HOUSTON -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch loves to poke fun at the perception of his team as an "analytical" organization. He's a Stanford graduate, general manager Jeff Luhnow is an Ivy Leaguer with roots in the managerial consulting world and their reputation as the smartest guys in the room occasionally rankles some old-school types in the baseball community.
"We're pretty book smart, but that's not a bad thing," Hinch said Saturday. "We still have instincts. We still rely on the chemistry that's built in the clubhouse. We'll usually do the opposite of what the rest of the industry is doing to continue to move and try to find a competitive advantage.