Lou Merloni
Encyclopedia
Louis William "Lou" Merloni (born April 6, 1971) is an American radio personality and a former Major League Baseball
player. Merloni was scouted by hall of fame scout 'Buzz' Bowers, and played for his hometown Boston Red Sox
from -. Merloni is well-known locally for his frequent trips between the Red Sox and their Triple-A affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox
, which has become known as the "Merloni Shuttle"
. He also played for the San Diego Padres
, Cleveland Indians
, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
.
Merloni was nicknamed "Sweet Lou" by Boston fans since he was born in Framingham, Massachusetts
. He graduated from Providence College
in 1993 and still holds several single-season and career records for the now-defunct Friars baseball team.
Merloni was a replacement player
during the 1994 Major League Baseball strike and is therefore barred from membership in the Major League Baseball Players Association
.
Merloni is known for hitting a home run in his first major-league at bat in Fenway Park, a 3-run home run of Jose Rosado on May 15, 1998.
After beginning the season in Triple-A, Merloni was called up to the Cleveland Indians
on May 17, 2006. Merloni signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics
for the season. He played the season for the A's Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats
. Merloni was chosen as the Most Valuable Player
in the 2007 Bricktown Showdown
, leading the River Cats over the Richmond Braves
by a final score of 7-1. He was also voted Best Defensive Player and Best Teammate for the 2007 season. Merloni contributed a home run
and 4 RBI
in the game. Before the game, Merloni was chosen as the River Cats' team captain.
Beginning in March 2008, Merloni began appearing on WEEI
-AM's "Big Show
" as a co-host. On May 27, 2008, Merloni joined the New England Sports Network (NESN)
as a commentator on the Red Sox pre-game and post-game shows. After the 2008 season Merloni decided not to remain with NESN. Merloni was hired by Comcast SportsNet New England during the 2009 season as an analyst and reporter.
In the offseasons of 1996 and 1997, Merloni served as a substitute gym teacher at Framingham High School
, where he attended high school.
On June 6, 2010, it was announced Merloni would be inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League
Hall of Fame as part of their 2010 Class on November 20. He played for the Bourne Braves
in 1991 and the Cotuit Kettleers
in 1992.
On February 28, 2011, Merloni started co-hosting WEEI's "Mut and Merloni" with Mike Mutansky. The show replaces "Dale and Holley".
Merloni's claim was quickly refuted by former Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette
who stated "It's ridiculous. It's totally unfounded ... If there was such a doctor, he wasn't in the employ of the Red Sox. We brought in doctors to educate the players on the major league drug policy at the time, at the recommendation of Major League Baseball".
Former Red Sox player Troy O'Leary
was interviewed and stated he didn't remember the incident. "I remember the normal union meetings in spring training where they'd talk about drugs and steroids, and I remember doctors talking negatively about them, but I don't remember ever hearing anything like, 'OK, this is the right way to do steroids.' If that happened, I missed that one."
Merloni's account conflicted with former major league pitcher John Rocker
who previously stated that a doctor hired by the Major League Baseball Players Association
told Alex Rodriguez
, Iván Rodríguez
, Rafael Palmeiro
and him how to use steroids after a spring training lecture in .
On May 16, 2009, ESPN
baseball analyst Peter Gammons
claimed that an unnamed major league player corroborated Merloni's claim. The player, who also could not remember the doctors name, placed the briefing as occurring during spring training . The player is quoted as having said: "I'm not sure of the name of the doctor; he was someone outside the Boston organization. In no way did I think Boston was trying to push steroids; I think they just wanted to educate us on the subject. But you could tell by the faces on the training staff that they didn't think the doctor would say the things he did".
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player. Merloni was scouted by hall of fame scout 'Buzz' Bowers, and played for his hometown Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
from -. Merloni is well-known locally for his frequent trips between the Red Sox and their Triple-A affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
, which has become known as the "Merloni Shuttle"
. He also played for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
.
Merloni was nicknamed "Sweet Lou" by Boston fans since he was born in Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
. He graduated from Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
in 1993 and still holds several single-season and career records for the now-defunct Friars baseball team.
Merloni was a replacement player
Replacement player
In professional sports, a replacement player is an athlete who is not a member of the league's players association and plays during a labor dispute such as a strike or lockout.- National Football League – 1987 :...
during the 1994 Major League Baseball strike and is therefore barred from membership in the Major League Baseball Players Association
Major League Baseball Players Association
The Major League Baseball Players Association is the union of professional major-league baseball players.-History of MLBPA:The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players...
.
Merloni is known for hitting a home run in his first major-league at bat in Fenway Park, a 3-run home run of Jose Rosado on May 15, 1998.
After beginning the season in Triple-A, Merloni was called up to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
on May 17, 2006. Merloni signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for the season. He played the season for the A's Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
. Merloni was chosen as the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in the 2007 Bricktown Showdown
Bricktown Showdown
The Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, previously known as the Bricktown Showdown, is a single championship game held annually between the league champions of the International League and Pacific Coast League Triple-A leagues of minor league baseball to determine an overall champion of...
