This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:08] Al Malafronte: Hello and welcome to the Break a Bat podcast where baseball meets Broadway, an attempt to show that my two favorite mediums don't have to live in such separate worlds and maybe even break some stigmas.

[0:20] Al Malafronte: We're happy to have you with us. Now let's play ball.

[0:25] Al Malafronte: Hello and welcome to Break a Bat. I'm your host, Al Malafronte, coming at you for the Broadway Podcast Network.

[0:32] Al Malafronte: Uh it's been a few weeks since we visited the stadium, a lot of episodes recently with our friends from the stage and screen. Uh but when you have someone who's willing to come on the show like my guest tonight, you certainly jump at that opportunity as a host.

[0:44] Al Malafronte: Uh tonight we're joined by a major league alum who played eight years in the big leagues and another six seasons in Japan thereafter. I think he's very appropriate to bring on our baseball meets Broadway podcast, as the majority of his big league career was actually spent right here in New York as a member of the Mets for three seasons.

[1:01] Al Malafronte: He's actually only one of 10 players in Mets history to hit for the cycle, which he accomplished in 1996. He was also a member of the 2002 Anaheim Angels that knocked out my Yankees that postseason, then went on to win the World Series.

[1:13] Al Malafronte: And as a matter of fact, he just so happened to be performing on stage right when the final out with that series was made at Angel Stadium. And if I lost anyone who's new to Break a Bat, Stage Right is a parallel that we use a lot for someone who's playing right field, which my guest did wonderfully for quite some time.

[1:28] Al Malafronte: And uh he's still involved as a talent agent in the Florida area for uh the Scott Boras Corp. And we're so grateful he could join us tonight. So, with that being said, if you'll please turn your attention to home plate, just beyond the marquee. Now, batting Alex Ochoa.

[1:44] Al Malafronte: Alex, welcome to the show.

[1:45] Alex Ochoa: Thanks, Al. Good to be here. Thank you for having me. Uh, it's a pleasure, man. It's a pleasure. Uh what a season, huh?

[1:53] Alex Ochoa: Yes, I know. Crazy, right?

[1:56] Al Malafronte: Yeah, I know a lot of guys like at once they retire, they try to separate themselves from the game a little bit, but you seem just as passionate for it now as when you played and coached. That's kind of uh it's kind of nice to see.

[2:08] Alex Ochoa: No, I love it. I love uh being around the guys. I love being around um um baseball. Um I grew up loving baseball. I grew up loving the Mets. So then I just love just everything about the game. So it's good to be a part of it and and um be able to affect or to um uh pass my knowledge to the guys that we represent.

[2:32] Al Malafronte: So did you watch a lot of the playoffs this year?

[2:36] Alex Ochoa: Yeah, I got to watch a lot of it. It was it was it was actually I'm I'm I was happy because uh obviously we only had six 60 game seasons, so um to watch the playoffs and expand the playoffs. That was that's actually fun.

[2:49] Alex Ochoa: Actually, now as you know, I'm a Yankee fan, so there's no way I could root for Tampa in that World Series, but I gotta say that game four was one of the best World Series games I've ever seen.

[2:59] Alex Ochoa: Yeah, it was it was crazy, man, because you know you think that the Dodgers had it in their hands and and uh and the the Rays, you know, they're they're battlers. They have the they battle it out, they have good pitching, they have a good bullpen.

[3:14] Alex Ochoa: So um, you know, um it it was uh good series against the Yankees. Uh sorry to hear that your Yankees lost, but uh or sorry to see the Yankees lost, but um, but it was a phenomenal series and a phenomenal game four.

[3:29] Al Malafronte: Now, you know a thing or two about what makes a great right-handed hitter. You think this a Rosarena kid is for real?

[3:37] Alex Ochoa: Uh he has the the bats feeling, let me tell you. He's he's strong. Um, he's very like wiry strong. So hopefully, you know, yeah, uh baseball is is uh tough game. So, you know, you can have a good stretch and and and not pan out to be what everybody expects you to be.

[3:56] Alex Ochoa: Um I went through that in New York, so I I have experience with that. So I know how it is, and you know, he has the talent to do it to continue. Obviously, he's he's done it in um in a stretch in the playoffs that was outstanding.

[4:10] Alex Ochoa: Um so hopefully he he he continues and and becomes the player that everybody thinks that he's gonna be.

[4:16] Al Malafronte: Yeah, it's interesting. I see glimpses, and you used a few uh a few different adjectives there that remind me a little bit of Alfonso Soriano, big power, uh wiry. If you throw him a fastball strike, he'll hit it a mile, but very streaky, I think, especially once the book is out on him.

[4:31] Al Malafronte: That's uh that's what I'm kind of curious to see, and how that'll translate over, you know, 162 game season compared to you know a pretty short sample size in 2020.

[4:40] Alex Ochoa: No, absolutely. In the game, you know, you have um advanced scouts, you have all kind of you know, now new technology that you know um depicts everything that you do good and and where your um where your weaknesses are and your deep uh, you know, so it's it's the game is a tough game.

