Roch Kubatko sits down with newest O’s manager Craig Albernaz

Roch Kubatko sits down with newest O’s manager Craig Albernaz

[Music] United we play. United we win. Deep right field. Another absolute bomb. We are family. Outstanding effort again. We’re busting ours to kick yours. That’s big time. 15. Respect all. Fear none. Oh, he built that one. Intensity is not a perfume. It was a no doubter. 5 4 3 2 1 [Music] First of all, welcome to Baltimore. Like the hundth person to say that, I guess. Um, doesn’t get old though. Doesn’t get old. Why Why did you feel like Baltimore was the right fit for you at this time? There was a lot of talk about some opportunities in the past and you had elected to to pull yourself kind of out of the running. Why now? Yeah, first and foremost, it’s the Baltimore Orioles, right? That’s the historic franchise to get to to be in that dugout with those players and being in this organization and the history of it. It’s one that’s the first thing. And then getting into the weeds, talking with Mike and talking to the front office, you can kind of see their vision and what they laid out like they’ve they’ve done the rebuild and came out the other side. Um, you know, I’m just trying to what Brandon instilled, you know, his time here and just try to keep him moving forward and, you know, the potential of that really intrigued me. And then, you know, obviously you start looking at the roster and the talent just jumps out at you. So, all those things combined, talking with my family, it was a it was the right opportunity for me to jump on. Do you also look at the history of the managers who have been here? Everybody’s going to bring up Earl Weaver to you and and what Buck Schoalder did and Brandon High was a two-time manager sporting news. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it just proves like the the history of this place. Um, you know, I still remember when, you know, believe it was 2014 um when Buck Shaw Buck Shaw Walter managed the team into the playoffs and the whole team is celebrating. He’s in front of the dugout just sitting there watching. I still remember to this day. I thought that was the coolest thing I’ve seen from a manager to do. So, but yeah, I mean it’s tough for me. I those guys who manage like you know even Brandon a two-time manager of the year you know that’s a lofty expectation and for me I’m just a type of person to kind of be who my feet are and take one day at a time and hopefully you know as the game stop you know stack up in the days hopefully we look up and you know we’re in the playoffs and win the World Series. I know one of the things that attracted uh the club to you is is your background with the Rays the Giants and then the Guardians. How much can you pull from those organizations and bring them here? Yeah, I think with, you know, with anything in life, you kind of the people you surround yourself with, the people you interact with, you kind of pull from from everyone, all your experiences. So, you know, I was very fortunate in this game to have, like you said, be a part of three really good organizations, but also those three organizations have really great people and really great coaches and teachers and communicators, and they poured into me to make myself better. Um, so that’s something where I’m going to take with me and and bring that same culture to Baltimore is we’re going to pour into our coaching staff, pour into the front office and ultimately the players as well. And how much of a part does analytics play in this? Because obviously it’s got to be important or you probably aren’t here obviously because they they put so much emphasis on the data that they collect. Yeah, I mean to be honest with you, if any team is not using analytics in this day and age, you’re behind, you know, and like I said in the in the press, like analytics is just a small piece of of how to win games, how to navigate games to ultimately get players better. You know, it’s, you know, you’re trying to place good bets in this game. And those data points, those numbers, those analytics help you with those bets, but it’s not the total puzzle. You know, I think if anything in this game was 100% guarantee, every team would be doing it, but it’s not. And there’s still, you know, there’s nothing that has 100% guaranteed. So, what it boils down to is the players. Human beings play this game. So, you take those numbers, you talk to the players, you talk to the coaching staff, you know, see what you can do, see what’s digestible, and ultimately get the players feedback and see how they’re feeling about it because at the end of the day, the players play, we don’t play. Obviously, uh, you mean a lot to Steven V because he was here for your press conference. Yeah. Um, what do you feel like you really learn from him kind of observing him as a manager and maybe like with the handling of players for example? Just the communication skills. I mean, he makes everyone feel like they’re Jose Ramirez, you know, with Cleveland. And that’s something that I noticed and take great pride in and I follow his lead as well with that. And that’s something where yes, we’re really good friends, but also we’re kind of cut from the same cloth. You know, I went about the same way. we both had a similar minor league trajectory where he was he was 26 in high A and ultimately he made it to the big leagues I didn’t and had a great career. Um but that’s something we share is just