Former Boston Red Sox Infielder, Current Broadcaster Critical of Minor League Baseball

Speaking on the "310 to Left" podcast, former Boston Red Sox infielder and current Red Sox broadcaster Lou Merloni was critical of Minor League Baseball and the way that players are taught the game these days.

I ​just ​think ​it's ​learning ​the ​game. ​And ​we've ​had ​this ​discussion ​before. ​I ​don't ​think ​they ​learn ​the ​game ​in ​the ​minor ​leagues. ​I ​just ​don't. ​I ​think ​they ​focus ​so ​much ​on ​individual ​achievement. ​You ​know, '​let's ​talk ​about ​your ​first ​step. ​Where ​does ​that ​rank? ​Let's ​talk ​about ​your ​exit velo. ​Let's ​talk ​about ​your ​chase ​rate.' ​Well, ​are ​we ​talking ​about ​winning ​baseball ​games? ​Are ​we ​talking ​about ​throwing ​it ​to ​the ​right ​base ​enough? ​Or ​is ​it ​all ​individual ​achievement? ​Like ​back ​in ​the ​minor ​leagues ​you ​were ​learning ​things ​in ​A-​ball. ​You ​made ​a ​couple ​mistakes, ​then ​you ​got ​to Double-A ​and ​you ​maybe ​made ​one ​little ​mistake, ​you ​know, ​by ​not ​moving ​the ​runner ​or ​throwing ​base ​the ​ball ​to ​the ​right ​base ​or ​taking ​first ​to ​third ​or ​taking, ​taking ​it ​when ​you're ​not ​supposed ​to. ​Then ​by ​the ​time ​you ​got ​to Triple-A, ​you ​really ​minimize ​those ​mistakes. ​Then, ​you ​got ​to ​the ​big ​leagues ​and ​you ​can ​learn ​how ​to ​play ​big ​league ​baseball. ​The ​speed ​of ​the ​game. ​Pitchers ​you've ​never ​faced ​before, ​some ​of ​the ​little ​intricacies ​of ​playing ​the ​game ​at ​that ​level, ​now ​they're ​learning ​those ​while ​also ​learning ​which ​base ​to ​throw ​to. ​While ​also ​learning ​when ​to ​tag ​and ​when ​not ​to ​at ​second ​base, ​when ​not ​to ​go ​to ​first ​to ​third ​at ​certain ​times.