Q&A Exclusive with Red Sox beat writer Chris Cotillo: 'Being that close to a historic moment was quite cool'
Chris Cotillo is a Red Sox writer/beat reporter for MassLive.com and also co-host “The Fenway Rundown” podcast, along side his co-host and long time beat reporter Sean McAdam.
Cotillo is a breath of fresh air in Red Sox media coverage. Known for giving both honest but fair criticism of not only the players and coaching staff but the front office as well.
During this Q&A with Cotillo, he talks about the importance of self awareness when writing about the team, his bold prediction for the 2024 Redsox (playoffs?), list players he enjoyed covering, meeting Kobe Bryant and much more! Enjoy!
Q: What’s an average day look like for you during the baseball season?
A: Every day is different dependent on the schedule and news flow, but there are general parameters for a game day. We get to the ballpark ridiculously early (4-5 hours before first pitch) and start with an hour of clubhouse access, then the manager's pregame interview and batting practice, which is another good chance to get interviews. Then there's some pregame writing and settling in before first pitch. The game is one of the least busy parts of the day and a good time to get ahead by writing features or other things for the rest of the week. When it's over, we run back downstairs to get the manager again and do postgame interviews, then go back up and write off those interviews for an hour-plus after the last pitch. Some days are longer than others but on average for a 7:10 p.m.home game, I'm there from about 2:30 to 11 or midnight.
Q: What inspired you to become a beat writer?
A: I've always loved the business side of sports and wanted to get into it someday. That mixed with the fact writing has always come naturally made the career an easy fit. I started at SB Nation as a national baseball writer/news breaker, then transitioned to the beat for MassLive upon graduating from college.
Q: What’s the most difficult part of your job?
A: The unpredictability of every day. There's an exciting element to the fact you never know when there's going to be big news or something that'll require dropping everything for, but there's also a sense of dread that any day can be completely uprooted. News can happen at any time on any day, and sometimes a slow day can turn into a 15-hour workday. In terms of work-life balance, that's not always easy.
Q: How important is building a good relationship with the players and coaches with how much time you spend around them during the season?
A: That's a crucial part of the job, for sure. It's less about having everyone like everything you write (impossible) and more about just garnering a respect between all sides, knowing there are times you'll be at odds with those you cover. The crucial thing is being able to have an open discussion about the coverage and being self-aware enough to admit you went too far/wrote something you shouldn't have in the rare case that happens. The job is not to be friends with the players, coaches and executives but rather to portray them fairly and accurately — and to be willing to have tough discussions when those are warranted.
Q: Who do you look to for inspiration or guidance in your field of work?
A: I would say I look in a few different places. First, growing up in Massachusetts and understanding the sports landscape here, I look to my experiences as a fan to inform the type of coverage fans demand here. I think a lot about those who have come before me in this job and consider it a privilege I get to do the same thing as, say, Peter Gammons does. I pick the brains of more experienced writers constantly and am extremely lucky to now work alongside Sean McAdam, who in addition to being a great colleague, has become one of my best friends and a mentor on a daily basis. I think the biggest source of inspiration, though, is the competition of the beat. We wake up every day determined to have MassLive provide the best Red Sox coverage you can find, which is not always easy in a city with such great coverage. But keeping that as the goal, always, is important.
Q: Can you tell us how you came up with the idea for your Red Sox insider text thread subscription and what it is exactly?
A: That wasn't my idea but rather a company initiative that MassLive's sister sites have had success with in other markets. Basically, people can pay a small monthly fee to be part of an exclusive group of fans who get to text questions and comments and get personal, real-time responses from our team of Red Sox writers. It's a way of being able to communicate directly with us at all times. I find it to be a much higher level of communication than Twitter.
Q: Favorite player to interview/write about so far in your career?
A: There are many to come to mind so I'll name some of the good ones, in no particular order: Xander Bogaerts, Rick Porcello, Rich Hill, Jackie Bradley Jr., Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi, Christian Arroyo, Kyle Schwarber, Kenley Jansen and many more.
Q: Favorite memory during your time covering the Red Sox so far?
A: Tough one. Too many to count. Certainly, covering a World Series in my first year on the beat was unforgettable. Dodger Stadium, perfect weather, tons of celebrities, picturesque setting. I actually ran into (and got a selfie with) Kobe Bryant in a hallway before one of those games. After the final out of Game 5, a security guard ushered me down the wrong hallway in the visitor's clubhouse and I got pushed into the middle of the champagne celebration before media members were supposed to be in there. So I was about 10 feet from Alex Cora as he gave his speech to the team. Being that close to a historic moment was quite cool.
Q: Can you give us one bold prediction about the 2024 Boston Red Sox season?
A: This may sound crazy, but I think they'll make the postseason as a wild card. A lot has to break right but they're pretty confident in their young core and I expect a major step forward from many of those young guys this year. If they're in it at the trade deadline, Craig Breslow isn't going to be afraid to make a move or two.
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