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Former D-backs’ Skipper Hinch Has Grown Into Managerial Success

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May 21, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch (14) in the dugout during the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

May 21, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch (14) in the dugout during the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

A.J. Hinch was never given his Major League Baseball managerial floaties.

The then-34-year-old was pushed into the deep end of the Chase Field pool by the Arizona Diamondbacks back in May of 2009 having never managed or coached a team at any level. Less than 14 months later he was fired after the D-backs stumbled out to a 31-48 start in 2010.

Now the even-keeled Hinch is back on the bench leading the resurgent Houston Astros after taking over as manager in late September last year.

“He is a completely different person,” ESPN MLB insider Pedro Gomez told Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat during his weekly interview Wednesday morning. “He learned so much from his time [in Arizona].”

One of Hinch’s self-admitted downfalls in the desert according to Gomez was his insistence on “showing everyone that I was in charge,” a nearly impossible task when taking over in-season without any experience handling even the every day simple responsibilities like filling out a lineup card.

Hinch has taken the bumps and mis-steps in Arizona and pulled back the reigns on the young, talented Astros who currently lead the American League West. Just don’t think for a second he isn’t the one calling the shots.

“People think I’m just an extension of [Astros GM] Jeff Luhnow,” Hinch told Gomez in a recent interview. “I can’t underscore it enough: not once has he told me who to play or not to play. We have debates often and disagree but at the end of the day I respect him and he respects me. It’s a great working relationship.”

For Hinch sinking was never an option.

The 40-year-old is now helping Houston swim laps around their AL West foes.

No floaties needed.

 

 

 

A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.

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