Want to ask Twins President Dave St. Peter a question?

[Steven Buhr]

SD, that's a great question. I can already hear St. Peter kicking the ball to MLB though, and saying it is out of his hands.....

 

what I'd like to hear is that they will push to change the rules. I'm not holding my breath, though.

 

Well, yeah, "kicking the ball to MLB," is what he's done the first few times I've asked him. Though one time, he did add that I should consider contacting members of Iowa's Senate/Congressional delegation. I thought that was a peculiar thing for a MLB team president to suggest because, essentially, the only kind of action Congress could take would be to yank Baseball's anti-trust exemption. Just seemed odd that he would openly and publicly suggest that (though it obviously would be one heck of an idea if Congress had he balls to do it).

[Thrylos]

Does he think that not having a baseball person on top of the organization is a competitive disadvantage for the Twins in an era that other teams are bringing in top baseball minds as their leaders?

[Craig Arko]

What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

[Parker Hageman]

Does he think that not having a baseball person on top of the organization is a competitive disadvantage for the Twins in an era that other teams are bringing in top baseball minds as their leaders?

 

 

Interesting question but you are going to need to clarify this. Who/what are you referring to when you say "baseball person" and what is "top of the organization"? Is that GM, president, etc?

[DaveW]

Will you refund me for the $159 or whatever I paid for MLB ticket this year? (Or for the past 3 years)? Or better yet, donate that money to a charity that would enjoy it. I certainly didn't enjoy this "investment"

[DaveW]

You miss on 100% of the shots you do not take.

Very true.

[nicksaviking]

Honestly, I think any question regarding the product on the field is almost a waste of time to ask the Twins President. I'm not sure what his day-to-day duties are, but my sense is that very few of them have to do with the game of baseball. 

 

 

SD is on to something.  Clearly this should be the first question:

 

http://www.itinthed.com/wp-content/uploads/whaddayado.jpg

[Mike Sixel]

What can baseball do to attract more young fans, is that even an issue?

 

How can baseball recapture the attention of black fans and athletes, is that even an issue?*

 

*note, my black friends preferred to be called black over african american.....no insult intended to anyone...kind of sad they've all moved out of state and I only have white and hispanic friends now

[ashbury]

Clearly this should be the first question.

Kidding aside, it actually would be a great question to start an interview.  Different organizations will split the presidency and other roles (owner, GM, maybe others) in different ways.

[Parker Hageman]

Last call for questions! Recording tonight at 6:30. 

[Steven Buhr]

Seriously, Parker, St. Peter's job (I think) should be about the business side of the Twins, which is apart from, but affected by, the baseball side.

 

The Vikings and their players seem to shoot themselves in the feet with one PR problem after another, but even bad publicity at least keeps people talking about them... because their fans care about the team.

 

The Twins, conversely, are in real danger of becoming irrelevant and I can't think of anything more dangerous for a major sports brand than to be irrelevant at both a national and local level.

 

I would ask him whether this is a concern for the Twins business people and, if so, what are they doing to convince people they should care about this team? Any response that doesn't reflect that the FO knows they have to first prove that THEY care would be problematic.

 

Of course, even that would be better than a response indicating they don't see falling from relevancy to be a concern in the first place.

[laloesch]

There seems to be a disconnect between the front office and the fans regarding payroll.  Why do you think this is?  Are there things you feel you can do to correct this?

 

What is the Twins position on speed of game?  Is there any part of in stadium sales that would be negatively affected by a shorter game?

 

You posed a question on Twitter last spring asking why everyone was so caught up in who the 25th player on the roster was going to be (Bartlett).  Do you regret that Tweet and do you think in 2015 more care will be had with all roster spots?

 

How do you feel the Twins as an organization are doing in regards to diversity?  Do you feel that you have a diverse front office and on the field staff (Minors and Majors) or is this something you want to improve on?  

 

 

What is the point of the last paragraph?  Are you saying the Twins organization is not diverse enough?  Are you saying that they need more diversity in the front office, dugout and on the field?  This is a vague question designed specifically to get a reaction out of Dave St. Pete.   

 

Just say it.  You don't think the Twins are diverse enough organization and you think that they need to make a conscientious effort to hire minority coaches, player personnel and players over white guys.       

[mdawg888]

Not Twins related, but if you were the sole person on the UND nickname committee, what would you choose?

 

Also, how hard can you throw a baseball?

[tobi0040]

How about:

 

"How do you still have a job?"

 

"Now that he is gone, what do you really think of Gardy?"

[tobi0040]

As was I!

 

I'd add a few more:

 

Have the Twins ever exceeded the 50-52% of revenues for payroll guideline in the last 15 years?

 

Roughly where do the Twins rank among other MLB teams in their ability to generate revenue?  How different would this be without Target Field?

 

I would like to add a follow up to the 50-52% part.  If you have gone over, in how many of the 15 years?  Because we all know if the went to 52.1% in one year he will say:

 

"Absolutely, of course we have went over. From the ownership group down to Terry Ryan, we spare no expense to put the best team on the field year in and year out"  Pivot to Buxton and Sano....

[Otto von Ballpark]

What is the point of the last paragraph?  Are you saying the Twins organization is not diverse enough?  Are you saying that they need more diversity in the front office, dugout and on the field?  This is a vague question designed specifically to get a reaction out of Dave St. Pete.   

 

Just say it.  You don't think the Twins are diverse enough organization and you think that they need to make a conscientious effort to hire minority coaches, player personnel and players over white guys.       

I suspect the original poster's invocation of "diversity" was less about a quota and more about about finding some coaches that can best work with young Latin American players.

 

I recommended a similar question for the TR interview, without the "diversity" buzzword, just to gauge if (and how much) the Twins are aware of the possible benefits to Latin managers/coaches.  Like most on-field questions, though, it's probably not as appropriate for St. Peter.

[Thrylos]

Interesting question but you are going to need to clarify this. Who/what are you referring to when you say "baseball person" and what is "top of the organization"? Is that GM, president, etc?

 

Him.  GM reports to him.  He is on the top of the organization as far as employees go.

[SwainZag]

Is there any chance that the TD forum could fill out an application as a whole subsidiary and become the Twins President?

 

Is that rude to ask the sitting President?