Questioning Authority with Scott Aldred

Scott Aldred was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 16th round (411th overall) of the 1986 First-Year Player Draft. He made his Major League debut with the Tigers in 1990, compiling a 1-2 record and 3.77 ERA in three starts. Aldred made 31 appearances for Detroit from 1990-92 before being selected by the Colorado Rockies with the 15th pick in the 1992 expansion draft.

Aldred, now the Trenton Thunder's pitching coach, played for the Tigers, Rockies (1993), Montreal Expos (1993), Minnesota Twins (1996-97), Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998-99), and the Philadelphia Phillies (1999-2000). In 1998 with Tampa Bay, he set a Major League record for most appearances in a season without a decision with 48. That record was broken by the Houston Astros' Trever Miller in 2007.

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

Scott Aldred: I was 18 years old and didn't quite know what to expect. It definitely wasn't what I thought it would be at first. We moved around a lot back then, and the fields were very different. Everything today is kept in such great condition. You have a lot of beautiful stadiums and parks. The playing conditions have greatly improved.

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

SA: Inevitably, there are going to be changes. There are so many more teams and players today than there were when I played. I think there are fewer power pitchers than there used to be. With so many players out there, the talent pool seems a little thinned out compared to 20 years ago.

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?

SA: I think the strangest story is definitely from playing winter ball. Our bus caught on fire one day outside of Caracas, and the bus driver just steps out and uses a fire extinguisher to put it out. And then we got right back on the road and kept on going.

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

SA: Several guys that I played with are now coaches themselves. We talk about the differences between playing and coaching a little bit, but most of the times, it's just kind of "hey, how are you doing" and that's it.

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

SA: Not so much, I think. We don't really talk about my career, but I will absolutely use the lessons I learned in certain situations to teach my players now. Both my successes and the mistakes I've made can help with any given lesson. Anything to help them out, really.

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

SA: It's a learning curve, most definitely. I learn daily from them, and I hope they learn from me. Honestly, everyone's different. The hardest part can be relating to each guy in a different way.

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

SA: Occasionally, I run into people that remember me. Sometimes they are fans that I remember seeing a long time ago.

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

SA: Portland, Maine is a beautiful town. I spent a half a year playing there and have fond memories of it. Two of my favorite ballparks are New Hampshire and Altoona.

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

SA: Without a doubt, being away from home for so long is very difficult. Travel is a part of baseball, but it's never easy to do.

MiLB.com: Have you collected all of your baseball cards?

SA: I never collected baseball cards. There are cards out there that I wish didn't exist, though. I'm sure a lot of guys feel that way.