Fansided

MLB Awards 2015: Three finalists for AL Manager of the Year

By John Buhler

Oct 8, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister before game one of the ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister before game one of the ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Sep 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch (14) watches during a replay in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Angels 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch (14) watches during a replay in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Angels 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

A.J. Hinch, Houston Astros

The Houston Astros were a disastrous baseball team from 2009 to 2014. In those six years, the Astros had a .393 winning percentage, going a combined 382-590, losing over 100 games a season three times (2011-13). Having the worst record in baseball three years in a row allowed the Astros to have the pick of the litter with three straight first overall picks in the MLB Amateur Draft.

Many knew that the Houston Astros farm system was surely becoming one of the best, but many projected that this club, centered around diminutive second baseman Jose Altuve, would have to wait at least a few more years before being competitive.

Instead, under new manager A.J. Hinch, the Astros took the baseball world by storm, going 86-76 and earning the second American League Wild Card spot in 2015. Altuve, ace Dallas Keuchel, and rookie shortstop Carlos Correa were a few of the many that helped turn around the doormat of a baseball team in the first year under Hinch’s leadership.

Hinch previously managed the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2009 to 2010, compiling an 89-123 record in his two years in Phoenix. Whatever he learned from his time in the desert, he brought to Houston and the Astros not only made the playoffs, but advanced as the underdog in the AL Wild Card Game before falling to the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS.

The Houston Astros improbable run to the AL Postseason in 2015 does wonders for A.J. Hinch’s case to win the 2015 AL Manager of the Year Award.

Next: The Case for Paul Molitor

Home/Houston Astros