Catching up with Steve Scarsone
Ports: What do you hope to achieve in your first season with the Ports?
Scarsone: Obviously my primary focus is to the development of our players and guide them on their path to Oakland. I personally want to grow as a manager, leader, teacher and mentor so that I can continue to contribute to the A's organization.
Ports: This will be just your second year in the A's organization. How does it compare to the other farm systems you have worked or managed in?
Scarsone: I continue to be impressed with the A's organization. They have created a family atmosphere that gives its staff the confidence to bring their own personality and talents to the game. They have assembled a quality staff that has the best interest of the players in mind. I was lucky to work for 2 other quality organizations; Phillies and D-Backs.
Ports: What do you admire most about the Oakland organization?
Scarsone: I really admire the way that we as a staff interact together and share experiences and theories of how to teach the game and develop the players. I feel confident that I can talk with any of our other coaches and there is a mutual respect and a common goal of development.
Ports: How do your plans or goals for managing the Ports compare to the plans and goals you had entering into last season with the Kane County Cougars? Are they similar or different? Do you have different expectations of the players because this is High A versus Low A?
Scarsone: Last season was unique because it was my first season back in the game after a 6-year break. I was trying to reestablish myself as a manager. I also took into account that it was the first full season for many of my players. So I would say that I played it pretty safe last year trying to make the transition as smooth as possible for me as well as the rest of the staff and players.
This coming season I will be expecting much more from my players and staff as well as myself. I will be expecting us all to make the mental and physical adjustments necessary to continue to move up the A's system. But at the same time, I will always bring a playful attitude to the game. We have to remember to feed our passion for the game on a daily basis. Without that passion we won't be able to reach our potential.
Ports: You have managed in the California League before-with Lancaster in 2002. How will that past experience shape your plans for this season?
Scarsone: My memories of the Cal League are of high scoring, offensive games. Coming from the Midwest League which is a "pitcher's league" to the Cal League which is traditionally a "hitter's league" I will have to adapt my style to best fit the situation.
Ports: You'll be working with Pitching Coach Don Schulze and Hitting Coach Tim Garland for the first time this season. Have you already begun to plan for this season with them, or will that begin more at Spring Training Camp?
Scarsone: I was informed by the A's of my Stockton assignment during Instructional League. Timmy was also working the IL and we had a chance to throw some ideas around and create a foundation for what we want to accomplish this summer. Don and I spoke just recently about some of the ideas we have when it comes to the pitching staff. Fortunately, I will be working with a couple of outstanding coaches who are also great guys that I have already grown to respect. I'm sure that we will take advantage of the time we will have in the spring to get on the same page.
Ports: What are you most excited about heading into Spring Training?
Scarsone: Anytime you get to put on a baseball uniform and walk out on the field is exciting. I look forward to the prospect of learning new things that will help me in the coming season as well as getting to know the players and discovering how we can help them grow as ball players and as people.
Ports: How does your Major League experience shape your perspective as a manager?
Scarsone: I had a chance to play for some great managers and coaches in my 14 year playing career. Guys like Dusty Baker, Tony LaRussa, Johnny Oates, Tony Muser, Lee Elia to name a few. I try to draw from all of them. As a player at the highest level I had to use all of the resources available to compete and be successful. This is where I feel I bring a lot to my present job. I'm able to teach my players through my own life experiences and pass on the valuable information that I gathered through the years from some of the great baseball guys like the ones mentioned above.
Ports: Do you have any set principles or philosophies that you follow when you manage or instruct players?
Scarsone: Sure, there are many philosophies and principles for every situation. But to generalize, when I instruct I always try to explain "why". I try to make the player understand why he needs to do certain things. Whether its a mechanical technique or a thought process for a certain situation, if the player understands the reason for and the consequences of his actions he will have better retention of the information or the skill.
I don't want to just give orders that need to be blindly obeyed, I want the players to be able to understand and think on their own so they can reach their true potential.
Ports: What time of the season do you get most excited for-Opening Day/Night, All-Star Game/Break, Draft Day or the postseason?
Scarsone: Opening day is always an exciting time. New surroundings, new teammates, etc. But I think I get more worked up in the post season.
Ports: Who has been a mentor for you? Have any of your coaches from your playing days been a role model for you as you became a coach and manager?
Scarsone: One manager/coach that I really connected with was Lee Elia. He was my manager 2 different seasons with the Phillies in A and AAA. After playing for some managers that tried to intimidate and create a fear of failure, Lee instilled that attitude of striving for success. While playing for Lee I felt they I enjoyed playing the game and rekindled the passion for it. Maybe that's why I have the same type of philosophy today and try to get my players to get that feeling as well.
As a manager, I feel I was lucky to work with Gary Varsho in 2000. He was the manager of Reading AA Phillies club my first year coaching. He had already established himself as a good minor league manager and was willing to show me the ropes. He was intense, serious and very fair. He also had patience with the players and also with me trying to figure out what the heck I was doing.
Ports: What accomplishment, either as a player or a coach, are you most proud of?
Scarsone: I guess just the fact that I was able to play for so long and that I got the chance to play at the highest level. For a guy who only played Varsity in high school as a senior and walked on to a Junior College to play in the big leagues was quite an accomplishment to me.
Ports: What lesson, philosophy or values do you want your players to learn from you once the season's over?
Scarsone: Make the most of every day. Play each game like its the biggest game of the year and know that at the end of the day that you gave it your best.
Ports: Just for fun, who's your pick to win the Super Bowl?
Scarsone: Saints! My grandparents grew up in New Orleans and I still have family there.