Hinch’s demeanor fostering success
Amid robust start, manager intent on even-keel approach
BALTIMORE — Keep calm and win more.
The Astros haven’t printed their version of that popular slogan on T-shirts, although they probably could make a few dollars if they did.
The attitude of the best team in the American League by winning percentage (.625) is boring and, by the manager’s admission, cliché: Take it day by day. Focus on today.
“Because it’s so early, it’s not time to do a touchdown dance,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “I know it’s a different sport, but it’s just the way we’re going to operate.
“If you’ve been around long enough as a player or as a coach or anything, the season can really change quickly. Both positively and negatively. … The 10-game stretches are really good. Ten-game stretches when you go poorly are the longest 10 days of your life no matter what
job you have. So you have to be very careful, like I said, not to touchdown dance. Not to do a 360 dunk until you know you can perform it.”
Basketball analogies might not be what Houston fans want to hear right now, but the skipper spoke prior to Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.
The Astros (30-18) were the first team in the majors to reach 30 wins and, through nearly two months of the season, are getting it done even as the cast of characters and contributors changes. Jake Marisnick cools, and onto the scene bursts Preston Tucker. Collin McHugh goes through a rough patch, and Lance McCullers Jr. comes in throwing mid-90s heat.
And the idea that it’s early depends on whom you ask. Much will change in the majors from now until the end of the season, but we’re arriving at a time when legitimate contenders are easy to distinguish. The 50-game mark, the 62-game mark when 100 games remain, July 4 … any of those can be pointed to.
Progress check
Relievers Chad Qualls and Pat Neshek had lockers next to each other in Baltimore, where the Astros wrapped up a three-game series Wednesday. When they were asked about the idea of a checkpoint, it became a two-way discussion.
Qualls said once fewer than 100 games remain, a countdown is reasonable. Neshek disagreed and threw out Aug. 20, because some teams at that point really are out of it. The trade deadline and
extra wild card keep clubs around for a long time. But Qualls might not have understood the question as it related to standings.
“Are you talking about first place and stuff ? Oh, no,” Qualls said. “Just keep playing. I’m telling you it sounds dumb and vanilla, but it’s cliché that we just take one game at a time and then you move on. If we had lost yesterday, then we just go into today and play today. We’re just playing really good right now.
“If everyone starts getting all giddy because we’re playing super good, things can be sour. And then if we’re going bad and people start pressing, it can get worse. If we just try to stay even-keel — don’t get too high, don’t get too low, take it one game at a time — all of a sudden you look back, and we’re in first place.”
It’s remarkable how a team with so many new faces, from the manager to most of the coaching staff to the players, has cohesion. But as one veteran pointed out, the front office didn’t bring in any bad guys. The clubhouse is home to an agreeable, simpatico group of men.
Hinch’s growth since his first managerial stint with the Diamondbacks, from 2009-10, is also visible.
Growth as manager
“First day on the job (in Arizona), he wasn’t really able to be himself, and I think now with the front-office role that he had in San Diego, he got to watch (Padres manager) Buddy Black do his thing,” Qualls said. “And I think he learned a lot from him over there. There is a lot of stuff he did in spring training that kind of reminded me like that. Makes it fun for all the players.
“A.J. gets the respect of all the players over here, and he can relate to a lot of these guys, and he’s a lot looser. And he’s enjoying what he’s doing — that’s what it’s all about. We can feel that he’s loose. He wants everyone to do good, and if you look to the captain of the ship and he’s tight and nervous and whatnot, everyone else is like, well, why is he? But he’s been headand-shoulders doing all the right moves.”
Hinch said he knows there have been moments when he’s taken a different path than he would have or did with the Diamondbacks.
Second time around
“Stylistically, I know I’ve done some things differently,” he said. “You have to talk to players, Qualls obviously being the one guy that’s overlapped both places.
“But I do believe we’ve all evolved, and I’m sure there are plenty of situations that I’ve handled differently. You know, I’ve let loose a little bit more on this job. The second time around, let them see my personality. Do some things behind the scenes that I probably wasn’t bold enough to do as the youngest manager in baseball. But now since (Rays manager Kevin) Cash is younger than me, I can do anything.”
It was pointed out to Qualls that people are talking about the Astros, but there’s a sense of shock around the whole season.
“See, that’s a good thing,” he said. “That just means they’re baffled.”