Postseason Press Conference: A.J. Hinch on Tigers ALDS Game 1 Win in Seattle | 10/4/25

Postseason Press Conference: A.J. Hinch on Tigers ALDS Game 1 Win in Seattle | 10/4/25

All right, we’ll get started with AJ Hinch. We’ll start here in the front. AJ, how big was it for you to come in here and steal a win in in Seattle in the opener? Well, we didn’t steal it. We earned it. Um I think it was important for us to play this game that was in front of us and we um we did a really good job. That was an incredible game. I mean, an incredible job. Uh Troy being able to manage his emotions getting into the game. Um how about our bullpen? I mean, that was that was quite an effort. Um, used everybody down there but one and and some timely hitting. Carp with a big homer. Zmac with the base hit. I mean, there’s a lot to like about a win on the road in the playoffs to kickstart a a series and I’m uh obviously thrilled. We’ll go to Evan in the middle. Uh AJ, what were your emotions like in the 11th? Obviously, as you see Torque work the leadoff walk, then the two strikeouts and then obviously, you know, Zack comes through. Yeah, I mean we were, you know, we took advantage of a of a few extra things. You know, the, you know, the walked against that we walked uh earlier in the game hurt us and then we, you know, we got it right back. We walk, we get a wild pitch, gets to second and gives you a chance and and and Zmac with the big base hit. And so obviously there’s there was a lot in that game. I mean, we could sit and talk forever of just about the the back and forth and and the volume of of pitches thrown and used and um key at bats and pretty good defense and just things that in a one-run game, everything matters and and you know, we had one extra punch at the perfect time to to to get the win. Going to right to Evan. Uh did you have any thoughts of sending vest out for a third inning and and how impressive was what K? I tried. I mean, he wanted to badly, you know, and I I actually, you know, coming into the game, I really only wanted to get one up out of him and then he goes out and has a singledigit inning of of pitches. Um, so I was sending him back out and and so when he went out a second inning, he’s just working on so much adrenaline, you know, but I, you know, I I didn’t I didn’t even consider giving him a third. Um, it matters so much to these guys. They’re willing to do anything. But, you know, we had a fresh caterer who who I um have always talked highly about having having good stuff and and the and the and the mojo to get it done. And then, you know, that’s one of the first experiences I think he’s had like that. And and you’re not going to pitch in a tougher environment with with what the Seattle fans and our fans brought tonight in this ballpark. And it was it was a very rewarding win. Go to Cody in front. Kater and McKinstry in in different ways have embodied a lot about your team. Um used in a million different roles. How much do you value seeing players like that come through when Yeah, I mean we’re going to need everybody. You know, we are not a team that’s built on on one guy. Although any one of our our guys can be the guy for that night and and you know, listen, we’ve I we got rewarded for an incredible first half with a with six allstars. We’ve, you know, we’ve had numerous of numerous guys who have been, you know, the the the player of the game, so to speak, if we if we had one. Um, and we’re the sum of the parts team. I mean, we are some we’re going to rely on every single one of our guys. There’s no free roster spots. There’s no um nobody that’s not going to be leaned upon in one way or another. And, you know, we we use use our players just randomly enough to keep everybody on their toes, whether it’s pinch hitting or or, you know, pitching out of, you know, some perceived order or uh starter, bullpen, you know, outside of a couple guys, you know, they’re there’s they’re all in and and outside of a couple guys, I I’ll do anything with anybody. And I I love that that about the character of this team. Going right with Chris a decision you made earlier in the game kind of ultimately led to Kater being in the game in the 11th against the same pocket of hitters earlier. What did you like about Raphael Monttero? Yeah. In that it was it swing and miss or was there something else you liked in that match? No, I I love Rafi Montero in general. You know, I think you know he he offers something a little bit different with the sinker and the split. Um the only thing I didn’t like about I did not want him to only have three hitters. I wanted him to go a little bit deeper where we’re at in the middle of the game because I knew once the bullpen gate opened it wasn’t going to close tonight and we were going to continue to apply pressure. But that the the O2 to walk to a Rose Arena changed the whole inning and that’s when you start you know in my shoes managing for that inning just to get get out of that mess and Holton came in and did a really good job. Obviously, Jav makes the acrobatic double play and and we get out of it. But the the intention was uh to squeeze more outs out of Rafi, like more innings, maybe even multiple innings. And and best laid plans don’t go that way sometimes in the playoffs and we have to audible. Um and that was going to, you know, that was going to force Tommy Kanley to have a good inning. And Will Vest to go multiple innings and and at the very end cater to come in um unexpected to many in that spot and and close it out. Go to Evan in the middle. AJ, there was a big decision point for them in the fifth inning with Carrie at the plate, Kirby on the mound, Spire in the pen. I mean, did you have Jamai ready to go in that situation just in case? And then what was it like to hit as early as the third or fourth inning this year? So, I I we we’re always going to be available to counter there. And I have the second move um depending on on on what the other side’s going to do. So, um, you know, one of the one of the pressure points that that this team can put on by being allin and by by us willing to do everything, um, the game sort of unfolds with a with with a lot of different scenarios and in this one, you know, Karp u took advantage of getting the extra bat. Hits the ball out of the ballpark on I don’t even know if it was a strike, but it was it was a homer. I know that. And so I think that um that shows that that J the threat of Jamai is part of that that sequence of events and so um obviously like I said you need all your players in every scenario and we’re willing to do anything and um that gives us the second choice to to be able to do whatever. We’ll go to Andrew on the left. Raleigh and Rodriguez were the only guys for the Mariners who had hits. Forgive me if you already addressed this earlier but I mean how impressive was that by your pitching staff to kind of curtail the damage outside of those two who kind of are going to get there. Yeah. No, obviously, you know, I think the first inning really did help set the tone and settle settle things because um Troy was in a lot of a lot of stress at the very beginning and um and we had the one was it the one low throw at second base that we couldn’t turn the double play and all of a sudden you feel like give him an extra out and this team is explosive and then even when Julio went deep, you know, he settled back down and continued to stay in the game. So, I um you know, I almost say all of our bullpen guys, including Troy, even though Troy started it, it it was a job well done in a in a in an environment um where the fans were looking to help him get anything started, we would squash the the the rally every time. And so, um we needed them all and or nearly all of them. And, uh a truly team team win. AJ, thanks for coming in. Yep. You got it. You got one more. Yeah. How much is it like? Yeah. I don’t know about difficult. You know, the one thing, you know, both teams have to deal with the communication issue, which is really what an environment like this is is all about. You know, it’s just constant screaming. I mean, you can’t even talk to your coaches next to each other because they’re how loud it is. But the communication out on the field u dialed in on the bases. is the third base, first base coach are not going to be able to talk to you about too much out there. Back picks and and pickoffs from the pitcher and things like that. Um, if anything, it’s controlling the how excitable you are playing in this environment. Homer road. Um, I mean, this is for everything, right? We worked all season to to earn our spot in in this opportunity, and there’s a lot of excitement and adrenaline that comes with that. and and a crowd either rooting for you or rooting against you can can create um a little bit of a multiplier in those emotions.

Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch talks about the Tigers locking down a game one ALDS win in Seattle.

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