Last month, the Padres named former Boston Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer to be the eighth GM in team history.

When he was hired, the 35-year-old and his information-gathering skills were lauded by Padres officials and others throughout baseball, including Hoyer's former boss, Theo Epstein.

We talked to Hoyer about his research methods, charting his new team, being a young GM in baseball and Doogie Howser.

Q: The hiring of young GMs is becoming a trend in baseball, but what do you say to anyone who believes you're too young for the job?

A: I'm a few years older than Kevin (Towers) was when he got the job. I'm older than Theo is now. I don't see my age as an issue whatsoever. ... I don' t look at 35 as at all that young.

Q: One local writer has nicknamed you Doogie Howser because you're young, intelligent and in charge of a baseball team.

A: I saw that. I promise if the camera's any good, you'll see the gray hair.

Q: Were you ever part of the cast of ABC's "Doogie Howser, M.D."?

A: No (laughing). Certainly not.

Q: But you do have a history of doctors in your family, right?

A: My dad's a pediatrician, and his dad was a doctor. But I had zero interest in going into medicine.

Q: Do you attribute some of your information-gathering and research abilities to watching them prepare for their jobs?

A: I suppose. I'd like to think they prepared me to be pretty meticulous in general. I think I did a good job in all the jobs I've been in, but baseball is so much easier for me because I truly love the material.

Q: CEO Jeff Moorad mentioned that he was really impressed with the three-ring binder you brought to your interview. How much did you research the Padres and how much preparation time were you given?

A: It wasn't that long, a handful of days. Part of my job (with Boston) was to know every team well, so that part wasn't hard. But right away I started researching. Most of the stuff in that binder kind of flowed out pretty easily. When you work in this game, you sort of develop a lot of ideas and contacts and philosophies, and it flows out on paper pretty easily.

Q: Was it filled with ideas for moving forward with the team, or was it player research?

A: In general, it was less Padres specific and more focused on me ---- sort of what I believe in and things like that. It wasn't like I walked through the 25-man roster or the 40-man roster.

Q: Did you do any research on fish tacos or the differences between Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach?

A: At this point, since I've been here, frankly I've been in the office or in my hotel. I haven't had a real chance to get out and explore. At some point, I look forward to getting out and doing that because this is a great city.

Q: Have you tried a fish taco yet?

A: Yeah, I have. It's good. Boston is tough to get good Mexican food. So if I went to a place where I could get it, I got it. Now it's everywhere.

Jed Hoyer at a glance

Age: 35

Hometown: Plymouth, N.H.

College: Wesleyan University

Favorite baseball movie: "Bull Durham"

Favorite musicians: Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd

Favorite food: Sushi and Mexican food

First baseball memory: Taking a trip to Atlanta with my dad for my first game and meeting Ruben Amaro ---- he was one of the coaches for the (Philadelphia) Phillies. For some reason, we hit it off and he started grabbing autographs for me: Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt and all those guys. It definitely stuck with me.

Favorite team growing up: Boston Red Sox

Which was harder ---- 1986 as a fan or 2003 as an employee? Definitely 2003 because it's double. You're a fan and you're working there. It was difficult, but it made 2004 that much sweeter having gotten that close and going to Game 7.

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