Players Come First for New PawSox Manager Kevin Boles
January 15, 2014 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
Kevin Boles already had one valuable commodity in his favor when the Boston Red Sox were mulling over who should replace Gary DiScarcina as the Pawtucket Red Sox new manager.
His father, John Boles, managed the Marlins for a total of four years.
The knowledge and wisdom possessed by Boles the elder was passed down to his 38-year-old son.
"I think the biggest thing I learned early on managing is you have to be patient," said the PawSox new skipper. "It's a very tough game. Obviously, it's geared toward failure. You have to do the best you can to put players in position to succeed. But that being said, you have to make sure you're organized and that you have a daily plan plus a daily routine and to make sure you're structured.
"My father has been a terrific resource. But just making sure you're patient and have standards is important. You have to make sure you're there for the players. The players are number one and you have to make sure you have their best interests at heart.
"We definitely want to make sure our players succeed," continued Boles. "There's no doubt about it."
There also isn't any doubt about the importance the organization feels regarding the manager of its Triple-A affiliate.
"The Pawtucket manager is the most challenging job we have in our minor league system given the different requirements," said Director of Player Development Ben Crockett. "You're dealing with a different type of player. You're balancing the same types of prospects you've had throughout the system but also older players who've been there and done that and are trying to get back.
"You're trying to keep the motivation high when guys are not necessarily where they might want to be and keeping that team environment together."
Crockett couldn't emphasize enough the importance of communication between the man who sits in the PawSox manager's office and the major league club.
"The Triple-A manager certainly is one that speaks to the major league staff more than others and is able to provide that perspective - being able to provide them a pulse of what's going on with the players that were sent down and how they're responding or maybe players that are on the brink of being called up," said Crockett. "He speaks to areas of need with the big league club in terms of whose ready in Pawtucket.
"As the Triple-A manager, communication is an important part of the job."
Also important is the fact Boles has managed in the Boston farm system since 2006 including the last three seasons at Double-A Portland. As a result, he got an up-close-and-personal look at highly-touted prospects like infielders Xander Bogaerts and Garin Cecchini; pitchers Drake Britton, Brandon Workman, Matt Barnes and Anthony Ranaudo; and catcher Christian Vazquez.
Might that provide Boles with a comfort zone of sorts since "X" number of Boston's prospects could be wearing a PawSox uniform this season?
"I think it works both ways," said Boles. "I think there's a comfort level as far as knowing the players' abilities and putting them in a position where they can get the most out of their ability and not asking them to do things that they may have a difficult time doing and to work on their deficiencies. You also want to keep building on their strengths.
"I think the guys I've had understand the importance of the programs we've put in place and the importance of our structure. We want to make sure we follow up with what the big league club wants as far as fundamentals are concerned."
Boles was right on target in terms of what he considers his primary task.
"We want to get them to the big leagues - period," he said. "We want them to be successful. They respect that fact. It's definitely a special group of guys we have coming through at the upper levels. We have some guys who are very talented and we just want to make sure we finish the job here.
"A lot of these guys are going to major league camp for the first time. They're starting to be around major league players. They're starting to feel the buzz especially in New England. It's a different atmosphere. You're definitely in Red Sox Nation."
The fact Boles has managed in Red Sox Nation for seven years entered into the equation when Boston was considering who would replace DiScarcina, who was named the Angels' third base coach this past November.
"That fact is certainly one that played into it and was a positive factor," said Crockett. "I think Kevin's forged some excellent relationships with his players throughout his career and certainly in the last several years with the group of players he'll likely have in Pawtucket this year.
"I think having the players' trust and the relationship building allows the manager to uphold the standards that are required and to teach - and to send the tough message that needs to be sent at times to a player. That relationship, plus the trust the players have for Kevin and his knowledge of the players and knowing what different players need, certainly are factors that put Kevin in a really good position to succeed this year in Pawtucket."
In recent years, PawSox managers like Ron Johnson, Torey Lovullo, Arnie Beyeler and DiScarcina have succeeded to the point where they earned a promotion to a major league team.
Asking Boles if that was on his mind during the interview process is a major waste of time.
"Not at all," Boles said quite matter-of-factly. "It's about the players and it has to be. I'm fortunate to be in this industry and do what I do. Being part of a championship-winning organization and having the opportunities the Red Sox have provided me make me feel I'm blessed in a lot of ways. But the players' needs are number one. You can't have a personal agenda.
"I think you can't go wrong when you put the players first."
International League Stories from January 15, 2014
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- Players Come First for New PawSox Manager Kevin Boles - Pawtucket Red Sox
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
