Jen McCaffrey | jmccaffr@masslive.com

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – When Alex Cora was officially introduced as Red Sox manager in November, he mentioned the word 'analytics' over a dozen times at his press conference. It was clear his new team would be focused on using advanced statistics to their advantage.

Cora saw first-hand in Houston as the Astros bench coach how helpful it was for players to have a coach who could present the slew of analytical information in useful, more basic terms.

"The most important thing about the whole analytical world and the coaches, there has to be a connection," Cora said at the time. "We have to understand that there's a lot of money invested on the analytical department. When they invest money in this, as coaches you have to embrace the information. And then you have to filter this information and give it to the players."

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski agreed with Cora's request for an extra coach on staff, one who would act as a liaison between the advanced scouting department and the players and coaches on the field. Cora had pegged longtime friend and former teammate Ramon Vazquez as the right person for the role.

Like Brian Bannister does with the pitching staff, Vazquez's job will focus on synthesizing statistics into usable information for position players. He'll work alongside Steve Langone, an advance scout for the team from 2013-17 who is now Boston's manager of advanced scouting. While Langone will also travel with the team, Vazquez will be the only one in uniform as the direct contact for players.

"He'll be the filter," Cora said of Vazquez. "Instead of saying analytics or sabermetrics, it's information."

Prior to joining the Red Sox, Vazquez worked in the Houston Astros organization as an infield instructor in 2014 and 2015 before managing the High-A club in 2016. Last year, he spent the year as an infield instructor with the San Diego Padres major league club.

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The gluttony of advanced statistics that has enveloped the game over the last few seasons is undoubtedly overwhelming. By now, every team has a well-oiled analytics department yet it's the translation from front office to field that's most important and most difficult.

Not all teams have figured out how to make the information that's available useful for its players.

Among the teams that have found success in that area are the Houston Astros.

Last season, the Astros hired Alex Cintron, who played 16 years in the majors and minors, as a Spanish translator. But with a wealth of knowledge from his playing days, Cintron also began to help out with advance scouting. While working with the scouting department, Cintron helped decipher information the analytics department provided and put it into more relatable terms for the players.

"It's important in a very non-threatening (way), almost like a collaborative method of teaching, and sitting down and watching video with the player," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow explained. "He waited for them to come to him. He didn't say 'I'm the translator, I'm going to tell you how to fix your swing'. He didn't step on anybody's toes, he was just sort of always around and easy to engage."

When rosters were expanded and coaches added in September, Cintron joined the staff in the dugout.

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Jen McCaffrey | jmccaffr@masslive.com

Ramon Vazquez, right, works with Carlos Febles and the Red Sox infielders.

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"To just to go in between innings and chat with Cintron about whatever it is you're thinking about, it really increases the communication," Luhnow said. "Cintron had good judgment about whether or not he needed to talk to AJ (Hinch) or Alex (Cora) about it."

Cora saw Cintron's importance to the team and after the Astros won the World Series and he was named manager of the Red Sox, he knew he needed someone like Cintron on his staff. Cintron was staying in Houston, but Cora knew Vazquez would be a good fit for the role.

Vazquez, 41, played professionally for 18 seasons, including for the Red Sox briefly in 2005. Ironically, Boston traded Vazquez to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Cora that July.

But the two played winter ball in Puerto Rico together for 11 seasons and were teammates in 2009 for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

"Ramon is first of all one of the brightest guys I've been around baseball," Cora said. "We were taught the game by the same guys, Sandy Alomar Sr., Robbie (Alomar) and Joey (Cora). Those guys. We see the game very similar."

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AP PHOTO

Ramon Vazquez.

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"Going into the situation last year having part of the analytic team in the clubhouse, it was great," Cora added. "It was something that helped first of all, connect with players. It's easy to send the information and second-guess people from upstairs but it's not that easy to give the information second-guess guys there, having them around. So you avoid the numbers guys and the players. You look for people that can help us make that transition or filter the information easier and that's where they come into play."

Toward the end of his career, Vazquez played in the Houston organization where advanced stats were being used heavily even in the low minor leagues.

Even though a bulk of Vazquez's playing career came before the analytics wave, he looked for any advantage he could get through studying the game. It's one reason why he fits well into his new role in Boston.

"I wasn't the most talented player ever," Vazquez said. "I had to battle to prepare for games, there's a lot of other stuff that I look on video for me to make my job easier.

"That's something I can bring to the table for hitters," he said. "Guys tipping pitches and stuff like that I always love looking at that stuff. I think that's why (Cora) brought me on board because that's the only way I played.

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Jen McCaffrey | jmccaffr@masslive.com

Ramon Vazquez, left, and Carlos Febles hit grounders to Red Sox infielders.

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As a uniformed coach Vazquez will be on the field, showing players how to translate the information to the game.

"My job is to make them understand why we're doing it and not just telling them but showing them the reason why we're doing it and that's in every aspect," he said. "How should we attack the pitcher, how he's going to attack you, this is how we should attack this guy, this is how we should play defense according to how you're going to pitch to him, this is most likely where he's going hit the ball."

With Vazquez on the field and in the dugout, and Langone and advance scouting assistant J.T. Watkins in the clubhouse, Cora thinks the Red Sox will have a greater advantage in getting information to the players.

"The players don't see him as a front office guy," Cora said. "There's nothing wrong with the front office guys but they feel more comfortable seeing someone in uniform giving the information."

In a game where the margin of victory can be minuscule, any advantage Vazquez can provide the Red Sox will be welcomed.

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Follow MassLive.com Red Sox beat reporter @jcmccaffrey on Twitter. She can be reached by email at jmccaffr@masslive.com.

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