LOS ANGELES — More than a decade removed from his All-Star playing career, and approaching the birthday which makes him a quinquagenarian, Torii Hunter remains a name popular with Angels faithful.
The affable superstar played for the Halos for five seasons from 2008-12. He garnered several awards in Anaheim, the second stop during his 19-year MLB playing career. He also was a key member of two Angels squads that played postseason baseball.
The organization, however, has not seen playoff action since 2014, the same year Hunter retired. But the soon-to-be 50 year old can play a pivotal role going forward. This is his first season serving as special assistant under general manager Perry Minasian.
With the Angels in Arlington for a three-game this week, Hunter was in uniform. He talked with The Sporting Tribune by phone before batting practice.
TST: You are in the Angels dugout this week as a coach. Did you ever get the feeling Ron Washington will look at his bench, and ask you to pinch-hit, or maybe pinch-run at some point?
Hunter: I was tracking their pitchers, and when I started to see some patterns, I said, ‘Give me a bat. I want to hit.’ Ironically on Friday we had (Jo) Adell go down, and Kevin Pillar. Two outfielders. We were down to nobody. I was saying, ‘Put me out there. Activate me. I will do it for one dollar.’
TST: It has been 10 years since you played and baseball continues to evolve. What do you like about today’s game?
Hunter: It is definitely faster. Before I know it, the game is over. It is quick now and back then it was like playing a game of chess. You had more time to think after swinging a bat. I had so much going through my head.
Now it is about getting in the box and you have to be ready for the ball. There is no time to think. It is all reaction.
TST: What adjustments, changes do you think can be made still to improve the product?
Hunter: It is getting better on the whole, but for me, while I was smiling all the time, I was also vicious out there. Today is like a toned-down game. It is suppressed. Your fire has to be suppressed. You can’t argue a call.
That also might be a good thing. Not everyone has to see your anger.
TST: I mentioned Ron Washington earlier. What do you like most about the job he is doing?
Hunter: A lot of managers are not patient with young guys. A lot of old-school managers for sure. But Wash is patient with all these young guys. There are a lot of growing pains. Guys are still trying to learn how to really play the game consistently. We see the talent. We know the talent. We also see the immaturity as well.
One thing Ron Washington does is uplift a kid. He takes the sandwich approach. He tells a kid what they did right and he tells them what they did wrong. Then he tells them what they can do. He starts with the bread, puts the meat in the middle, and then finishes with the last piece of bread.
He does it well, and you can eat that.
TST: You have not been shy recently saying you would like to manage some day. Does that still hold true?
Hunter: You know what, the more I am on this field, and the more I watch, the more I say, ‘Nah. I don’t want to manage.’
But it has always been a dream of mine. I know a lot of former players who would like to manage. It is very time-consuming. I have a lot going on, and could not be involved in the businesses that I am in.
If the opportunity came I would take a hard look at it. I have a Ph.D. in baseball, and I still suck.
TST: When it comes to Perry, who recently secured a contract extension, I am going to ask you the same question: What do you like most about how he is performing in his position?
Hunter: I like his vision where all the best players in the minor leagues come up and play. If you are among the best players in the organization, why aren’t you playing? That is one thing Perry does – he gives an opportunity to the young guys who deserve it. If you hit, if you bang in the minor leagues, you come up to the big leagues and get a shot.
I don’t think we are in that rebuilding phase – with Mike Trout out, I think he would be one of the best players in the game today without that injury – but we have a lot of young guys and it takes like two or three years to really get going.
I think it was fair to give him an extension. He is spearheading the regime and changing the mindsets of guys who are learning how to play baseball. I think it is well-deserved getting that multi-year extension.
TST: There is a lot of good young talent here. What should the Angels fanbase understand about the growing pains of kids this age?
Hunter: Even the great teams have their slumps. But those slumps get minimized when you have those with more wisdom and experience.
I think the guys we have here are young and talented. But they are young. That means a slump might last a little longer. The more time and the more reps (they get) will help them learn how to get out of those slumps quicker. When you do start that individually, it helps the team too.
It just takes time. It takes reps. The fans want to win. The players want to when. Right now, patience is the key.
TST: Physical versus mental. How do these players get a better understanding of the mental aspects of baseball, especially at this level?
Hunter: I will always say wisdom is healed pain. I don’t really cry anymore when I talk about issues I had, like a daddy issue or whatnot. I will just talk about it. That is wisdom. Crying is not healed pain. You are still teaching people from your pain.
For me, in baseball, my wounds have healed. Now I can give it back to these guys. When I walk around the clubhouse, I am talking about finances, or marriage, or what their next move is to be off the field. We also are really going to talk about baseball.
