Wetmore: The Case for and Against Molitor, Mientkiewicz, Lovullo

[Seth Stohs]

1500espn's Derek Wetmore noted the pros and cons of the three candidates believed to be in the running for Twins manager. 

 

It's a very good, interesting look at each candidate. The only thing that stands out to me, that I wouldn't agree with, is that he lists Paul Molitor being a Hall of Fame hitter with lots of career hits as a Pro. It's not a con, but it has nothing to do with why he should or shouldn't be named manager. 

 

What do you think? 

[Doubles]

I agree that Molitor's hit total in and of itself should not affect his ability to manage either way.  But I do think it comes into play from a credibility standpoint.  Managers need their players to respond to their cues and follow their lead.  Being in the Top 10 in hits all time gives Molitor a certain level of status among those players who have an aspect of "baseball historian" in them.  It may not mean anything to players who show up at the ballpark without even knowing which starting pitcher they will be facing that day.  Those guys are another issue altogether.

 

Take Joe Vavra, for example. One knock on him we heard about for years was, "What did he ever do in the major leagues as a player?"  Answer: Nothing.  He never made it above AAA.  How are major league players supposed to buy-in to a guy that was never a major-leaguer himself?

 

Not saying I necessarily agree with all of this, but I firmly believe these perceptions are out there. 

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

I may be in the minority here--but I believe Molitor's sordid personal life is a con. His cocaine use bothers me a lot. His marital issues not as much. I have heard over the years he used steroids--that is just rumor...

[jharaldson]

I may be in the minority here--but I believe Molitor's sordid personal life is a con. His cocaine use bothers me a lot. His marital issues not as much. I have heard over the years he used steroids--that is just rumor...

 

I did not know that about Molitor.  Quick google showed some drug use early in career, difficulty with relationship with daughter from first wife, young daughter from a second wife, and a illegitimate son that he has a limited relationship with.  While these are not nice things I am not sure how much they would impact my opinion on him as a manager.

 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-07-26/sports/0407260040_1_eckersley-and-molitor-paul-molitor-dennis-eckersley

[JB_Iowa]

I did not know that about Molitor.  Quick google showed some drug use early in career, difficulty with relationship with daughter from first wife, young daughter from a second wife, and a illegitimate son that he has a limited relationship with.  While these are not nice things I am not sure how much they would impact my opinion on him as a manager.

 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-07-26/sports/0407260040_1_eckersley-and-molitor-paul-molitor-dennis-eckersley

 

I'd find it interesting to know the age of the son and whether Molitor did work on that relationship.  Although the early drug use bothers me, the 80's were a  different time -- I never used but know many who did.

[Steven Buhr]

I thought Wetmore's piece was not real thorough, but one thing I do agree on is that the case against Molitor begins and ends with the lack of experience managing a team at any level. That's not a deal-breaker but it's not nothing, either.

 

He obviously had opportunities to go down in to the minors and manage. He chose not to, and that's perfectly understandable. That life is not conducive to a healthy family life and if he put his family first, that's probably admirable.

 

However, he also should certainly have been aware that such a choice could possibly negatively affect his chances of getting a MLB managing job down the road if he decided he wanted to do that. If that's what happens, that's simply due to a choice he made and I don't think the Twins "owe" it to him to overlook that factor, either.

 

As far as the drugs and other personal issues that are decades old, I simply don't see those as being germane at all. If he had had more recent issues (such as Ron Washington), then it's a different matter.

[nicksaviking]

I had enough with the huggy-kissy Twins clubhouse long ago.  I was proud that so many people liked the Twins back in the day because it was so quaint and cute, but I want wins, and cute doens't win.

 

All things being equal, I'd like a morally superiour team that won 162 games, but all things are not equal and perhaps Molitor's rough edges are just awkward enough to take everyone out of the two decade old comfort zone that this organization loves to fall back into. 

 

Still, an outside presence to shake up the country club was always my first choice.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I honestly think relative age is the ONLY thing Doug M. has in common with Kelly at this point. Also, what happened to Glynn????????

