Well, let’s talk about this fella, AJ Hinch. Don’t rightly know why folks are so interested in him, but I reckon I can tell ya what I heard.
This AJ Hinch fella, he’s been around baseball a good long while, you know? Played for a bunch of teams, the A’s, the Royals, even them Detroit Tigers for a bit. And then he started managin’ teams, like that Houston Astros team.
Now, some folks say he’s a good manager, some say he ain’t. Heard tell he got in some hot water a few years back, somethin’ about stealin’ signs. Yep, they say he was cheatin’, and that ain’t right. Got him fired, it did. Folks were mighty upset, I tell ya. That whole sign stealin’ thing, that was a big to-do. He got himself suspended and then the Astros let him go. Lost his job, just like that. Guess that’s what happens when ya try to cut corners.
- He managed that Astros team when they won the World Series, though. First time ever for them. That’s somethin’, ain’t it? Folks were happy then, before all that cheatin’ stuff came out. Won it all in six games, they did. That’s a big deal in baseball, I hear.
- But then that cheatin’ scandal, that messed things up for him. He had to sit out a whole season. Couldn’t even go near a baseball field, they say. Must’ve been hard on him, a man who loves baseball like he does.
- Now he’s managin’ them Detroit Tigers. Folks were hopin’ he’d turn ’em around, make ’em a winnin’ team again. Ain’t been easy, though. They started off this year real bad, losin’ a whole bunch of games.
Folks were sayin’ maybe he ain’t so good after all. But baseball’s a long season, ya know? Still plenty of time for them Tigers to get their act together. He says he’s learned his lesson, that he’s a changed man. Said 2020 was hard on him, and he knows why he wasn’t in the game. Reckon we’ll see if he’s tellin’ the truth.
He’s got a wife and two little girls, they say. Family man, I guess. That’s important, ya know? Gotta have somethin’ to keep ya grounded, specially when things get tough. Hope he’s a good daddy to them girls. They probably don’t care too much about baseball, long as he’s there for them.
Folks are always talkin’ about how much money he makes, too. This “AJ Hinch salary” they call it. I reckon he makes a good bit, bein’ a manager and all. But money ain’t everything, ya know? Happiness is more important. Don’t matter how much money you got if you ain’t happy. Though, I reckon havin’ a bit of money makes things easier.
Some folks say he’s lookin’ for one of them Manager of the Year awards. He’s come close a few times, but never got it. Guess he’d like to have one on his shelf, show the world he’s a good manager, even after all that trouble. He finished second once, third another time, and got fourth and fifth too. Always up there, just never quite made it to the top.
He seems like a fella who knows baseball, though. Been around it his whole life, practically. They say he made a bad pitchin’ change in the World Series one time, cost his team the game. Folks were mighty mad about that. Said he blew the whole thing. But everybody makes mistakes, even them baseball fellas. It’s how you learn from them that matters, I reckon.
Last year, the Tigers, they finished strong. Gave folks some hope for this year. He says they’re just startin’ to see the good from that strong finish. Maybe he’s right. Maybe them Tigers will surprise folks. It’d be somethin’ if he could take ’em to the World Series, after all he’s been through. Redemption, they call it. Folks love a good redemption story.
He joined MLB Network at them Winter Meetings. Talkin’ about baseball, I reckon. That’s what them baseball fellas do, talk and talk and talk. Seems like he’s tryin’ to get back in folks’ good graces, show ’em he’s still got it. Maybe he does, maybe he don’t. Only time will tell.
So, that’s what I know about this AJ Hinch fella. He’s had his ups and downs, that’s for sure. Made some mistakes, but who ain’t? Guess we’ll see what he does with them Tigers. Maybe he’ll lead ’em to glory, maybe he won’t. That’s baseball for ya, never know what’s gonna happen.
