Roenicke coaxes Dalbec out of shell
Prospect considers self an ‘introvert’
FORT MYERS — Had Ron Roenicke not taken baseball so seriously, had he taken a bit more time to enjoy himself during his eight-year big league career in the 1980s, he thinks he would’ve been a better player.
More than 30 years since his last big league game, the Red Sox’ interim manager is now trying to help other players not make the same mistake.
One of them is Bobby Dalbec, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound power-hitting corner infielder who had a nice spring but was optioned out of big league camp on Sunday. He’ll likely start the year in Triple-A Pawtucket but the Red Sox know they can count on him if a need at first base arises.
“If we need him, he’s ready,” Roenicke said.
Confidence is one area of Dalbec’s game that he’s still working on. And it can be a tricky thing for a manager to see. Thankfully for Dalbec, Roenicke seems like the perfect guy to guide him toward the big leagues.
“I’m very serious and quiet most of the time,” said Dalbec. “He likes to make sure I’m having fun still. I am. I’m just quiet. I’m a thinker. I’m very intense. I’m working.
“He told me how he was too serious when he played. He doesn’t want me to be like that, which I’m not. I’m just quiet. I’m a speak-when-spoken-to-guy for the most part. So I’m just trying to stay loose, to get better and have fun.”
Dalbec considers himself an introvert and a perfectionist. Roenicke gets it.
“It’s easy to say, just relax and have fun, but if that’s not your personality, it’s hard to do,” Roenicke said. “It wasn’t my personality when I played. I know I would’ve been a better player if I would’ve relaxed and laughed — not during the competition, but when you have time in between, you need to enjoy it more. You need to smile. You need to laugh at some guys when they’re joking in the dugout. Then you turn it back on again and get back out there and compete.”
Roenicke doesn’t want Dalbec to make the same mistake he did more than 30 years ago.
“Some guys can just be loose out there on the field,” Roenicke said. “A lot of guys can’t. I couldn’t do it. I wish I would have.”
It’s not that that Dalbec hasn’t had success.
He hit 59 homers combined over the last two minor league seasons while jumping in the ranks from High-A Salem to Double-A Portland to Triple-A Pawtucket in that span. And in 2019 he cut down on his strikeouts while increasing his walk rate.
But last fall, when the Red Sox made a handful of September callups to add depth to a club that was clearly not going to the playoffs, Dalbec was confusingly left off the list.
And when the Red Sox seemed to have a clear opening at first base entering 2020, they filled the hole with 34-year-old veteran Mitch Moreland just before spring training began.
“I think my first couple years I was always worried about who is going up, when am I going to go up?” Dalbec said. “I got that mentality that I’ll get there when I get there. It’s helped me a lot to stay focused on where my feet are, focusing on the task at hand.”
Having Moreland back on the roster assured that Dalbec would be out of the mix to start the year. But Dalbec doesn’t mind. He said Moreland has taught him a lot at first base, a position he played in college but recently switched back to after spending most of his minor league career at third.
Before being optioned on Sunday, Dalbec was 5-for-22 with one homer. His swing is inconsistent, Roenicke said. But the team’s hitting coaches are thrilled with his mechanics.
“He’s in a really good spot,” Roenicke said. “Now it’s just a matter of recognizing pitches earlier and making better decisions on when he’s swinging.”
A tall guy with long arms, there isn’t much room for error.
“J.D. Martinez was telling me last year, it’s like herding sheep; one thing gets out of whack and you have to keep it in line,” Dalbec said. “Just building the motor memory. Obviously working on new things out here a little more, lower body stuff. My upper body and hands are working really well. Just trying to sync those up with my lower body and let it fly in the game and have fun.”
A little bit of fun would certainly please his manager.
“I don’t feel like I have to be quiet, that’s just the way I am,” Dalbec said. “Very introverted at the field. In a different environment, like back home with roommates, I’ll talk more. But I’m here to work. And still having a good time.”