Detroit – Tigers’ television broadcaster Jason Benetti, as he does, asked manager AJ Hinch a thought-provoking question before the game Saturday.
It was Hinch’s 933rd game at the helm of the Tigers, which tied him for fifth most in club history with Steve O’Neill (1943-1948) and a guy named Ty Cobb (1921-1926). Cobb, of course, was a player-manager.
“One of the few times in my career I’ve been mentioned with Ty Cobb,” Hinch said.
Benetti asked Hinch what he would be like as a player-manager.
“I’d play myself against a lefty,” he said. “Though I don’t think I could catch up to (White Sox starter Anthony) Kay’s fastball. But that is one thing I would recommend to the manager side of me. I’d also pinch-hit for myself, which shouldn’t surprise anybody.”
He was asked if the player side of him would be mad at the manager side of him for pinch-hitting for him.
“Oh yeah,” he said. “I’ve never met a player who wasn’t mad at the manager for being taken out of the game, why would I be different? Idiot manager makes another move.”
Cobb had just a few more hits in his playing career than Hinch (only 3,980) and managed 479 wins to Hinch’s 454 so far.
“But at least I had a number,” Hinch quipped.
As you can see by looking at the bricks at Comerica Park, players didn't have jersey numbers in Cobb's day.
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: The things AJ Hinch and Ty Cobb have in common. Hint: Not a lot