Drafted in the 18th round in 2006, Lars Anderson burst on the scene after a strong 2007. In 2008, Anderson did nothing to dispel his skyrocketing value, closing the year out with a .316/.436/.526 line in Double-A Portland in 41 games.
This year, Anderson has returned to Portland for what many thought would be a temporary situation. Instead, as the 21-year old struggles with adversity, he’s been leapfrogged in the SoxProspects.com prospect standings by Josh Reddick as the organization’s top bat.
While a line of .257/.350/.385 with eight home runs in 394 at-bats doesn’t exactly make one drool, Anderson’s hitting is too advanced to last. So what’s the problem?
Anderson said in the Boston Globe on July 10 that he’s struggling with a “lack of trust” in his abilities, while Portland manager Arnie Beyeler thinks it’s a matter of luck: the balls aren’t falling for a player who is already getting respect from opposing pitchers.
“I dont think my success or struggles can be pinpointed with just one thing [like a] lack or surplus of confidence,” Anderson told Fire Brand. “I think any outcome or result in baseball is a product of many factors.”
Confidence might be the one thing Alex Rodriguez doesn’t have in himself — confidence that he can be himself in an unforgiving environment. His lack of confidence is what has made him into a parody. His little excursion with Madonna… his kissing himself in the mirror. But Anderson doesn’t seem built that way, always questioning himself. “I go through phases of not having much confidence, but the majority of the time I am confident.”
Anyone think David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis might be able to show Anderson how to be confident under fire?
Anderson heads off any possible concern about his long-term abilities to hit under pressure, saying “I think I’ve always and still do have a feeling deep down that I will be a successful baseball player.”
One hopes so, but Anderson’s not sitting back and waiting to suddenly morph into a confident person. So how does Anderson work on improving his confidence? Well, for a rabid reader like Anderson, one turns to books.
He’s currently reading Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence by Gary Mack and David Casstevens. Anderson also mentions Change the Way You See Everything and a Buddhist book called Remember, Be Here Now.
Anderson’s reading habits aren’t limited to just books related to confidence. In his spare time, you’re likely to see him nose-deep into a book, not browsing around for trade rumors, which he says he does not pay attention to. He reads often on the road, not surprising given those bumpy bus rides can take quite a while.
Some of his most recent books include David James Duncan’s My Stories as Told By Water and Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife. Anderson also has read Malcom Gladwell’s powerful book, Outliers. Anderson’s favorite part about Outliers? The chapter on pilots and how they communicate.
Okay, so he’s working on the confidence issue. What else does he have to work on?
Probably the same thing everyone always has to work on: execution.
“I do see a difference in the pitching between this year and last year, but I am still getting pitches to hit,” Anderson begins, explaining what he has had to deal with this year, which has only compounded his struggles. “I probably haven’t seen as many [pitches] per at-bat or game but it is still my job to execute when I do get that pitch. That is something i want to be more consistent with.”
Anderson saw with his own eyes how execution can pay off when former teammate Aaron Bates was promoted to the big leagues earlier this year. In 11 at-bats, Bates posted a line of .364/.417/.545 after kicking 2009 off in Portland with a .340/.405/.505 line.
“He was an awesome teammate and good friend and to see him get some big league at-bats was thrilling,” Anderson gushed.
Anderson brought up another teammate when talking about who impressed him: the aforementioned Josh Reddick.
“I think Reddick is one of the best hitters in this game,” said Anderson. “The ball comes off his bat with a different quality and sound than everyone else and he can hit any pitch from any pitcher.”
With Bates having received the call already and Reddick pushing for a promotion to Triple-A, is Anderson looking ahead at what he has to do? “In all honesty,” Anderson says, “I am trying to succeed in Double-A right now. I am not thinking about the big leagues too much at all.”
Anderson’s focus on Double-A notwithstanding, the “too much at all” qualifier certainly indicates it has crossed his mind. For a 21-year old supposed to solve the Red Sox’s power hitting problems, it can be a tough experience to grapple with slumping and trying to live up to expectations.
“I am learning how to deal with others and my own expectations,” Anderson says. “I am realizing what an interesting process this is, how it’s such a long process where I am continually growing and progressing. It’s not always easy, but thats what makes it interesting.”
As you said, after an earlier interview with Lars, this is a kid we want on the Red Sox. His comments re: Josh Reddick as a hitter (I am equally impressed with his fielding) make me want him at Fenway next year. What about Bates? His performance was no fluke.
My trade deadline buyer’s remorse is becoming gargantuan. Would Teahen &/or Kurt Suzuki be enough until these kids emerge?
Relax, Gerry, nobody blames you. And, apparently, Theo is not gonna do anything at all.
Lars is evidently a very intelligent kid. And probably he is probably overthinking a little too much. In any case, the talent is there.
By the way, I still want desperately to trade for Adrian Gonzalez. I’m just losing hope.
Yeah. I though V-Mart or A.Gon would save the year and maybe the next several years as building blocks. We really are in an interesting position with a powerful team of 13 certifiable MLB All-Stars, gold gloves, etc., yet working through the injuries and issues of 6 of them.
A.Gon or VMart WOULD be difference makers this year and next. For that matter, so would Kurt Suzuki, who would cost fewer prospects.
At the same time, by 2010-11 we will NEED these young studs like Reddick, Hagadone, Kelly to take the places of perhaps 8 of our All Stars due to retirement and FA (Lowell, JD, Tek, Papi, Oki, Saito, Smoltz, etc). There are a limited # of these kids, and not all will develop as hoped for, so we can’t trade away too many or the immeditate future will suffer. I don’t see a blockbuster happening that endangers that future, but I still see the current team playing in October.
Remember, in just one month these kids start to reinforce Fenway with the expanded roster. I suspect Bowden, Tazawa, Reddick & others will give the Sox a good push starting 9/1.
Saw Lars in New Britain a few weeks ago and did get a sense of him. It was a small stadium and and so here goes.
I went into the game w/a positive view of Lars. He’s been mightily played up in the media. My sense when I saw him, which jibes w/the storyline, was that his heart was elsewhere or experiencing a tough patch. I kept comparing him to the other double-A players who played w/tremendous heart and soul. Lars seemed like he wasn’t there. This was especially evident when he played 1B; he seemed incredibly bored. Or worse, that he couldn’t wait till the game was over. After all, what is there to look forward to? The actual bus trip to Altoona or maybe real dreams of the Big Leagues?
Lars will be fine. He will adjust, they will adjust, he will adjust, etc. He’s also adjusting to not being #1 and being the subject of constant trade talks.
To think we actually DID get Victor Martinez . . . and were able to keep Lowrie, Anderson, Kalish, Reddick, Expo, Buchholz, Bowden, Bard, Tazawa & so many others.
We will miss Masterson, Hagadone, Price, Diaz & those who brought back Anderson, Kotchman, and other important pieces.
Congrats to Josh Reddick for getting the call-up!
Lars already has a big-league ego, maybe someday he’ll have the stats to match it. Until then, he’s just another guy hitting .250 in AA ball.
I’ve seen him play a bunch of times and he’s never impressed me.