AL Championship Series: Astros vs Red Sox Saturday, October 13, 2018 A.J. Hinch Astros pregame 1 whatever you want; you're writing the article. THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up for questions for (Laughter). A.J. Hinch. Q. You said after the division series, this team has Q. Evan Gattis didn't play much in the ALDS. Why sort of an extra gear this time of year, certain guys is it important to keep him on the roster? And can just turn it on. What do you think that gear is what kind of role might you use him in this series? really about? How much is it physical? How much A.J. HINCH: Sure. He's a threat. I mean, if you look at is it mental? the back of the baseball card, he does some damage. A.J. HINCH: A little bit of both. It's hard to have a Whenever he gets the opportunity, and you can't ever physical burst at this time of the year because it's been predict what spot that will be, but he's one of the few such a long year and there's a lot of wear and tear on guys on either bench that can change a scoreboard these guys. with one swing. But, you know, there's great energy in our club. I think So that's not lost on me or on the other dugout -- when the mental side of this, this is why we play. And we got he comes up to bat, the pitcher has to deal with a lot. to experience that. And it's built over time for the core He's one swing away from a big impact. group of our guys. In '15 we made the playoff, '16 we didn't and '17 was special and now we're in '18. Q. There's been a lot made of Gerrit Cole's makeover this year, just a little tweak in his I think knowing and what's at stake and having approach. I was wondering, when and how did you experienced it, I think there's just a great boost of guys first present that to him and how receptive adrenalin that kicks in at this time. If you're not kind of was he? at your peak interest level at playing the game then A.J. HINCH: First, please don't call it a makeover. He something's wrong with you. was really good on the front end. He's had some really good seasons. I think his open mindedness and ability This is such a good opportunity for these guys to to navigate through a lot of information and trying to showcase against the best teams in the league and on find a small edge was very apparent from the very the biggest stage and in front of millions and millions of beginning. people.

When he had his press conference in Houston, you That will make everybody sit up straight and feel a little know, I met with him in my office and I said, listen, better and kick it in gear. there's a few things along the way but you're good from the very beginning and we're going to try to make you Q. A little bit about Correa and what you're seeing better. even though it didn't show up in the stats in the ALCS. He said he had some good at-bats. What And he was completely open to meeting with Strommy have you seen? and our front office and gather all the information. A.J. HINCH: He did. And I've had to talk a lot about Now, he doesn't accept it on face value. He's going to Carlos, and it starts and stops with he's a really good dive pretty deep into his own analysis and how he player. He can help us win. He's a winning player. His applies it to the field. But it's remarkable how good he back is bothering him for much of the season. But he's is at absorbing information and then taking it out to the gotten through that. field. The 3-0 swing, oppo homer was a big boost for our Those subtle changes can make big dividends. And dugout and a big boost for him. His defense has been he's proof positive of that. very good through this whole time.

Q. Reboot instead of makeover? So I like his swings. We expect perfection in players A.J. HINCH: Yeah, maybe that's better. You can call it now, and if they don't -- if they're not perfect -- there's