[4:58] Alex Ochoa: A lot of guys nowadays throw really hard. So um, so it's gonna be it's it's always a battle. You know, every year is different. Um people you have to make constantly make adjustments, and that's that's the most important thing.

[5:11] Alex Ochoa: The guys that can make the adjustments on a consistent basis are the ones that that uh continue their careers and they continue to to be great players.

[5:19] Al Malafronte: You were always great at making adjustments. And what I find really interesting about your playing career is because when you look at your numbers, especially from an on-base percentage standpoint, you're the exact type of guy that these front offices today want hitting at the top of the lineup.

[5:32] Al Malafronte: Why do you think you were so successful uh when it came to your approach at the plate and your discipline as a hitter?

[5:39] Alex Ochoa: Um I always I always had a pretty good eye on the plate and I always had an idea of what I what I what I had to do. I had a couple uh difficult years after my actually my third and fourth year were a little bit um uh transition years like I said like you know obviously you're you're facing um the best talent in the world so you have to make adjustments and I think you get out of the thing out of your I got out of my comfort zone just because of the home runs everybody was hitting home runs and I wasn't really a home run hitter and I try to get out of that until I got back to what I needed to do and to um understand what type of player I was and continue that on base and you know um my skill of running the bases well and stuff like that.

[6:27] Alex Ochoa: So um I that's why I I I was consistent the rest of my time um in the big leagues in that aspect.

[6:35] Al Malafronte: And what's interesting is I know you were mainly a five six hitter throughout your career, yet when they'd stick you in the two hole or the three hole you really shined in the opportunities that you had there.

[6:43] Al Malafronte: It's a lot like Broadway. Sometimes you just need to give certain performers the opportunity to say take center stage in order to maximize their potential. Was there something about hitting towards the top of the order that you think motivated you a little bit more or did you change your approach, you know, knowing that you were going to be you know in a lot more important situations?

[7:01] Alex Ochoa: Um I would say uh growing up, I always hit on top of the lineup. I always hit first, second when I growing up in you know, high school and you know, little leagues or anything just because I ran pretty good.

[7:13] Alex Ochoa: Um, so I think that I felt more comfortable and up there than the fourth and fifth. I never saw myself as that player um that hit in the like really middle of the lineup, fourth, fifth, you know.

[7:25] Alex Ochoa: So I think it was just my comfort zone being up in uh at the top of the lineup to kind of um it it it it actually was more towards my type of game that I saw myself as and I think that's why I feel more comfortable.

[7:41] Al Malafronte: You mentioned a lot of guys were hitting home runs in your era. Did you ever feel overmatched by a playing field by you know when you have a lot of guys that are you know gaining an edge in you know ways that they weren't supposed to in the steroid era?

[7:55] Alex Ochoa: Yeah, I saw a lot of changes of guys and things like that during that time. Um I didn't I was a little bit naive at that time um um until you know later on you'd start understanding what's going on.

[8:07] Alex Ochoa: But um I I never I let me put it this way, I'd never really kind of gauge myself to kind of oh what what are they doing to to get better? I was just trying to get better myself.

[8:22] Alex Ochoa: Um and towards that part of it, um my dad was a doctor, so I got a lot of information on on those kinds of things, and uh it wasn't for me because I thought that in the long run um in in the future, how it can affect me later on in my life.

[8:39] Alex Ochoa: So um, you know, I try to stay away those kind of things.

[8:45] Al Malafronte: You mentioned your dad being a doctor. Did he support your pursuit of wanting to become a professional baseball player?

[8:51] Alex Ochoa: Yeah, he did actually. He loved baseball. Obviously, Cuban background, obviously, my dad was Cuban, my parents were Cuban. So my dad loved baseball.

[9:00] Alex Ochoa: And it's funny because scouts in high school always thought, oh, this guy's going to college for sure. His dad's a doctor, education. My dad was big on education, but his the opportunity to play pro ball and to um follow my dreams as a kid.

[9:16] Alex Ochoa: Um he loved it. And he and I and I'm, you know, he's up in heaven now, but uh I'm glad that he got the opportunity to to share that my career with me.

[9:26] Al Malafronte: So you know, one thing I want to touch on, you know, as far as your playing careers. I always enjoyed how you seem to enjoy playing the game.

[9:34] Al Malafronte: And I could tell how passionate you are about it now, obviously. You played with a lot of heart and hustle. We weren't afraid to crack a smile out on the field. And you know, that's things that that's stuff that people in New York really appreciate.

[9:45] Al Malafronte: We love to see that in our performers. And uh I know in your final year here the Mets were you know on the up and up, and uh you were a big part of building, you know, that little run they had in the late 90s.

[9:55] Al Malafronte: When you look back on your time in New York, what stands out the most?

[9:59] Alex Ochoa: I love New York to begin with. Uh always come up um every year as a kid coming up. My uncle lived in West New York, New Jersey. So we would um go up every Christmas, and I I I just love New York in general in general.

[10:15] Alex Ochoa: Um my time in New York was amazing because obviously I grew up a Mets fan. I loved, you know, uh the Mets in the 80s and Daryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Keith Hernandez, you know, all those players.