, leading the River Cats over the Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
by a final score of 7-1. He was also voted Best Defensive Player and Best Teammate for the 2007 season. Merloni contributed a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and 4 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in the game. Before the game, Merloni was chosen as the River Cats' team captain.
Beginning in March 2008, Merloni began appearing on WEEI
WEEI
WEEI is a sports radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, that broadcasts on 850 kHz from a transmitter in Needham, Massachusetts, and is owned by Entercom Communications. The station is one of the top-rated sports talk radio stations in the nation. Studios are located in Brighton, Massachusetts...
-AM's "Big Show
The Big Show (sports radio show)
The Big Show is a sports talk radio program on Boston's WEEI 850 AM. Started in August 1995, the show is hosted by former Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Glenn Ordway and former Boston Globe columnist Michael Holley...
" as a co-host. On May 27, 2008, Merloni joined the New England Sports Network (NESN)
New England Sports Network
The New England Sports Network, or NESN [NESS-en], is a regional cable television network that covers the six New England states except Fairfield County, Connecticut and Southbury, Connecticut, a town in New Haven County, Connecticut which is covered by New York City sports networks...
as a commentator on the Red Sox pre-game and post-game shows. After the 2008 season Merloni decided not to remain with NESN. Merloni was hired by Comcast SportsNet New England during the 2009 season as an analyst and reporter.
In the offseasons of 1996 and 1997, Merloni served as a substitute gym teacher at Framingham High School
Framingham High School
Framingham High School, or FHS, is an urban/suburban public high school in the town of Framingham, Massachusetts, United States, located approximately 20 miles west of Boston...
, where he attended high school.
On June 6, 2010, it was announced Merloni would be inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
Hall of Fame as part of their 2010 Class on November 20. He played for the Bourne Braves
Bourne Braves
The Bourne Braves are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Bourne, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Bourne currently plays its home games at Doran Park in the town of Bourne...
in 1991 and the Cotuit Kettleers
Cotuit Kettleers
The Cotuit Kettleers are a collegiate summer baseball team based in the village of Cotuit, which is in the southwest corner of the town of Barnstable. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Cotuit currently plays its home games at Lowell Park...
in 1992.
On February 28, 2011, Merloni started co-hosting WEEI's "Mut and Merloni" with Mike Mutansky. The show replaces "Dale and Holley".
Steroid education controversy
During an appearance May 9, 2009, on WEEI's The Baseball Show, Merloni claimed that the Red Sox organization had a doctor brief the players during spring training on how to correctly use steroids. Merloni claims the session did not encourage players to use steroids, but rather informed players that there were right and wrong ways to use them. Merloni stated "It was like teaching your teenage daughter about sex education. The organization acknowledged that there were likely players using steroids and basically 'if you're gonna use them, this is how you use them so you don't abuse them'". Merloni could not remember the name of the doctor nor the year in which the briefing took place.Merloni's claim was quickly refuted by former Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette
Dan Duquette
Daniel F. Duquette is the Executive Vice-President of Baseball Operations for the Baltimore Orioles. He was the General Manager of the Montreal Expos from September through January and for the Boston Red Sox from through March...
who stated "It's ridiculous. It's totally unfounded ... If there was such a doctor, he wasn't in the employ of the Red Sox. We brought in doctors to educate the players on the major league drug policy at the time, at the recommendation of Major League Baseball".
Former Red Sox player Troy O'Leary
Troy O'Leary
Troy Franklin O'Leary is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Milwaukee Brewers , Boston Red Sox , Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs and also in the Australian Baseball League for the Daikyo Dolphins...
was interviewed and stated he didn't remember the incident. "I remember the normal union meetings in spring training where they'd talk about drugs and steroids, and I remember doctors talking negatively about them, but I don't remember ever hearing anything like, 'OK, this is the right way to do steroids.' If that happened, I missed that one."
Merloni's account conflicted with former major league pitcher John Rocker
John Rocker
John Loy Rocker is a retired American Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the Atlanta Braves, the Cleveland Indians, the Texas Rangers, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as well as the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball...
who previously stated that a doctor hired by the Major League Baseball Players Association
Major League Baseball Players Association
The Major League Baseball Players Association is the union of professional major-league baseball players.-History of MLBPA:The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players...
told Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
, Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
, Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro Corrales is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and left fielder. Palmeiro was an All-American at Mississippi State University before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1985...
and him how to use steroids after a spring training lecture in .
On May 16, 2009, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
baseball analyst Peter Gammons
Peter Gammons
Peter Gammons is an American sportswriter, media personality, and a recipient of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award for outstanding baseball writing, given by the BBWAA.-Education:...
claimed that an unnamed major league player corroborated Merloni's claim. The player, who also could not remember the doctors name, placed the briefing as occurring during spring training . The player is quoted as having said: "I'm not sure of the name of the doctor; he was someone outside the Boston organization. In no way did I think Boston was trying to push steroids; I think they just wanted to educate us on the subject. But you could tell by the faces on the training staff that they didn't think the doctor would say the things he did".