LAS VEGAS -- Amid all the National League executives who filled the Nolita Ballroom at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Tuesday afternoon, Brandon Gomes was approached by a reporter who informed the Dodgers’ general manager that he covers the Orioles.
Gomes’ face immediately lit up.
“You talk to Alby yet?” Gomes asked with a smile.
Craig Albernaz (aka “Alby”) has arrived in Baltimore with a wealth of rave reviews. Since being hired as the Orioles’ new manager on Oct. 27, the 43-year-old Albernaz has been praised by past managers and coaches, former colleagues and more.
The 41-year-old Gomes is the GM of the two-time defending World Series champions, but he’s also a native of Fall River, Mass., like Albernaz. The two have been friends since they were teenagers, and their playing careers overlapped in Tampa Bay’s system from 2011-13.
Here’s a conversation MLB.com had with Gomes about Albernaz during the GM Meetings in Vegas.
MLB.com: You encouraged Albernaz to take his first Minor League managerial job in the Rays’ farm system in 2017. What advice was there this time around?
Gomes: Alby and I, we’ve known each other since we were 13. So we played PONY ball together, played through high school, Legion ball and then played with the Rays. We stay in contact and we’re friends, first and foremost. I’m just trying to be a sounding board for him. As he’s gone through this process a few times now and people have recognized just how talented he is, it’s been cool to talk to him and hear his perspective.
I think the biggest thing we’ve talked about is that he was in a place that he really loved in Cleveland and making sure that when the decision comes to leave a place, make sure you’re equally as passionate. And he certainly was. I’m really happy for him, and he’s going to be a great addition to the organization.
MLB.com: What makes Albernaz so successful in coaching/managing players?
Gomes: The work ethic is incredible. You know that he’s passionate and he cares, and he’s a really good connector of people, right? So he’s disarming, because he can kind of shoot the breeze with you and get guys to buy in and listen, but he’s incredibly genuine. Players love guys that are genuine and know that they have their best interest at heart, and I think that’s what makes a great coach and manager and Alby certainly has all of those things.
MLB.com: What was the conversation like when you learned Albernaz was joining the Orioles?
Gomes: I was super fired up. We had talked along the way, and I knew there were different things in the air. So when it actually became official, we talked for a bit and I told him how excited I was for him. He’s certainly earned it. My wife [Blair] and his wife [Genevieve] are friends as well, so she was sending congratulatory texts. Just great people, great family, so couldn’t have been happier for them.
MLB.com: Albernaz has never been an MLB manager. What makes you think he’ll have success?
Gomes: He’s certainly set up, and obviously, anybody in a first-year manager role is going to take on their bumps and bruises like anybody does in a first-year role. But I think what I’ll bet on him is learning quickly from any bumps and bruises and mistakes that he makes -- which, inevitably, we all make in our roles -- and continue to get better and putting the team first and getting the most out of his players. I’ll bet heavily on that.
MLB.com: A lot of people have had Alby stories -- whether it’s about his strong arm as a catcher or his personality. Any that you care to share?
Gomes: Probably going back to when we were like 13 and he’s throwing like 88 [mph] and throwing like 1.7 [seconds of pop time] down to second base. He was like the freak show when we were younger. I have a ton of stories. There’s not a whole lot that I would like to share, but just knowing how great of a teammate he was along the way -- both when we were younger and then together with the Rays -- it’s not a surprise that he’s in the position that he’s in.