Astros' AJ Hinch is the Most Overrated Manager in the Postseason and it's Not Even Close

If there's one drawback from AJ Hinch managing the best team in baseball, it's the fact that his administrative prowess is seldom, if ever, called into action.

The Houston Astros finished the 2019 season with MLB's best record at a remarkable 107-55, with virtually no adversity to overcome along the way.

What do those facts tell us? That Hinch is, far and away, the most overrated skipper in the postseason.

This isn't necessarily a knock on Hinch's ability. He was just dealt a PERFECT situation in 2019, a perk that other managers in the playoffs just can't say.

Don't even get us started with the slew of injuries that Aaron Boone had to sort out and conquer in the Bronx; the Twins starting rotation was anything but competent; the Nationals bullpen is arguably the worst in baseball and the Dodgers' isn't much better (plus the fact that Dave Roberts notoriously tinkers his lineups for pitching matchups); the Braves failed to establish a fourth and fifth starting pitcher and worked through a terrible bullpen to start the year; and if not for Jack Flaherty's imposing second-half on the mound for the Cardinals, St. Louis might not even be in the postseason.

The worst that was handed Hinch's way were the injuries to Jose Altuve to begin the year, and the month or so that George Springer missed after the All-Star break. And Springer's absence was aided by the emergence of slugging rookie Yordan Alvarez.

Hinch's starting rotation, already the best in baseball with Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole leading the way, penciled the Astros in as surefire World Series favorites after they acquired Zack Greinke at the trade deadline.

The Astros' roster flaunts next to zero flaws, and their fanbase had better hope that poor managing isn't the reason they aren't playing for a championship when all is said and done.