The Detroit Tigers made things official in October, hiring A.J. Hinch as their new manager following the retirement of Ron Gardenhire near the end of last season.
It marks the return for Hinch to managing after serving a one year suspension due to his role in the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal that overshadowed their 2017 World Series championship. He led them to two pennants as manager, and qualified for the postseason four of the five seasons on the job.
His new address is the Motor City, where he takes over a team in the midst of a rebuilding effort.
Hinch joined Tigers commentator Dan Dickerson for an interview, during which he detailed his plans to use his past experience
“The draw to this opportunity is the players,” Hinch said. “A lot of attention will be on me, but at the end of the day, this game is about players. This organization’s not about me. The talent on the field is what produces the wins.”
Hinch also went on to praise the historic identity of the Tigers, which has been in place since their inception into the Majors in 1901.
“When you look at the Tigers, the English D, one of the most historic brands you an imagine in the sport,” he said. “The uniform is the same they wore 100 years ago…there’s a uniqueness in our sport that they haven’t had to change their identity as a franchise for forever – it’s etched in the history of the sport.”
Hinch’s full interview with Dickerson can be viewed here.
– – Quotes via Ilitch News Hub Link – –