[10:28] Alex Ochoa: I loved watching them and I loved um and and to be able to put that uniform on was like a ma it was the most amazing thing ever uh to put that uh uniform on to walk out of Shea Stadium.

[10:40] Alex Ochoa: Um I remember walking out and I'm like, wow, this is like being on stage, you know, so it's it was it was amazing.

[10:47] Alex Ochoa: Um so my time with New York, I I um you know I made great friends, Ray O'Donnez, Carlos Alfonso uh were really good um with really tight with me.

[10:57] Alex Ochoa: So um it was just a great experience to be in New York and you know I have family up there. My sister still lives up there, she lives in West New York the West Um Upper East Side of me, I'm sorry.

[11:08] Alex Ochoa: And uh so I just love that the city itself.

[11:12] Al Malafronte: Now I mentioned your signature New York moment in the intro. Great baseball theater, July 3rd, 1996. You're coming up in the eighth inning, games tied. You're a home run away from the cycle.

[11:23] Al Malafronte: Absolute drama for both you personally and for the team. How badly are you trying to go deep there? And what do you remember about that at bat?

[11:30] Alex Ochoa: I I I remember vividly that my first two hacks, I was trying to go, I was trying to go deep. And then I kind of realized, okay, now I'm you know, oh two at the count, and um I gotta I gotta try to get on base because we were tied at that time.

[11:45] Alex Ochoa: It was tie game. So um it was so ironic. So I took the next pitch ball and then um uh I got a curveball and I just it was just meant to happen because I was at at that particular time I wasn't thinking about a home run at all.

[11:46] Alex Ochoa: So um it was it was a it was an amazing moment. I mean, I can't I couldn't even imagine hitting it. I never hit for the cycle in my life uh before that.

[12:09] Alex Ochoa: So it made it even more special. Uh and and to it in Philadelphia where I always hit well, I don't know why it was, but I always hit good at that field.

[12:18] Alex Ochoa: So um so um that was special, though special time.

[12:22] Al Malafronte: When you come back to town, do folks always bring that up to you?

[12:25] Alex Ochoa: Oh, absolutely. Oh, another thing I love about New York, it's amazing um I think the New York fans are just incredible I think um people in in in New York in general just how they remember I remember um this was had to have been maybe I think uh I hadn't I I had to stop playing like a couple years it was like 2010 I was in New York visiting my sister and I walk into a I walk into a store and uh I'm buying a shirt and the guy in the in the the on the counter uh the cashier was like hey aren't you Alex or so I look around I'm like are you s I'm like who's in here who's punking me or something and the guy goes no I was great I was I grew up my mom is Mets fan I'm a new I'm Yankee fan and you know I just saw your face and I was like that has to be him so it's kind of it's it's amazing that's amazing so that's funny.

[13:25] Alex Ochoa: Oh, I love stories like that. You know, the folks here, we just have so much passion, especially for baseball and theater as well. So I do have to know, did you catch much Broadway when you would come here on your trips growing up or when you were playing here for the Mets or visiting your sister in years after? Yeah, a couple. I went to Lion King. I've gone to, I can't remember the name, but yeah, I've done a couple. My sister's more of the Broadway person, so she would know how to name more shows. But no, New York is awesome in every which way it is, you know, with the arts and the sports and the passion. People always say, "Oh, people in New York are rude." I think I always say, "No, they're passionate." That's what it is.

[14:23] Al Malafronte: You know which one you gotta see? And you can do it right from your own home, because obviously Broadway shut down for a bit. You gotta watch the Hamilton movie.

[14:31] Alex Ochoa: Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah. I gotta watch that. I gotta watch that, no doubt.

[14:35] Al Malafronte: Disney Plus.

[14:37] Alex Ochoa: I heard great things. So yeah, it's a special one. I really appreciate it. It's got, you know, that New York edge to it. And you know, they're doing a lot more of that now. They're bringing a lot of these Broadway shows and turning them into movies for these streaming services, and it's been pretty nice. It certainly came in handy, I'd say, while we were waiting for baseball to come back in 2020, you know.

[15:00] Al Malafronte: Absolutely, absolutely. Now, you know, speaking of 2020, well, I'd like to think my passion for baseball is just as strong now as it was back when you played. My biggest gripe, and I just want to get your take on this. You have one computer, but two eyes. And in the age of analytics, the computer always seems to win. We saw Cost Tampa big in the World Series this year. Being from the old school like you are, what do you think about the way the game's played now?

[15:30] Alex Ochoa: I think that, you know, the people that do it best are the guys that use the technology and use the eyes, like you're saying, like scouts and things like that. And obviously with the manager giving the manager a little bit of command on what's happening during the game, right? The numbers are great. I'm not against analytics at all. But I think that sometimes, especially in playoffs, there's a feeling and there's a gut feeling in the game that you need to use. And I think it's been proven time after time that the guys that do that well in the dugout are the ones that prevail. I think that's my opinion on that.

[16:25] Al Malafronte: How can we find like a perfect marriage? You know, do you think a manager who refuses to be puppeteered is an endangered species? Or do you think that we, you know, who are some guys that come to mind, you know, that are in the game that could give us some reassurance that we could have someone who has that feel of the game's heartbeat, so to speak?

