Article: Who Will Be The Next Twins Manager?

[Pius Jefferson]

This was only speculation on his part but Reusse didn't think Molitor had anything more than a 30% chance of being hired and the team is going to seriously look outside the organization.

[twinsfanstreif]

I vote for whoever is the Pirate's pitching coach, they seem to be doing well with former Twins

[DocBauer]

Impressed with what Molitor and Bruno have brought to the team. I'd like to see them stick around regardless of who the manager might be. I'd be in favor of Cuellar as well. All stated before.

 

I think Molitor would be a fine choice. My only reservation is the age factor. Not that he's old, but I like the idea of a younger choice who could be in it for the longer haul, similar to TK and Gardy.

 

I don't feel the manager has to be Latin, but it wouldn't hurt. I also don't think he has to be fluent in Spanish, though it would help. I think the important thing is to have that Latin influence on the staff in at least one quality coach, if not two.

[ashbury]

I really hope it's Mientkiewicz!

Having been reminded of his skirmish with another minor league manager, I am less enthused about him receiving an early promotion than before.  I'd like to see him put in about 3 more years, without drama that reflects badly on him or his organization, before entrusting him with the keys to the dugout.  "Fiery"  may be good, "ticking time bomb" is not.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Peter Gammons wrote that Orioles bench coach John Russell might be in the running, though I think that's just Gammons doing a little P.R. for one of his East Coast buddies.

[nicksaviking]

I've made my feelings about Ozzie Guillen clear but I'm curious how people would feel about this HYPOTHETICAL (I cannot stress this word enough) situation:

 

The Twins hire Ozzie Guillen to facilitate a new Minnesota-Cuba pipleline with the intention of using the manager to successfully entice Yasmani Tomas to sign with the Twins.

 

Worth it or not?

Edited October 1, 2014 by nicksaviking

[Mike Sixel]

I've made my feelings about Ozzie Guillen clear but I'm curious how people would feel about this HYPOTHETICAL (I cannot stress this word enough) situation:

 

The Twins hire Ozzie Guillen to facilitate a new Minnesota-Cuba pipleline with the intention of using the manager to successfully entice Yasmani Tomas to sign with the Twins.

 

Worth it or not?

 

Not. Tomas is going to cost a ton of money, and it will be about money, not Guillen.....

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I've made my feelings about Ozzie Guillen clear but I'm curious how people would feel about this HYPOTHETICAL (I cannot stress this word enough) situation:

 

The Twins hire Ozzie Guillen to facilitate a new Minnesota-Cuba pipleline with the intention of using the manager to successfully entice Yasmani Tomas to sign with the Twins.

 

Worth it or not?

Why isn't Tony Oliva already facilitating the Minnesota-Cuba Pipeline? He's actually Cuban. Ozzie is from Venezuela.

 

It might be a really awkward / indelicate question to ask the great Tony O, but what role does he have in the fact that the Twins have rarely ever signed a Cuban defector? And that the only big name Cuban-born players signed by the Twins have been closer to the end of their MLB careers (Livan Hernandez, Kendrys Morales)? Does he advise The Twins in some capacity one way or the other? As in, does Tony O say "don't sign any Cuban players," or does he say "Why don't you sign more?"

Edited October 1, 2014 by Kirby_waved_at_me

[Riverbrian]

Mike and Kirby... Umm... You may have missed the humor in Nicksaviking post.

 

Ozzie Guillen? Cuban Pipeline? 

 

As in... He was ran out of Miami because of his Castro comments.  

[Mike Sixel]

I always thought he was "pro Cuban", not "pro Cuban exile in the USA", so in some ways, that could actually help get actual Cubans around......so I didn't miss it, we just see it from different sides.

[Riverbrian]

I always thought he was "pro Cuban", not "pro Cuban exile in the USA", so in some ways, that could actually help get actual Cubans around......so I didn't miss it, we just see it from different sides.

 

LOL... Who knows what is actually in Ozzie's honest to goodness heart. It was just a throw away quote of admiration of Castro that got out of control in Miami.    

 

I guess as long as they are coming over in rafts. I think any Pro Castro statement will be seen as Anti-Cuban. 

[Mike Sixel]

Doesn't matter, he should never manage again......

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

OH - oops. Thanks for clearing that up, because I even had the thought "Wait, I though Ozzie didn't even get along with Cubans in Miami"

 

 

Regardless, here's an article from PiPress in July that has several recent Cuban defectors singing the praises of Tony O - I do wonder if having Oliva around would encourage a guy to sign with Minnesota... Cespedes will be a Free Agent after 2015 . . .

 

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_26155210/all-star-game-tony-oliva-relishes-role-mentor

[Mike Sixel]

It's about money.....not about a 70 year old baseball player, or a 50-60 year old manager. It is about money. that's where FAs go, money.

[nicksaviking]

Guillen did anger anti-Castro Cubans in Miami, I'm not sure if recent defectors have the same animosity toward Castro or not; probably.  He is from Venezuala, but reportedly he was a big draw for the influx of Hispanic talent into the White Sox organization including Alexia Rameriz and the reason guys like Orlando Hernandez and Jose Contreras wanted to go to Chicago.  Miguel Cabrera also credited Guillen as a big influence on him when Guillen was a bench coach for the Marlins.

