Kyle Newman: Would coaching be in your future with the way you like to analyze the game?
Adam Ottavino: I have my mind and my heart starting to dream a little bit on managing. I’d be unorthodox, but I think I could get unorthodox results.
I think most of the managerial moves nowadays are pitching moves — especially bullpen — and I feel like I’ve been doing that for 14 years out there [laughs].
And the second part is talking to media, which I know I can do.
The third part is having tough conversations, which is something I’d have to improve on, and some leadership stuff, but I have been dreaming about that a little bit, so that could be down the road. We’ll see.
KN: You could see yourself getting into that route and climbing the ladder?
AO: Oh, no, I’m not going to climb any ladder. I’m just gonna go right to the main thing.
[The group laughs, but Ottavino is serious.]
I’ll do something else until the main thing. We’ll figure it out that way.
PL: Are there any relievers who’ve ever managed before?
OA: Not that I know of.
Renee Dechert: That’s intriguing.
OA: Like I said, it’s a little unorthodox.
Patrick Lyons: It is for a pitcher. Bud Black’s one of the few.
OA: Yep.
[Material about the Rockies 2018 season has been omitted.]
KN: So the manager thing, you’re serious about that?
AO: Uh huh.
RD: I’m intrigued.
AO: Dead serious.
RD: I think you’ve got it.
AO: We’ll see what happens. I mean, I might do media for a while, but again, I’m JJ Redick: direct move from one thing to the job.
KN: Okay, JJ Redick.
AO: No climbing the ladder for me.
PL: So you wouldn’t do Double-A or Triple-A?
AO: No.
PL: Pitching coach?
AO: No.
PL: Really?
AO: Yeah.
KN: Just straight for the skipper’s job.
AO: I’m just being honest.
RD: I like your attitude.
AO: I think I’ll be great.
KN: No to the other stuff, just because you want to hang out with your family?
AO: Well, yeah. I mean, I don’t know anything about minor-league baseball anymore. I only know Major League Baseball. So focus on that.
KN: Not even pitching coach?
AO: Eh, it’s alright. It doesn’t excite me that much.
RD: He wants to be the boss.
AO: I want to be in charge. I want to make the decisions. [Pause] I’m not afraid to say it.