[16:49] Alex Ochoa: On-field manager? Oh, Francona, I would say. I think, you know, Alex Cora was really good at that, I thought, with the Red Sox. I'm trying to think of other guys that are really... Francona sticks out for me because I was on his coaching staff and I know him really well. He has a combination of using that, and obviously he went to Cleveland. Cleveland had one for a while, and they're a competitor every year. I would say him and I'm trying to think of another guy off the top of my head. I think Aaron Boone, I like Aaron. You know, he's my teammate. But I think he has a really good feel. I don't know, maybe some people in New York don't think so, but I think he does. I think he just, you know, he takes the analytics and he uses the analytics, but I think he's a good one.

I think so. And oh, and Joe Girardi, for sure. Joe, for sure. Joe has a great feel. Obviously, he was a catcher. I think a lot of catchers have a better feel at managing just because they've had to manage pitchers all the time, and they're watching the game from a different angle than everybody else, right? They're the signs, the, you know, how to pitch a guy, you know, the feel of the game. I think they get a lot of... it's a good fit for leadership.

[18:40] Al Malafronte: All right, so you're boys with Boone. Did you text him after game two and ask him what the hell he was thinking with that little stunt?

[18:48] Alex Ochoa: No, I did not. I did not. I try to stay away from that kind of stuff, you know, with the guys. I know it's difficult. It's not as easy as people see it. You know, it's tough. It's not easy to be a manager. I know it's, you know, you got a lot of people that always second-guessing you and things like that, but no, I didn't do that.

[19:19] Al Malafronte: You know what? It's difficult to go ahead and do.

[19:22] Alex Ochoa: No, I was gonna say it's difficult to say no to these front offices when they have so much power. I thought that was like a flex on the part of the Yankees trying to outraise the Rays, so to speak. You know, trying to pull a fast one. And it's not like we were trotting Randy Johnson out there to surprise them and, you know, make them switch their lineup. It was Jay Happ, who had a pretty good season, but it's not like it was gonna be some groundbreaking thing. And there's a couple of moments that I have as a Yankee fan that are gonna haunt me for a bit. One is the midges out in Cleveland in the '07 playoffs with Jabba Chamberlain out there and Torre not pulling the guys from the field, and this one. It's on that level for me. I'm frustrated beyond belief about it. It's actually the first time I brought it up on this podcast. I usually try to keep things positive. But yeah, that's been on my mind a little bit. It might haunt me all winter, Alex.

[20:14] Alex Ochoa: Yeah, I get it. You know, the game has changed a lot. I can't, you know, obviously you brought it up. The game has changed totally. It's very different than when I was playing in the big leagues at that time. Now it's just different. What I love about nowadays, though, I think the chances, the opportunities young guys are getting, the inclusion of the young guys as they come up, not to feel that they don't belong or they need to earn their stripes. It makes the younger guys come more comfortable as they come up. They believe that they belong there. So I think that inclusion of this kind of baseball now helps them, helps the younger guys flourish in the beginning. I think when I came up, to be honest with you, you're a little bit intimidated just because there are certain things that you cannot do as a rookie.

You can't act like you've been here ten years and things like that. And I think to some extent you need a little bit of humility in that aspect as you come up. But the inclusion of, okay, this guy is here to help, you know. I see it a lot different nowadays than back in the day.

[21:59] Al Malafronte: So let's talk about the grand stage for a moment. You know, obviously we associate you as a Met, but I think there's a lot of folks outside of the Empire State that associate you with your time in Anaheim and winning the World Series there. Take me through what it was like when you found out that you were being traded to that great Angels team and, you know, some of the highs throughout that postseason.

[22:19] Alex Ochoa: Oof, I mean, I was with the Milwaukee Brewers at the time. We weren't gonna make the playoffs or anything like that. And you know, I get traded to the Angels in July and going there and going to a team that was very close. You know, everybody pulled on the same rope, that cliché of pulling on the same rope, but it felt like that as coming in. And as I walked into that clubhouse, it was like they embraced me like, okay, you're gonna be part of this team that goes, everybody's pulling for each other and things like that. So that was great. Mike Scioscia was the manager, and he was clear. What I loved about managers is clear and to the point, not sugarcoating things. So Scioscia was very good at when I came in, "Hey, this is gonna be your role.

You're gonna be a big part, or I'm gonna get you playing time, but this is what we're trying to do." So it was amazing going in there. And then obviously making it to the playoffs, let me tell you something. When we played the Yankees, I think we were happy that we wanted to go to a World Series, but I think that was the biggest hurdle for us. I think once we beat the Yankees, we were like, "Oof, okay, I think we can do this." You know, obviously the Yankees were great in those years; they were amazing. So beating them, I think, propelled us mentally to kind of, "Okay, this team is really good." One of my favorite games was against the Twins that year in the playoffs where Adam Kennedy hit three home runs.

