A.J. Hinch conceded his first homestand as a major league manager was disappointing. The Diamondbacks lost five of six games to Washington and Cincinnati and were swept by the Reds, who are managed by Dusty Baker, a good friend of deposed D-backs manager Bob Melvin.
The D-backs (13-22) begin a 10-game trip with a three-game series in Atlanta on Friday before stops in Florida and Oakland. It is the beginning of a stretch in which they play 29 of 48 games away from Chase Field. "There is no magic potion. We have to find a way to have a little more fun. This is a baseball game. You should have a boyish spirit," Hinch said.
When asked about ways to create that, Hinch added: "We'll hopefully have a few tricks up our sleeve. You can build character and camaraderie on the road. It's not one guy who is going to pull us out of this. All of us have to pull together. (Losing) can create a negative momentum if you are not careful."
With Felipe Lopez (.319), Justin Upton (.306) and Augie Ojeda (.310) the only regulars hitting higher than .250, Hinch said the D-backs may try to run more, a style the team used in the second half of 2007 to win the NL West, when Melvin was selected the NL Manager of the Year.
"We may play a little smaller ball and try to create our own openings and our own luck," Hinch said.
Reflecting on his first week, Hinch said: "I'm learning something every day. I'm enjoying the job. I'm not enjoying the losses. I've been here all year, last year and the year before that" as director of player development.
"My frustration is not six days old."