Rev #1 by #188 at 2018-10-13 21:48:00 GMT page 1 of 3 always the question of why. And most of it's about the with the route I took. I'm happy to see Craig and others competition's hard at this level. But he's a difference have good success. But I also -- I also applaud Brian maker, and he's kind of hiding down in that 6, 7 hole Snitker, who did it in a different way. And you applaud now, which is a huge potential to have at that part of Dave Roberts who did it a little different way, had a little the order. bit of both, had front office experience and some on- field first base coaching and bench coaching. Q. How stretched out is Lance McCullers? Can you go multiple innings and would you be comfortable So Alex did it a little different across the way here. So I pitching him in back-to-back games? think, if anything, that might have proven that there's A.J. HINCH: Yes and yes. I think he's stretched out to just more than one way to reach the position. do whatever. This time of year I think you can push guys beyond their comfort level. Q. When you guys first acquired Ryan Pressly, mostly used him when you were behind, losing What he probably will say he can do versus what I'm situations. Could you envision this kind of upside willing to do is a little bit different. Because these guys, where he's become one of your key relievers? you never take the ball away from these guys. They A.J. HINCH: We did. I may have just broken him into never hand it to me gracefully. They'd throw it at me if our team that way. It wasn't an intent to use him in they could when I take them out of games. down games. I want our guys to get comfortable. And one of the worst ways to enter a team is if you enter But one-plus not a problem, two-plus, not a problem. with the lead and blow the lead; that's not a great way And if you ask some guys to do some things they to enter the team. I tried to gracefully use that with haven't done a ton of in recent weeks, they'll give it Pressly or Osuna. their all. We had a really good bullpen at the time it wasn't like So back-to-back days, we've already done that. We did we had a huge void trying to cover up. We acquired it right when he came off the DL. The last week of the Pressly with the idea that he might do anything from season. That adrenalin kick I was talking about earlier high leverage innings to close games to be a will be just fine in these games. workhorse. He threw a ton of innings in Minnesota. So we thought we could work him in as a weapon. Q. We're seeing the success that Craig Counsell is having in Milwaukee and other managers who And we don't care when we pitch guys or what inning it come right from the front office. Do you feel like is or trying to label guys, what they are. We want to you laid the ground work in a way -- even though have a collection of relievers that can come in at any the time in Arizona was short -- was that the start time and I can rest anybody at any time. I can pitch of that kind of managerial architect? anybody at any time. There's different angles, different A.J. HINCH: I don't know. It probably helps. I may strengths. It's the best bullpen I've ever been around. have taken a few bullets along the way doing that for the group. But I don't know. There's so many different Q. Granted every starting pitcher is different, but ways to get into a leadership position. when you take into account how many postseason starts has made, has he ever said I think while it wasn't that accepted from the get-go and anything to you about how he approaches it or told you start to see guys be a little bit more successful and you anything that you think has made you a better start to understand the why it happened or why there's manager of not only him but the whole pitching a belief that some guys can get some training in the staff? front office, it doesn't take away from your traditional A.J. HINCH: He doesn't talk on his start day, so he route of trying -- to learn how to be a leader through didn't tell me anything today. But, no, his preparation is the field, through A ball and Double-A and -A. off-the-chart good. And so you don't have to really listen to him as much as you just need to watch him. And it's not the answer key that everybody can just go And he wants the ball. He wants the moment. He to the front office and learn the inner workings of an wants the big out, whether that's a game in May or a office and be good at the manager position. But it is a game in October. route. And it's proven to be something that there's valuable lessons to be learned that way just as there's But watching him prepare for a regular season game valuable lessons to be learned on-the-job training and a postseason game and a game, leading a team. you start to see why he produces the results that he does. I'm not sure there's a perfect way either way. I'm happy

Rev #1 by #188 at 2018-10-13 21:48:00 GMT page 2 of 3 It's not by accident. It's not just by outstuffing the missing the bats -- not only in the minor leagues, but in opponent or kind of guessing what pitches are -- not the Major Leagues -- has been very impressive. just by leaning on 98 miles an hour or power breaking balls. It's a process of getting himself ready to pitch If the moment calls for him I have complete confidence every five days or every six days, or whatever it is, and that he'll come in and give me what he's got. applying what he knows against specific opponents and being huge at the right times. THE MODERATOR: Thank you.

Q. With Bregman, does his personality his makeup remind you of anybody you played with or against in your career? A.J. HINCH: I don't know. It's hard to top his personality. He's got a little bit of everything. When I first met him, everybody immediately went to Dustin Pedroia. I've never been around Pedroia. I don't know him very well. I've shaken his hand before. But that edge that he has is very unique.

And he's got the preparation down to a T. The swagger, the fun-loving side, the showman in him, you know, you see that -- I played with Giambi in Oakland and he was a huge personality.

You end up, you see -- I wouldn't say that -- anybody quiet that I played against or played with would not qualify. Alex is going to be himself. He's comfortable in his own skin. He loves the camera, especially the one at the end of the dugout. (Laughter) And he loves the moment. And that's -- that kind of performance at the critical points of the game is starting to be legendary.

Q. Do you think he'll stay in baseball his whole life? A.J. HINCH: Yeah, he's a baseball -- I think he's going to play for as long as he humanly can. This is a guy who loves the game. I've said this before: I've never been around someone who loves baseball more than . And at this level when you're around so many different people, to me that's saying something.

Q. Josh James didn't pitch in the first series, but are you kind of curious to get him out there and what you'll get from him because he's so dynamic, but he's got this calmness about him when he's on the mound as well? A.J. HINCH: No, I am anxious to get him out there if the moment calls for it. And he's cool and calm and under control. I know he's ready. Both series I've told him, pulled him in my office and said he's on the roster. All he said is "I'm ready." He threw a lot of BP yesterday.

I'm sure he's feeling extra adrenalin to get into a game. But he had weapons -- in this building is when he broke through as a legitimate candidate to make, to potentially a postseason roster; now he's made two because a hundred matters. Hundred miles an hour matters. The change-up matters. The good slider, the

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