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

Speaking on the "310 to Left" podcast, Lou Merloni discussed his issues with the way that the game is being taught at the lower levels.

Oakland Athletics third baseman (2) Lou Merloni hits a home run against the Chicago White Sox at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix, AZ in 2007. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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.

With the recent #RedSox losses, @LouMerloni & FANS are looking for answers. Lou believes the problem with baseball... is that the game is getting younger & younger!

Find the full conversation on NESN's YouTube channel:https://t.co/daV7kQZUId pic.twitter.com/SvUr2nxrAy

— NESN (@NESN) June 4, 2025

Merloni was presumably discussing what's wrong with the Red Sox, who enter play on Wednesday at 29-34. After acquiring Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, and Alex Bregman this offseason, the Red Sox were supposed to be World Series contenders, but it just hasn't happened.

They'll take on the Angels on Wednesday at 1:35 p.m. ET.

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