Questioning Authority with Mike Easler

Mike Easler was drafted by the Houston Astros in 1969 and assigned to Covington (Va.) of the Appalachian League. He didn't know at the time that it would take him a decade to make it to the Majors full time. Always known as a solid hitter, the "Hit Man" appeared in 55 games with the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates, mostly as a pinch-hitter, and picked up a World Series ring for his efforts.

His playing career culminated with some outstanding offensive seasons in the early 1980's: he batted .338 while blasting 21 homers and driving in 74 runs for the Pirates in 1980 and recorded 600 at-bats for the first time as a designated hitter with Boston in 1984 when he went .313 with 27 homers and 91 RBIs as a 33-year-old. Since his playing days ended in 1987, he has continued to be involved in the game as a hitting coach, working with sluggers such as Mark McGwire and Mo Vaughn along the way.

He was the hitting coach for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns in 2006 and will have the same role with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s in 2007.

Minorleaguebaseball.com: What do you remember most about your first time around in the Minor Leagues?

Mike Easler: More than anything I remember my first season I was assigned to Covington, Virginia, which had a paper mill in the city. I remember the smell wasn't a very good one (laughs). I don't know what it really smelled like...maybe a cattle farm but it wasn't something I was used to. We had a huge flood that season and the ballpark was underwater for a couple days too. It was a bit of a shock but I was on the baseball diamond and that was heaven.

MiLB.com: Have times changed that much? How different are the Minors from when you were a player?

ME: It's changed tremendously. Back then we only had one manager who taught you how to pitch, hit, field, everything. Nowadays, the guys have hitting coaches, pitching coaches, fielding coaches so there's a little more instruction and guidance than we had.

MiLB.com: Life in the Minors can be surreal. What's your favorite tale of the Minors, either as a player or on the bench?

ME: I was one of those players who spent 10 years in the Minors, six in Triple-A, and 10 years of winter ball. I spent a non-stop decade playing, trying to get to my dream of the Majors, but I remember being assigned to Cocoa, Florida, where it was hot and buggy. The next year I went to Columbus, Georgia, and that was really, really hot. I remember eating at the burger joints, the bus rides, but I had a love for the game and that's what kept me going.

MiLB.com: How have teammates you played with in the bigs reacted to your current gig?

ME: Everyone knows you have to go backwards to get back into the Majors. Former players know it's not as easy to go back; getting back on the buses, it's cold and cramped, but you deal with it because it's the only way to get back to the Majors. A lot of times I run into guys who played with me and we sit and share stories.

MiLB.com: Do the guys on your team know much about you and your history as a player?

ME: They do and they don't. They act like they do but then I'm sure they go home and get the laptops out to see what I've really done (laughs). Then they'll come to me and ask how I got my nickname and what it was like to play in the World Series.

MiLB.com: What have the players on your team taught you? Do they keep you up-to-date on pop culture?

ME: They're all walking around with iPods and cell phones (laughs). Back in my day, we were seen and not heard, but today the guys are a lot louder and voice themselves. Most are respectful and listen like they should, but sometimes you get the ones that are disrespectful...that's when I like to get my hands on a bat and show them I can still hit.

MiLB.com: What kind of reaction do you get from fans?

ME: Most are like, "Mike Easler, I remember you as one of my favorites," but it's usually the older gentlemen that show up with old cards and my old bat or jersey. It's great to hear the true fans that remember certain games or hits you've had. The fans always bring you back to your playing days and that really makes me happy.

MiLB.com: What city or cities do you most look forward to stopping in during the season?

ME: I'll put it this way -- the Minor Leagues are the Minor Leagues. The cities have a few places to eat, some nice hotels and we're in and out, spending a lot of time at Waffle Houses or Burger Kings. This year, I'm in Las Vegas so I'll get to see some cool places in Salt Lake and Memphis.

MiLB.com: What's the toughest part of the job?

ME: The long bus rides. Last year I was in Jacksonville with the Southern League and our longest ride was 12-14 hours long. Also it's the Minor League money...if you're a Minor Leaguer, you're making Minor League money, but all former big leaguers know that you have to put your pride away if you want this job. You have to really want to coach, you can't half-want it.

MiLB.com: What do you think of your bobblehead?

ME: I haven't had one yet, but I've seen a bunch of others. My head's big enough already (laughs), I don't need one. Nowadays, a lot of Minor Leaguers get their own bobblehead but maybe the coaches just get overlooked. I'm kidding, there are only two types of coaches in the Minors -- those who are humble and those who are about to be humbled.