That was the most amazing thing that I've seen. Obviously, he didn't hit that many home runs during the year; I think he hit seven that year. And to be in the playoffs and to experience Adam doing those great things, that was amazing. And then obviously, being in the playoffs and going in for a defensive replacement for Salmon and things like that, to be on the field for that last out of the World Series, I mean, that's the greatest feeling I've ever had on the baseball field in my life. Obviously, everybody would think that, but the feeling of it and how to express it, there's no words that can express that. It was incredible. And that was the birth of the rally monkey as well. That was the most amazing thing.

I don't think people realize while the Oakland A's were winning those 20 games in a row, I think we won 17 out of 18 or something like that, something crazy like that at the same time. And the rally monkey was amazing. Every time that rally monkey would come up, we would score runs. It was the most amazing thing in the world. It was like everything was meant to be. It just seems like when you look at it after, it was unbelievable. That rally monkey, every time we showed up, and if you jumped up and down on the scoreboard, we were like, "Okay, now it's time." It's still a bit of a dagger to the heart, but that was one, especially in that World Series, you know, the Angels against the Giants, one of the best seven-game World Series I've ever seen. I remember that crazy game six. I was at Miami at Uncle Paul's house, like watching that game in the living room, you know, up way past my bedtime at that point.

[26:20] Alex Ochoa: And it was uh that was that was such a special series. I have such good memories about that, man. No, it was it was amazing, especially that that that game six, right? We were down five zero and all of a sudden Speezio hits a three-run homer and then um Erstad leads off the next inning with a with a homer, uh a lead-off Homer, then Troy Gloss had a double in the gap. And I mean it was it was those those couple innings was were amazing. I mean once they took Russell Ortez out I couldn't I I was like you know we weren't hitting him it was like similar to what um happened in this playoffs with um with the Rays right smelled right cruising cruising and and and you taking them out um yeah that's that's one thing that I that I disagree with with uh these these nowadays with that the analytics things because there's some certain things that you see on the field that you're like okay this guy has it today this guy has it and then why if I'm gonna lose it's gotta be with him you know that's just my mentality maybe that's old school mentality or whatever the case may be but I think there's a certain things that in on the field that you have to be able to to um to feel out and not go by just numbers because you know as we're human beings you know we're not um computers so you know emotion um uh you know confidence um you know you gotta think about the playoffs and the playoffs in the regular season are two different animals like everybody always asks me what do you think about the playoffs and uh you play the game different now it's it's impossible to be in the playoffs and the drone that pumps throughout the whole game, you don't have that feeling during the game during the season.

[28:11] Alex Ochoa: You don't. You just I mean you have times when it is like that, but in the playoffs, it's a totally different totally different energy. I mean, that's a little bit different this year with not fans, but when there's fans in the stands, I mean, I literally was in the um in the World Series, you know, to me and Orlando Primero would always be together in the dig out. And we could not have a conversation in the dugout in Angel Stadium because we could not hear each other right next to each other. So we have to go down to the there was a cage right down the the stairs in the the dugout, and there's a cage there and there's TVs. So we would watch some of the game there, some of the games in the some of the game in the dugout, some of the game down there, because so we could have a conversation, we had to go down there.

That's how loud it is, and that's how much energy it is. So like that doesn't happen ever during a year. Uh nine innings worth it, no chance. No chance. So um you have to be able have that feel of what's going on in the game. And I think that those decisions gotta be made by the field manager for sure.

[29:17] Al Malafronte: Oh, absolutely. Wow, and you're taking me back to like the Thundersticks now, and that's like become like a big thing at basketball games now. I'll that was just like such a special time. Like I can only imagine being in that stadium for that experience. And I mean, you got to play in the postseason at Yankee Stadium, but you talk about like the the passion from the fans and everything and helping drive the you know the performance on the field the same way in Broadway uh as well for a lot of folks, and that uh just such such a special fond memory and what a high. I you know, that's why uh I look back on it now, it's almost 20 years later, just so fondly. Even though you know, my Yankees got knocked out early, it was great to see what the Angels did that year.

[29:57] Alex Ochoa: No, yeah, of course, of course, yeah, it's uh uh it's it's it was um it's unbelievable. It's outstanding. Now, when you're coming off a high like that, how difficult is it for you to make the decision to go on and play baseball in Japan? What kind of led you to make you know that big of a move and how much did you enjoy playing there?

[30:21] Alex Ochoa: Um it was difficult, obviously. You know, you you know, your whole dream is to play in the big leagues as long as you could. And uh I think it to be honest with you, it was an economic uh reason, right? Um I wasn't getting that that that great of offers in the free agent market. I think that free agent market was like right before right after we had agreed on uh on the collecting borrowing agreement, and I think it was a little bit slow for utility players and for like fourth outfits, fifth officers. So um an opportunity came, and um it actually it was it was a little bit complicated, my whole situation because in December um I got an offer for a team, but they were deciding between me and Kevin Millar. Um I don't know if you remember that. Um Red Sox, the team that we shall not met. No, I'm just playing. Go ahead.

[31:18] Alex Ochoa: Oh, cowboy off. That's what I think of with Kevin Millar and the Red Sox, Alex. Uh I I know you do. I know, but before that ever happened, um he was with the he was he was it's so funny how that happened because he was um he was with the Marlins, and he was getting sold to the m um to the team in Japan. The team, so they were deciding between me and him. Obviously they took they they took him and it so happened to be that the Red Sox were trying to trade for him and the Marlins wouldn't because they were gonna get a certain amount of money from the Japanese team for um for um for Malar. So that was a fiasco and he didn't end up, he ended up going to the Red Sox and they ended up signing me. So that's how I went to Japan.