 

Perhaps I shouldn't have singled out Cubans, my point was to ask if signing Guillen meant more top level Latin players wanted to sign here, would it be worth it? Particularly if it finally signaled the Twins painfully slow entrance into the Cuban market.

 

Also, as to Oliva, I love him as a Twins ambassador, and certainly the people of Cuba love him, but assuming 20-year-old Cubans are caught up in Oliva's accoplishments is probably akin to assuming 20-year-old Americans are caught up in Rolling Stones lore.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I think Olivia is to Cuban players as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, etc. are to United States born players, or Roberto Clemente is to Puerto Rican born players.

 

The Stones were British, man...

 

Your point is well taken though, it's probably not that much of a factor for a 20 something looking to make more money than they've ever seen in their life.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Given your screen name I'm not sure if you are local or not, but Jim Souhan, Strib columnist, wrote this again yesterday, and I wonder if this would soften your feelings against Molitor:

 

 

' This summer, I asked Buxton and Sano who they rely on in the Twins’ organization. Both said, “Molitor.”

 

' I asked, “Who else?”

 

' Both said, “Molitor.” '

 

http://m.startribune.com/sports/twins/277536121.html

I actually live 10 miles north of DC--Rockville MD--so not local. Surprised me when Buxton nd Sano both said Molitor but doesn't change my opinion.

[Willihammer]

I'm sure Souhan is a standup journalist but I don't believe for a second that Sano and Buxton independently gave the same answer to the that question.

 

Having said that I've heard enough about Molitor with respect to helping Plouffe on his footwork and Dozier with his baserunning that I would hope the new guy gives him strong consideration as a bench coach. Ditto Brunansky. Ditto Anders- I mean, just not Anderson.

[drjim]

I'm sure Souhan is a standup journalist but I don't believe for a second that Sano and Buxton independently gave the same answer to the that question.

 

Having said that I've heard enough about Molitor with respect to helping Plouffe on his footwork and Dozier with his baserunning that I would hope the new guy gives him strong consideration as a bench coach. Ditto Brunansky. Ditto Anders- I mean, just not Anderson.

 

If Molitor wants the job and is passed over he isn't coming back as a bench coach.

[Willihammer]

If Molitor wants the job and is passed over he isn't coming back as a bench coach.

Why not?

[Secondary User]

Am I remembering correctly that Molitor was seriously considered as the front runner to replace Kelly, but concerns of contraction made him hesitant to take the position?

[The Wise One]

Why not?

If Molitor wants to manage why would he stay in a support role where he was passed over for the role he desires?

[The Wise One]

Guillen did anger anti-Castro Cubans in Miami, I'm not sure if recent defectors have the same animosity toward Castro or not; probably.  He is from Venezuala, but reportedly he was a big draw for the influx of Hispanic talent into the White Sox organization including Alexia Rameriz and the reason guys like Orlando Hernandez and Jose Contreras wanted to go to Chicago.  Miguel Cabrera also credited Guillen as a big influence on him when Guillen was a bench coach for the Marlins.

 

Perhaps I shouldn't have singled out Cubans, my point was to ask if signing Guillen meant more top level Latin players wanted to sign here, would it be worth it? Particularly if it finally signaled the Twins painfully slow entrance into the Cuban market.

 

Also, as to Oliva, I love him as a Twins ambassador, and certainly the people of Cuba love him, but assuming 20-year-old Cubans are caught up in Oliva's accoplishments is probably akin to assuming 20-year-old Americans are caught up in Rolling Stones lore.

The defectors can't go back to Cuba as long as the politics remain the same.  They have to go to extraordinary legths to  get out of Cuba and make money. I do not think many would show love for the country's politicians.

I doubt if anyone under the age of 60 even knows that there was a ballplayers once  in Cuba named Oliva, Tiant or Pascual that played for the Twins.  They would not come here based on Oliva's playing days. They would appreciate the organization for having someone assesable who went through the same things that they have.

If in your life you feel that older people are not paying much mind to what you say, think about your Rolling Stones comment.

[Willihammer]

If Molitor wants to manage why would he stay in a support role where he was passed over for the role he desires?

Why do people assume he has managerial ambitions? He declined the job once already.

[drjim]

Why do people assume he has managerial ambitions? He declined the job once already.

 

That is why I said if he wants the job and doesn't get it he wouldn't be back as bench coach.

 

If he doesn't want the job then yes he could certainly return in that role. I still think it is more likely in this scenario that he bumps back up to the front office in some role.

[Craig Arko]

I now think it will be Molitor for two or three seasons while Mientkiewicz goes to Charlotte for more seasoning, and succeeds him.

 

I don't think Jake Mauer will really be an option until Joe retires, at which point he becomes Jake's hitting coach.

 

Just my feeling...

[old nurse]

Why do people assume he has managerial ambitions? He declined the job once already.

Because he just interviewed for the job of manager. If he did not want the job why would he intervirew?