Sure, it's Richard Justice, but a nice story showing it's more than filling out a lineup card and in-game strategy: http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/233754866/aj-hinchs-connection-to-astros-players-key/
This seems like it should be required reading on this board. Not in support of Hinch, but to understand all the different things that make a manager. I'd love to see how the lineup-critics here feel about Hinch's moves last year with Bregman discussed in the article.
Not sure why it should be required reading. Nothing really surprising in the article. It is well known that Hinch's strength is the relationships he has with his players. Even last year when he was being criticized; his players took a firm stand supporting him. Unless everything unravels, I don't see that changing. Only chemistry criticism I have heard from the organization is the belief the team had too many cliques last year. When it comes to strategic decisions, that is another issue. Not sure Hinch should be getting any criticism. The Astros are playing better than they ever have. Even decisions he makes that seem questionable at the time are working out. If Hinch has deserved criticism in the past (I believe he did); then he deserves credit for managing one of the youngest teams in baseball to the best record in baseball 1/3 of the way through the season this year.
Sounds like you support it being required reading... There is a link between having strong personal relationships... and having a ton of insight on when a player is struggling, when a player is rolling, when morale is low, how to help get a player out of a slump, how to foster growth, how to help untapped potential reach new heights. Players have always played hard for him... and he's been able to get the most out of his bullpens. There's really not much an MLB manager can influence day-in/day-out.
Plenty of people here have said Hinch sucks or that he's the only weakness on the team or other such things.
That was this year, when he wanted to get Marwin into the lineup. I'm talking about last year, when he took a 2-32 career player and moved him up to the #2 spot in the lineup.
Yall let me know when he ****s this team up. That will probably happen around the 4th inning of the next game they are trailing.