And I was just going back to what what I was saying before about economic reasons, it's just economic reasons. But it was a huge um playing in Japan and and making that move. Um I think was uh uh uh the uh I was not I'm not to say the greatest, but like one of the best things that ever happened to me in the sense of life-wise, just because it taught me a ton about myself. It taught me a ton about um obviously living in a different culture, um uh diff different baseball. Um, but it it it just taught me a ton. And um, I'm super grateful that I didn't make that decision because it it just um changed my um I think my uh mentality on on how to be uh, you know, just to be more um kind of open minded.

I've always been an open minded person, but I think just being more open in the sense of living in a different culture um really made me kind of understand and try to understand other people um in the sense of how they look at things differently than the one would right so and I think that helped me a lot being there.

[33:36] Al Malafronte: Yeah I can imagine. Were there ever times though where you felt like a fish out of water and it was really tough and you you know you start to question the decision that you make. You know a lot of Broadway performers feel that for the first time coming from you know a small town you know thousands of miles away um and you know having to adjust like that like would tell take me a little bit through you know those types of moments and how you always.

[33:43] Alex Ochoa: Oh absolutely like my first especially the first year obviously you go in there different culture different way of of of living and and um so it it in the beginning I I think in the beginning it's like a like uh a new girlfriend right uh you you're you're meeting somebody new and so it's exciting and things like that but then when you really get into the grind and understanding you know the different cultures and understanding and and trying to understand um how they do things differently um i is tough you know just uh I one example I always tell people all the time is um they are very um Japanese are very you know obviously on time you know they're very meticulate on what they gotta do right and then there's a thing called senpai is you're older Kohai is younger.

If senpai says something then the Kohai can't really question it right so it involves into the game. So I I you know in in with us here in the United States in the big leagues, when you get there, they want you to be self-sufficient, right? They want you to learn the game. They want you to under um read as if you're playing center field and they're hitting balls through to the right field, the right field side, the guy's following the balls off. You're gonna move over, right? In Japan, it's not like that. In Japan is they have a set kind of, you know, okay, they were gonna play him like this. The outfield coach is the one that decides where you go. So for me, it was a little bit difficult because at first I would be like moving, and then you'll see the coach be like, no, you gotta move back, you gotta move back, right?

Like you uh yelling with the interpreter and they're moving back, and I'm like, what's going on? It's whatever. So I have to move. So that's kind of an adjustment. Another thing was my interpreter would always, another thing that used to bother me in the beginning was like my interpreter would always tell me the the time that we were starting to hit bite in practice. I mean, we started six o'clock games, and he would tell me, okay, you're hitting at 4 10. Let's say at 4 10. That's what I usually hit was the first guy on the road um uh uh um hitting uh to hit BP. So he would tell me every day, hey, you're hitting at 4'10. So every day he would tell me I would hit you're hitting at 4'10. And I'll be like, okay, after a while, you're like, all right, when it changes, please tell me different, right?

And then I would be like, and then and then he would the next day he would tell me the same thing, hey, 4'10, you're hitting at 4'10. And I'd be like, Are you kidding me? I just told you yesterday. So just little things, little things like that would drive me insane until I kind of said to myself, you know what? This has this is how they do it here, this is how they do things here. I have to learn how to um simulate to the culture. They're not gonna change for me. I have to change in the culture, right? Uh, another guy that I mean, I don't know, I mean, I'm sure you heard Tuffy Rhodes was there for a long time. He played 13 years there. I remember it was like maybe his seventh year there when I was when I did when I was there.

And uh he gave me a great advice. He gave me a great advice. Hey, I know you he he's like uh he came one day, we were playing against each other in spring in spring training over there, and he was like, Hey, I understand you played uh seven years in the major leagues, but you know, it's different here. You have to learn how to simulate here. And so it's funny how those two things connected, right? That that fit uh, you know, hey, tell me at uh at 410, you're hitting and and what he told me, and and me getting frustrated enough to be, you know what? I remember what he told me. That kind of changed my whole perspective, right? So I started, you know, embracing, you know, um, embracing the culture more.

Um and uh it took me about half a year to get to to get to that point, um, because there's a lot of ups and downs, you're away, you're you're not doing good. I mean, there's I was doing good in the beginning, and then I started not good, you know, in baseball, it's just baseball. You're gonna you're going through your ups and downs and you kind of you know, questioning why did I come here? I should have just stayed back home. Um, but till you get over that that point and over that um those little things that those those um kind of mental struggles that you have. And once that I got over that, it was a great experience. You know, I learned a little bit of Japanese to get around. Um, and uh it was great.

It was great. It was great. I got to play in Nagoya for four years, and then I got to play in Hiroshima for two. And that was cool. That was super cool. I lived right behind Peace Park, the museums and things like that. So it's it was nice. It was it was it was a great experience.

