bases loaded, and your team is down by three runs, how do you feel? That's the typical question you would think one would ask when interviewing a professional baseball player, but I have an "inquiring mind" and a sense of originality. I recently had the privilege of interviewing Lou Merloni, a member of the Boston Red Sox, while in Florida for their Spring Training. Lou is a 28 year - old utility infielder, picked up by the Red Sox in the 1993 June draft, and is beginning his first full season on the major league team. His big break came last year when he was called up from the Pawtucket Red Sox on May 9. He started in his first major league game on May 10, when the Sox played the Kansas City Royals and won 3-1. His first home game was on May 15, against the Kansas City Royals, in which he hit a 3-run homerun in Fenway Park. On June 29, however, he was placed on the Disabled List with petella tendinitis in his left knee and was unable to play until September 12. Overall, he made 25 starts, 22 at second base and 3 at third base. I interviewed Lou on Tuesday before the game, after the Red Sox warm-ups and batting practice. Q. Whom did you look up to as a child? A. As a child, who'd I look up to, huh? I think I looked up to my parents. Yeah, that's the best way to go. I looked up to athletes but my parents showed me how to be the person I am. Q. Did you play any other sports in high school? A. Yeah, in high school I played basketball, and I was on the golf team. Q. What was your favorite subject in school? A. Math. I just liked figuring out problems and keeping track of my average. Q. Being from Framingham, who was your favorite Red Sox player? A. My favorite player on the Red Sox...Wade Boggs. Growing up, watching him hit, I thought he was one of the best players in baseball. Q. What are your feelings on the passing of Joe DiMaggio? A. The passing of Joe D. Well, it's always tough to lose someone like that, someone you look up to, one of the all time greats. When I was young, I might have rooted for the Yankees a little bit, so that makes it even tougher, and it's very, very sad. Q. For kids from the northeast who can't play baseball during the winter, what should they do to keep up their skills? A. I think winter is a good time to get yourself better; you know, you can get yourself stronger. You can go to the indoor cages up there now; there's a lot of those now. Go and get some swinging in, and work on your swinging, and get some instruction. I know for me one of the things I did in the off season was to try to get stronger. Q. Do you have any advice for the younger players coming up this season? A. The younger players, huh? On our team? Well, I think the only advice I can give them is to go out there every day, and play hard, and be thankful for what they have. Keep their quiet a little bit, and give everything they have everyday. Q. Your first major league at bat, you hit a homerun at Fenway Park. How did that feel? A. That was pretty exciting. My parents were there; it was their 33rd wedding anniversary; so with friends and family being there, I think it will be something I will never forget. I have a tape of it, and I'll be watching that for many years. Q. There are some professional athletes who collect memorabilia. Do you have anything in particular that means a lot to you? A. Memorabilia - wise, I'm kinda just getting into that now, I'm getting a lot of guys on my team, to sign some bats and things like that, guys I looked up to, other players, Cal Ripken signed a ball, things like that. I try to keep it around because it will be nice in years to come, playing up here and having things like that, knowing them and getting them to sign some stuff, put it up in the house. Q. If you could play baseball with anyone, past or present, who would it be and why? A. Past or present? Who would it be and why? That's a tough one right there. I think, I think the one guy I would like to play with , past or present, would probably be Ted Williams. Watching him hit, have him dissect everything, and he's just a great thinker, great hitter, student of hitting; and I think someone you could really learn a lot from. Q. If you weren't playing baseball today, what would you be doing? A. I would be coaching. Probably college baseball somewhere, if I wasn't playing pro ball right now. Q. What's the hardest thing for you to say no to? A. The hardest thing for me to say no to. Wow, I would never say no to... that's a good one! Got me thinking, huh? I probably would have to say my mother's cooking. Never have and I don't think I ever will. Q. What is it like playing next to Nomar as a double play combination? A. Eh, it's no thrill. He's not that good anyway! (Everyone laughs) It's a lot of fun because I'm good friends with him, so we have a lot of fun out there, because of our friendship; it's a pleasure to watch him and some of the things he can do. Q. Last question. What's the hardest part about being a baseball player? A. The hardest part, I think, is the mental part of the game. Having to play every single day with two days off a month. Getting yourself ready to go out and play at that level every single night, no matter how you feel, or how tired you are, is probably the most difficult thing. Lou started in the Red Sox fourth game of the 1999 season and played well both offensively and defensively, hitting a double and assisting first baseman Jose Offerman with a double play. He has been filling in for those infielders who are sick or temporarily injured and switching off with second baseman Jeff Frye this season. I wish him the best of luck this year in his rookie season, being grateful he took the time to share his observations with us. Recently there has been a lot of conflict between Lou Merloni and the officials on the Red Sox. He was sent down to the Red Sox minor league team on April 25. His good friend and teammate Nomar Garciapara, who usually keeps his quiet, has been questioning the decision of General Manager Dan Duquette. Hopefully, he will soon return to the Boston Red Sox and continue with his, so far, excellent season.