A short while ago, PawSox fans on Facebook and Twitter submitted questions to our very own Pete Sachs in an off-season edition of “Ask Arnie.”  Because of his question, Gregory Levinsky won four tickets to the double-header on April 7 thanks to our 125 Tickets in 125 Days promotion. We’ll make sure to keep the Ask Arnie feature going throughout the season.  Thank you to all of the fans who submitted questions.

PawSox Fans: Do you evaluate yourself as a manager by the success of your teams? Or by the success of individual players making it to the major leagues?

Arnie Beyeler: I like to measure success with both. The priority is getting players to the next level – no matter which level that may be. That’s what it’s all about in the big picture, but I think winning is also a big part of a player’s development.  Players learn how to win by playing the game the right way.

PSF:    How much notice does a Triple-A team get when a player is called up?

AB:     If the player is a starting pitcher or a young position player, sometimes they get a few days notice.  However, the majority of the time they get told after a game and immediately leave to meet their new team whether in Boston or on the road the next day.

PSF:    Which PawSox player(s) have the best chance to make the leap this season from good to great? Who is a dark horse this season to shine in Pawtucket that fans may not know about?

AB:     That’s not a fair question for me to answer because we think all our guys have the opportunity to play in Boston in the future.  With their help, it’s our job as development guys to make them better.  Sure, some are closer than others, or may fill a need at the next level better, but we have a very talented group that we feel are just waiting their turn to get the opportunity to succeed up there.

Beyler returns to Pawtucket in 2012 for his second season as the PawSox manager. (Kelly O'Connor)

PSF:    How much different is the process of strength and conditioning for your players now compared to 10 or 15 years ago?

AB:     Keeping fit has turned into a year round job due to all the money available at the major league level.  Players can’t sit home and expect to keep their jobs anymore without getting stronger and better in the off-season. It’s very competitive at every level and as a result we ask a lot out of these guys. 

For example, players lift weights throughout the season on a consistent basis depending on our travel schedule and their roles on the team.  Pitchers lift the day after they throw and starters have a strict four-day workout routine between starts. It’s a little tougher with relievers since they could pitch any night.  Position players do the organizational shoulder strengthening program at least twice a week and are expected to do an upper and lower body workout at least once per week. With our travel schedule that can be tough to accomplish. Keep in mind, all of this is on top of their daily work on the field (fielding, batting practice, etc.).

PSF:    What are your impressions of the brand new JetBlue Park?

AB:     The sight of the complex is very impressive.  One of the differences between JetBlue and Fenway are the seats in the middle of the green monster with a net in front of them. The dimensions are the same: Pesky’s pole and how the wall jets straight back behind it, the deep triangle in center field, the bullpen nook in right-center and the angles down third base line. 

PSF:    Were you very familiar with Bobby Valentine before he took the Red Sox managerial job? How much are you looking forward to working with him this spring?

AB:     Bobby Valentine has been a much respected figure in baseball for quite a while so I am familiar with that aspect of him.  Prior to Spring Training, I had never met him or worked with him.  His enthusiasm is contagious and he’s proving to be a great teacher of the game.  He’s been extremely energetic and detailed oriented in his first couple of weeks down here and is very hands on in everything we do on each field with all the players.

So there you have it, the first “Ask Arnie” of 2012.  Feel free to email or tweet me anytime with a question you’d like us to ask him while I’m in Ft. Myers March 18-25.  Thank you again to Pete Sachs with the PawSox for coordinating all of the questions.  

I’m off to record PawSox Insider with Steve Hyder.  On this week’s show we’ll have International League President Randy Mobley, New York Yankees’ Beat Writer for the Wall Street Journal, Dan Barbarisi, and Chris Mellen of SoxProspects.com.  You can listen to the show on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. on 920 WHJJ.

-AG

@aaronmgoldsmith
agoldsmith@pawsox.com