[38:59] Al Malafronte: Is the food just on another level amazing?

[39:03] Alex Ochoa: Yes. The sushi is amazing. You could get great sushi anywhere. You could get it in a freaking 7 Eleven you could get you get a freaking great sushi. It's crazy. Yeah it was great. I mean I always been open with food so that was never an adjustment that was not a super adjustment for me. It was funny because a lot of the Japanese guys would think um you know obviously flat foreigners have trouble with with um with with the food and not trying things and I would be like whatever take me wherever you know I'll try it and they'll be like huh? And yeah whatever and they would freak out when I would like a certain thing. Let's get thing called Motsunabi was like um pig intestines that they that they make it some some way and I went uh to eat with them and they were freaking out because I loved it. So it was funny. It was funny.

[39:55] Al Malafronte: That's amazing. And it's out what sounds cool is that they you know the way you talk about it now you talk about it so fondly I'm sure that they must have really embraced you too you know being an American player making their way over there and you know the fact that you you know you knew one thing for so long and you you know you took the time to make an effort and really embraced the culture there and you know you certainly had a great career there as well and that's uh that's I I just love stories like that man.

[40:21] Alex Ochoa: No it's it was it was great. I mean another example of of uh simulating we had a player uh Tatsunami's name was they called him Mr. Dragon he had the most hits career hits in the team and um you know there they're very um respectful and things like that so a guy of that stature when it would come into a clubhouse every all the guys would you know bow to him and stuff like that so I would see this and things like that and I I thought well if everybody's giving him respect I will give them the same respect as well you know um after a while and he and it's so funny how things you do things like uh like that without even without even having a purpose I mean not purpose but like not even thinking that you're gonna get something in return right and you know he's and um you know he's a the respected player there it's a little bit different you know they they it's hugely their their the whole team is like very respectful for him you know every time he comes into the clubhouse the guys are are the younger guys are are bringing him water or whatever the case may be and I remember one time I walk in from batting practice right after I walk in he was inside and I was sweating and I was and I sat down to change to go back out and um out of nowhere he tells one of our young guys the our young guys to go get me water because I because I was because I he I looked tired.

[41:46] Alex Ochoa: So it was kind of like shocked because he had never he had never done anything like that. And I think the respect that I would give him he finally said okay he's you know he respects us so I respect him too as what he's done. So it was kind of it was cool. It was a uh cool moment of of the transition. It was about I think this is my second year as playing there um that that's happened. And it was kind of cool uh to to see that, you know, that he was paying attention to that.

[42:16] Al Malafronte: Yeah, that's amazing. And you know what, Alex? I I could just tell from talking to you how much you love baseball. And I think it's so cool how you're still involved with the game with the Boras Corp. Why don't you tell us how you got involved with the agency side of the game and you know what you've been doing down in Florida for Scott.

[42:32] Alex Ochoa: Well, uh Scott was my agent um my whole career, and um, you know, we just always had a good relationship. Um meeting uh Scott and and Mike Fiori, which is one of our vice presidents of the company. Um so we've always had good friendship and uh and then um he actually when I stopped playing, he wanted me to to work with him, but I wanted I wanted to test out the coaching part of it. So the Red Sox um uh gave me an opportunity to do that for four years, and I'm grateful for them. They they they open they opened the doors to me, they they let me do a lot of a lot of things in the game, which I appreciate. But um, but I always wanted to also uh uh go to the other side, learn the other side of of um of the business of of the game and things like that.

So um Scott and me always talked and always and our relationship was good and and and it kind of worked out because he was opening a f a facility down in in uh uh uh like uh a training facility down in Miami. And since I live in Miami, um I I would oversee that. So that's how I got got into that. Uh got it to to work with Scott.

[43:49] Al Malafronte: And you know, it's so much like in theater, you're obviously gonna be seeking, you know, talent with a particular set of traits and skills that would translate well to the big show where both of you can be profitable. You talk about the business side of things. Is there anything special that you're looking to see from an evaluation standpoint when you're out there watching these young kids play? And you know, is that um you know given how much the games change is are you looking at a player the same way in 2020 as you would if you were scouting in let's say you know 1995 1996?

[44:17] Alex Ochoa: Yeah I think scouting players is it should it doesn't change because you you're scouting for talent and then you're scouting for character right character is a is a very important thing um that that you look for in in talented players because um as I've had experience uh and in the game those are the guys that are usually are the ones that make the adjustments and be are coachable and and things like that. So that part of it guys that have good character and good you know work ethic and things like that you you always have to evaluate obviously there's talent where there's it's just through the roof that that you kind of go okay you know you deal with you know you do with what what you have to do with but um I think in the sense um that doesn't change I think um obviously it's uh you know analytics is a little bit of a it's it helps you tools I mean helps you in the aspect of you know the spin rate and all these little uh these things that they use now in the game that help you evaluate players but I think just it's it's an evaluation it's an evaluation there's some things that you cannot evaluate through a computer right you can't you know uh like I said character uh hard work um just things like that.

You cannot assimilate on a on a computer what those guys and what guys. That's why you have the guys that are not maybe tools-wise most talented, but guys that are mentally strong, um, you know, hard workers, they become better players than the guys that are super talented, you know.