the communication with the players being upfront and honest and you know he made everyone on that roster feel like they’re going to impact the game that night and that’s something that I really want to bring to Baltimore as well. What is the process for you of building a coaching staff? Yeah. Um, you just want to find the best teachers, the best communicators, um, team players, but first and foremost, just great human beings. Um, you want to bring great people into the clubhouse, into the organization, because it’s all about the players and the boys. And, you know, you want to make sure that the players feel like they’re being supported at every turn. And our coaches can’t have any egos. You have to put your ego by the the wayside to pour into players to maximize their talent. And that’s something that, you know, we’ve been in the process of doing is talking to different coaches, talking to coaches that were on stuff last year. So, it’s just been ongoing communication with everyone. Have you been reaching out to players yet? Have you had a chance to talk to some of these guys? And what’s been the reception? No, it’s been awesome. Um, I that’s why you love players. Players are are so much smarter than what people give them credit for. Like, they’re already doing like research on me and reference checks and stuff, which was cool. So, now I’ve reached out to a few of them. I’m trying to get to all of them. It’s just tough because I’m getting bar audited with a with a bunch of different stuff and rightfully so and they understand that which is awesome. And so right now I’ve probably reached out to about seven or eight of them. I’m not going to say six, seven. Did that in the press conference for my kids but uh somewhere around there. Yeah, somewhere around there. Um but no, it’s been great conversation. Just wanted to introduce myself, get to know him a little bit and then you know as we move on the offseason we’ll kind of dig in a little further. Everybody I’ve talked to about you from your past and of course uh there are a lot of people that have stories and whatever else but but what a amazing catcher you were defensively behind the plate. Does that are you like looking forward to kind of having a I don’t know a hands-on approach with an Adley Rutman, a Samuel Basio? Yeah, I will I wouldn’t say I will have a hands-on approach. You know, I think that’s something where you know I had to learn going to Cleveland. you know, Sandy Alamar was the catching coach there and so and Si is one of the best people I’ve ever been around and communicators and team players. So, he let me, you know, work with the catchers as well and have some input. But for me, it’s just I’m just going to be a resource for for Adley and Basio. And, you know, and surround them with the best coaching to, you know, to help their talents, you know, shine. And I think both those guys, uh, the sky’s is the limit for both those two. So, it’s my job to make sure we get the right coaches around them. I’ve got to ask you because I kept hearing the story of uh and Bill Matthews, your former coach, told the story. I mean, there are a lot of stories and they’re all good. Yeah. But uh when there was a you were catching, there was a walk-off home run, played umpire, must have lost track, handed you a new ball, you yelled, and you chucked it over the batter’s eye in center field. Yeah. Goes, “That’s not an urban legend or whatever.” I was there and saw it. Yeah. Um that happened. It was against Barrett University at their place and I it might have been Caesar Caesar Aragedon I think it was his name. He had an absolute nuke off off of our pitcher for a walk-off. I mean I remember like two of their players like sprinting onto the field and ran around the bases with him. It it it was it was a great baseball game. He had a great pitch out and the umpire handed me the ball. I thought I threw it over the right field fence from home plate. Um but if he says batter’s eye I’m down with that too. as a further throw. But yes, I did fire the ball over the fence. Yes, I did. I might I might have dropped a few a few fbombs as well as I was throwing it. But yes, and the last thing, there seems to be the obsession with the accent. I detect a slight we’ll call it a New England accent. Some people say Boston, some say Massachusetts. There’s going to be subtitles on this. Yeah. So I I guess you’re used to that by now. But also, are you going to be practicing kind of the Baltimore like ocean? You have to say Han. I mean, there’s ways to blend in here. Yeah. Um, probably not. I mean, I’ve been away from home honestly since I was 17. I graduated, you know, high school at a at 17. So, when I went to college in Florida and yes, I went back home for for the summer months and then, you know, obviously playing professional baseball for the offseason, but the accent has never left. So, it’s just stuck with me and it’s something that, you know, when I try to talk normal, it’s it’s not good. It’s terrible. Yeah. So if I say like in a harbor and if I try to say like inner harbor like it’s so tough for me to even try to say that. So I should have, you know, to try to do a Baltimore accent as well. That’s not going to turn out good for anybody. Okay. Again, thank you so much. Congratulations, you know. Absolutely. Thank you.

What does Craig Albernaz bring to Baltimore?

Roch Kubatko sat down with the new manager.

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