Lars Anderson: Struggles ‘part of development’

[Ed. note: Lars Anderson was recently interviewed at Fire Brand by Evan. Click here to see said interview. Today, we bring you another interview of Lars that touches on other subjects.]
You could spike Lars Anderson when he tags the bag at first base.
You could drill him in the ribs with a fastball.
You could take all of his bats and grind them into sawdust.
But nothing – including all of the above – would aggravate this Portland Sea Dog as much as the mention of all the hype he received before the first pitch was thrown in anger this season.
Hype like the fact Baseball America named the 21-year-old, left-handed hitter Boston’s top prospect and that the Red Sox named him their 2008 Minor League Offensive Player of the Year – after he hit a combined .317 with 18 home runs and 80 RBI between Class-A Lancaster and Double-A Portland.
“I really dislike all of that stuff,” Anderson said with a face that could have melted ice. “It’s made me more of a recluse, which I don’t know if that’s the right word. I don’t think I embrace that kind of stuff as much as other people. I don’t really think its accurate stuff.
“There are a lot of great players in this (locker room) and in this state and in this country. I don’t know how you rank a first baseman over a shortstop or a second baseman, or how do you compare a pitcher and a catcher?
“Absolutely,” continued Anderson, “its apples and oranges.”
True, perhaps. But in the opinion of Sea Dogs manager Arnie Beyeler, all the hype Anderson’s received can have its benefits in the long run.
“I think it’s affected him just from the standpoint of dealing with autograph seekers and media people,” said Beyeler. “But I don’t think it’s affected him out on the field. I just think it’s affected his every-day life.
“Every place we go, we get off the bus and people want his autograph. There are people lined up. He’s a real nice kid and a good kid and he’s had to learn time management a bit in terms of that and sometimes having to turn down people and manage his own time.”
And Beyeler understands full well Anderson’s situation could get worse before it gets better.
“We hope he moves up the ladder and gets the opportunity,” said Beyeler. “That’s all part of the game and that’s part of development, too. But its better he experience it down here and it gets gradually more and more for him and he learns how to handle it instead of just going to the big leagues and getting the carpet jerked right out from under him.”
One fact prohibiting his move up the later is that Anderson’s stats aren’t off the charts like they were a year ago.
Through his first 98 games, he was hitting only .242 with eight home runs and 49 RBI. And the fact he hit only .194 in May is a major reason why his batting average hovers in the land of mediocrity.
Beyeler doesn’t have to think twice when asked why Anderson’s stats aren’t where they were expected to be.
“I think it goes back to all of the hype,” said the skipper. “He’s a guy who’s in the middle of our lineup and people know who he is now. He gets a little respect. People work around him and situational pitch to him. It’s tougher on him and it’s going to be tough from here on out.
“That, again, is part of development. He’s going to have to learn how to handle that. But, again, he’s a young kid and that’s why he’s here – to learn that stuff and develop. We’re happy with what he’s doing and the steps he’s taken.”
Even though he struggled so much in May?
“He went through a little adversity earlier this year but he handled it well and he’s coming back,” said Beyeler. “Remember, he’s got a full season. A lot of people would like to have the numbers he has and have people run around and say he’s not having an up-to-par year.
“He’s getting in his reps. He’s improving defensively and he’s learning how to hit in the middle of the lineup in Double A. Once he works that out, I think he’ll be ready to move.”
Anderson, for his part, had modest expectations coming into the season – which, in effect, reflects his aversion to all the hype that’s enveloped him.
“I just want to develop,” he said. “It’s fine with me if that means having an unreal season and reaching nice numbers. If it means having a season where there is a lot of growth, even if that includes a lot of pain, whatever it takes to grow and mature as a person and as a player and enjoy the people I’m around and help them out – and have them help me out – and us grow together, that’s what I want to try and get out of it.
“Believe me, this is a good clubhouse.”
One aspect of Anderson’s stats that isn’t as good as it was last year is his average against left-handed pitchers.
A year ago he hit .304 against lefties. Through his aforementioned 98 games he’s hitting only .245 against southpaws.
“Granted, his splits are down this year,” admitted Beyeler. “But going back to what we talked about, he’s getting situational pitched to a lot more than in the past. That’s part of what he’s learning and going through.
“That’s part of the deal. Before, maybe it was just against starters. Now, they’re bringing their tough guy in out of the bullpen to face him late in the game. We’ve faced a lot more left-handed starters in this league than we’ve seen before.
“Guys from April on have been throwing the kitchen sink at him. But he’s learning. He’s dealing with it.’
If Anderson had not learned before, he’s certainly learned this season that the key to success for any position player or pitcher is the magical “C” word: consistency.
“It’s the same with everybody in the minor leagues,” he said. “It’s consistency. Let’s say you go out there and you put five really good, aggressive swings on balls during the game and take five passive, mediocre swings. I think the goal is, the next time, to take six good, aggressive, short swings and only take four passing swings.
“Being more consistent with your approach and how you handle the game is the key.”
Indeed. But Anderson wants zero part of handling questions about what the future holds for him in Boston, especially since the Red Sox have an All-Star first baseman in Kevin Youkilis – and they recently acquired Victor Martinez.
“I’m competing every day at Double A and I’m not by any means where I need to be at this level,” he said quite matter-of-factly. “I can’t worry about what may be two levels away from me.
“I’ve honestly not thought about that at all.”
Neither has Beyeler to a large extent but he knows there’s absolutely zero way of avoiding comparisons.
“It happens all the time to young kids,” he said. “We have other guys out here who have comparisons with other players in the big leagues. They have to go out and play and just try to be themselves and develop.
“We’ll see what happens five or six years down the road. There have been a lot of guys who’ve gone through this organization and all organizations that have had those comparisons dropped on them. The percentage of success rate in this game is tough enough as it is let alone having to live up to the hype.
“But this guy works hard every day,” continued Beyeler. “He’s a very good player. Our job is to get him to the big leagues and we’ll see what happens from there.”