[45:51] Al Malafronte: So um, I mean, not to say they're not talented, but I'm just saying that those guys that are are not as skilled wise, tools-wise, um turned out to be better players than the guys with tools, you know.

[46:04] Al Malafronte: So Alex, you're a master storyteller. I'm enjoying this so much. I almost want to cancel fastball derby, but it's a tradition that we do on this show to wrap every episode. And uh, I mean, listen, you've gotten a lot of base hits tonight, and you've hit some home runs with some of your stories, but now's the you know, the opportunity for our audience to learn even a little bit more about you. And I want you to picture yourself in the ninth inning. There's two outs, games on the line. Uh, you really gotta bring home that winning run, even though you've already pretty much had like a cycle with five hits like uh throughout this episode. Um the Chapman's on the mound throwing 105. Um, I'm gonna you gotta think quick. I'm gonna ask you a question. You tell me the first thing that comes to mind. How does that sound?

[46:47] Alex Ochoa: Okay. Go ahead.

[46:49] Al Malafronte: All right. Favorite New York City meal.

[46:58] Alex Ochoa: I'm I'm too slow knowing. Wow. You know, I can't even it has to be one typical food, or can it be just Italian? You can't beat New York Italian, just go with that.

[47:17] Al Malafronte: For sure. There we go. My last name is Malafrante. You think I'm gonna object with that answer?

[47:27] Al Malafronte: All right, toughest pitcher you ever had to face.

[47:30] Alex Ochoa: Randy Johnson.

[47:32] Al Malafronte: How about a guy you owned?

[47:36] Alex Ochoa: Um Tom Glavin.

[47:39] Al Malafronte: Hall of Fame pitcher. You just you you say Randy Johnson, then you follow that up with you know the guy that you own with uh another Hall of Famer. Pretty amazing.

[47:47] Alex Ochoa: Yeah, yeah. I felt comfortable with him.

[47:51] Al Malafronte: Most embarrassing on the field moment.

[47:56] Alex Ochoa: As a Matt, as a rookie, 1995, uh losing two fly balls in the sun at home with my family and friends in the stands. So that has to be the worst.

[48:12] Al Malafronte: What happened?

[48:15] Alex Ochoa: What happened when I got home after the season?

[48:17] Al Malafronte: What happened there?

[48:19] Alex Ochoa: Yeah, you were answering for that, you know, the rest of uh the rest of that 95.

[48:24] Al Malafronte: Yeah, then and then some. So I've never let especially when you have friends and family that come into the game, you're never gonna get let that down. Everybody remembers those things.

[48:37] Al Malafronte: You can have dinner with any three players in baseball history. Who are they?

[48:41] Alex Ochoa: Wow. That's a good question. Hank Aaron. Uh Roberto Clemente. And um I never had I never had din uh dinner with Derek Jeter, but I would like to.

[49:04] Al Malafronte: Now the Broadway folks certainly love Derek Jeter. They I have to ask. They also love Aroldis Chapman. You ever run into him in Miami and you ever grab a bite together?

[49:13] Alex Ochoa: I never have, but uh, he's a talented uh kind of individual, man. He could throw that ball for. He's very theatrical for sure.

[49:25] Al Malafronte: Here's a fun one. Teammates of yours that would make the best Timon and Pumba in The Lion King on Broadway.

[49:30] Alex Ochoa: Woof. Okay. And um Michael Tucker.

[49:45] Alex Ochoa: The warthog.

[49:57] Al Malafronte: Oh man, that's a good one.

[50:03] Al Malafronte: All right, and how about this? This is what we use to wrap every show. What's the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you?

[50:16] Alex Ochoa: You know, um put your head down and and and and work hard with my dad.

[50:23] Al Malafronte: That's awesome.

[50:25] Al Malafronte: Alex, this was such a great chat, man. I'm so grateful that we brought you on the show and that uh, you know, all the folks at home got to listen to this. If they want to connect with you on social media, what's the best place where they could find you?

[50:39] Alex Ochoa: Oh, on in Instagram, um AOC09. Um is my um my sign. My whatever. Um I don't even know what you call that.

[50:52] Alex Ochoa: Uh handle, handle. I had to think about that for a second handle hand handle and and I shouldn't know this. I deal with a lot of young guys, so yeah.

[50:58] Al Malafronte: Alex thank you so much man this was awesome.

[51:00] Alex Ochoa: No thank you I appreciate it thanks thanks for having me out it's it was a pleasure to have fun and it was a great time.

[50:58] Al Malafronte: Absolutely my man it's my pleasure.

[50:58] Al Malafronte: All right folks that'll close out the ball game here on Break A Bat! This is Al Malafronte signing off for the Broadway Podcast Network we'll see you next time.

[50:58] Al Malafronte: Thanks for listening to Break A Bat! This is produced by the fine folks at the Broadway Podcast Network visit and subscribe at bpn.fm slash break a bat you can find me online at break underscore a underscore bat underscore podcast and you can also find the Broadway Podcast Network on Instagram at Broadway Podcast Network it's been so great having you here with us today and we'll see you next time.