But if you are struggling on the field, you can struggle off the field. It comes home with you to your family. I have done both. I have seen both. I have healed from both. I will walk in a clubhouse and be present and be around when guys have questions. I can give them some options and some avenues to get out of those funks.
TST: It’s been a while for the Angels to play at the next level. Does that upset you?
Hunter: Oh, man, yes. That should upset everyone in this organization. The Angels in that beautiful stadium and with the fans and that support should always have some October baseball. We are going to get back there. They are pushing for it.
Once they get a taste of October baseball, there is no looking back. Once you get there, you want to get back. You play to another level every year. As a player in the playoffs I smelt the atmosphere. I smelt media day. I smelt the adrenaline. I knew I needed it all the time.
The following year we were pumped up as we understood what was needed to do to get there. I just had to get there. There was no bigger high than that.
TST: You were a young player once. So was Mike Trout. How frustrating do you think these recent injuries are for your former teammate?
Hunter: That is my little nephew. I will say that because he could be my son.
He loves the game of baseball. When he was younger his locker was right next to mine. Everyday he would turn to me and say, ‘What do you have for me today?’ Every day he wanted to understand what he needed to do that day. He wanted to know how to carry himself.
The guy has always had a deep love for baseball. For him to have injuries the last few years, I promise you, is not fun for him. He really wants to be out there and playing the game of baseball. Unfortunately he has fallen into some tough luck.
TST: When you think Mike Trout you think Hall of Fame. I believe a lot of people are disappointed with the Hall of Fame voting when it comes to your candidacy. Are you disappointed?
Hunter: There is a little boy from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. His name is on the ballot to go into the Hall of Fame. I am one of the nominees. To put my name next to Barry Bonds, Bobby Abreu, and David Ortiiz, and Vladimir Guerrero…to say Torii is worthy of that as well.
When I look at my numbers, I didn’t even know I did that. I am thankful to be on the ballot and I would love for them to take a hard look at my numbers. I think playing in Minnesota might have hurt me a little. Joe Mauer just got in there but Joe Mauer is one of the best catchers to play this game.
I don’t know why. I don’t. The hard look is not there. I think playing for the Twins, in a small market, has something to do with it.
TST: We see you with the ballclub today. What else are you involved with in the Texas area now?
Hunter: I am really busy out here in Texas. I am opening my fifth barbeque restaurant soon. I was told to never mess with restaurants, but I say, ‘Barbeque is different.’ We have one in Celina, Frisco, Little Elm, and Aubrey, and our fifth one is opening in mid-November. I have two coffee shops, a brewery, and a lot of commercial real estate.
I have invested in those things and am staying very busy. I am enjoying it all the past 10 years in business where I have learned a lot.
To give a check to someone to go home and have food and shelter and clothing, there is nothing more powerful than that. When you talk about vision, and legacy, that is something very important to me. I tell the players to play baseball, but when you are done, get everything done that you need to get done.
TST: Texas just beat Michigan at Michigan. Who wins the National Championship this college football year?
Hunter: Notre Dame I hope. My son, Torii Jr., went there and I’ve always been a fan of Notre Dame, even before (Torii Jr. going there). I have been able to be there and hang out and build relationships. The atmosphere out there is great. I am rooting for those guys. They beat Texas A&M last week.
TST: You still have time but at the same time your 50th birthday is near the on-deck circle. Do you think about that much?
Hunter: I think about it a lot. My wife just celebrated her 50th in August. I married a cougar.
She always wanted to go to Asia, so we went to Bangkok, Singapore and Phuket. We hung out there for about 15 days, so I think I am in the clear with her for at least another month, I am cleared for love.
Next year I turn 50 and I am excited for it and I am ready for it. I will keep this body in shape, so I can keep my wife.
TST: And finally, I have heard you use the word blessed in the past to describe your journey. Is that the perfect word for what this game has given you and your family?
Hunter: I thank God all the time. He has given me the opportunity to play the game of baseball where you learn failure and public scrutiny.
Yet the game of baseball has helped me feed people and create a foundation. It has its pros and cons, and I learned through all of it. I didn’t make it my prison. I actually made it my schooling. It changed my life on and off the field and I appreciate everything baseball has given me whether it was failure or success. You can’t have one without the other. Failure and success are cousins, and it is one of the reasons you can walk through the world a lot better.
I tell all the players let baseball be life and life is baseball.
For more than 20 years, Jeff Moeller has been a voice in the Southern California pro sports community. This is his first piece for The Sporting Tribune as he looks to contribute to the website on a semi-regular basis. A huge baseball fan, he still feels Wally Joyner should have been the A.L. Rookie of the Year over Jose Canseco in 1986.
