Manager Miles’s Musings
As the season winds down, B’s manager Aaron Miles shared some thoughts
By Roberto Santiago
WEST OAKLAND— It was Aaron Miles bobblehead day at Raimondi on Wednesday night. Always generous with his time, Miles spent a few minutes talking with reporters on the concourse after the game.
On the game and the hot players right now:
“I think Tristan Moore was the player of the game, definitely. He hit two out, so I'm pretty sure he already got the Proposition Chicken player of the game. Four for five. Great night all around by the offensive staff and a heck of a game pitched by David Thomas. Brendan O’Sullivan, you know, he's tough spot taking over for Tremaine, but he's really been showing out. Brendan O'Sullivan is a major league infielder, defensively. He's he's proven it with the bat now, too. He's one of the best defenders that I've ever had here. And one of the best defenders in the Pioneer League right now. That other shortstop on the other team, Elliot Good, is known as the best defender in the Pioneer League last year. and most likely this year. But Brendan O'Sullivan was step for step with him today, and boy, he's one heck of an infielder, and we're glad to have him.”
On being honored by the team:
“You know, one of my former managers, you ask him, how he felt, he’d say, ‘Ask me at 10:30.’ So now that it’s 10:30 or whatever it is, it's a great feeling. Obviously, winning a baseball game. Great day all in all to be honored and have everybody out here to come and get a bobblehead of mine. I mean, it just feels great. I'm just full of gratitude towards the owners, the fans, everybody. Obviously, the players last year were doing it on the field. I wouldn't be the manager of the year without the players. And feels good to win a baseball game.”
This is actually your third bobblehead day. You had one with the other independent team that you managed.
“Yes, yes. The Pittsburgh Diamonds, yes. And then one was the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016. I got to say, the one with the Cardinals was special. I felt lucky to be included in that one, and this one, I feel like I earned it. Obviously earned the last one too. But, you know, just to be honored by this great organization here and to have the fans come out and support, this feels great and, you know, I'm not getting any younger. I haven't had a base hit in a long time. St. Louis has some of the greatest fans that baseball has to offer. The fans in St. Louis, they love their grinders. They love guys who play the right way. They love the guys that do the little things. And what a great place for a player like myself to play. Somebody who takes pride in little things, the fundamentals of baseball, and there's a lot of fans out there in St. Louis love that.”
On the playoffs:
“Mathematically, I think we're still in this thing and we're going to have to win [out]…It's highly improbable, but stranger things have happened…We're gonna need help from a lot of different teams, and we're gonna have to run the table, but, you know, strange things can happen, and as long as we keep winning and we get some help, you never know.”
On the future:
“[These players], they're playing not to continue to be in the Pioneer League, but we'll certainly take caliber guys back.”
What about your future? What are what are your goals? Are you looking to get back into affiliated ball?
“Well, I think it's something that I do think about from time to time. If the right opportunity came, but it's hard to beat what I have here in Oakland with the Ballers. I love the owners. The front office, the fans, I love being this close to home and what we've built here with this thing. Obviously, we haven't torn it up like we did last year, but as long as they like me here, I'm going to continue to love being a Baller.”
Photos from Darrell Lavin Photography.
Roberto Santiago is a third generation Berkeley boy currently raising the fourth generation. Roberto’s writing has appeared in Latina, Parents, and various online outlets. A lifelong baseball fan, Roberto worked briefly with the Boston Red Sox and once hit an RBI single off Spaceman Lee on a 2-2 changeup. It was his only at bat ever in a real baseball game. Find him on Instagram.