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Glynn is out of the running, according to this :

 

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/extra-bases/2014/10/22/red-wings-glynn-out-of-running-for-twins-manager-job/17713969/

[JB_Iowa]

This whole search has not inspired me.  Too much same old, same old.

[Musk21]

I did not know that about Molitor.  Quick google showed some drug use early in career, difficulty with relationship with daughter from first wife, young daughter from a second wife, and a illegitimate son that he has a limited relationship with.  While these are not nice things I am not sure how much they would impact my opinion on him as a manager.

 

Not sure if it's relevant or not, but I found it interesting that Molitor's daughter and Carl Pohlad's granddaughter (not sure which son is her father) own a juice bar in Uptown.

 

http://www.twincities.com/ci_25019565/q-co-owners-minneapolis-truce-juice-bar

[Kwak]

I may be in the minority here--but I believe Molitor's sordid personal life is a con. His cocaine use bothers me a lot. His marital issues not as much. I have heard over the years he used steroids--that is just rumor...

Any more rumors you want to spread? 

[DJL44]

I'm encouraged by Lovullo. Other organizations have been interested and interviewed him unlike the two internal candidates. If Lovullo impressed enough that the Twins organization is interested in an outsider then he's probably pretty good. All the other outside candidates were told "not interested" already.

[JB_Iowa]

Patrick Reusse ‏@1500ESPN_Reusse  · 1h1 hour ago 
We won't have a Twins' manager on Thursday.

[D. Hocking]

Not sure if it's relevant or not, but I found it interesting that Molitor's daughter and Carl Pohlad's granddaughter (not sure which son is her father) own a juice bar in Uptown.

 

http://www.twincities.com/ci_25019565/q-co-owners-minneapolis-truce-juice-bar

 

Juicing is always a relevant element in pro sports.

 

This is such a wishy washy reply, but I think all three candidates have positive attributes, and as long as the Twins did a sincere search with an open mind to who would be best for the job, and there was not a pre-ordained choice with these interviews being just for show, I will be fine with any of these candidates.

 

Once the manager is chosen, it will be interesting to see who the coaching staff is, if they make changes in training, medical etc.

 

Of course who the manager is won't matter as much without another pitcher, and maybe a real outfielder etc.

[Kwak]

I think Ryan has major reservations about Molitor:  1) Molitor wants more input into personnel decisions and 2) Molitor (with Twins managerial experience) represents too much of a threat to replace Ryan.

 

Mientkiewicz either hasn't said the "magic words" yet, or Pohlad has "given up" on Molitor just yet.

 

Lovullo, I think is the "compromise candidate".  He represents "the outside".

[brvama]

I actually have come around to Lovullo. He comes from a good baseball organization that has had success and I especially like his philosophy on young players. i hope he gets the job.

[Seth Stohs]

I may be in the minority here--but I believe Molitor's sordid personal life is a con. His cocaine use bothers me a lot. His marital issues not as much. I have heard over the years he used steroids--that is just rumor...

 

I think we want to be real careful here... We all have skeletons. The cocaine stuff was 30+ years ago. I've never heard a steroid rumor. Let's try not to start anything here. 

[Seth Stohs]

This whole search has not inspired me.  Too much same old, same old.

 

maybe you can explain this one, but I have been impressed by how thorough the search has been. They've interviewed deserving internal candidates, which I think is great. They have certainly gone outside the organization. I personally can't see anything to complain about.

 

I think there are 3 really good candidates that each have really good reasons why they could be a good manager. For me:

 

Molitor - players like him, minor leaguers know him and respect him like crazy, willing to dig into analytics.

 

Mientkiewicz - fire (much like Gardy 15 years ago and now), youth (can be around for a long time), and he's managed all the top guys who will be the next core.

 

Lovullo - has managed at various levels, has been a highly thought-of candidate for several years, loves analytics, and someone different. 

 

All three played in the big leagues. All three are clearly really smart baseball people.

 

I don't think there's a bad option here.

[Craig Arko]

This whole search has not inspired me.  Too much same old, same old.

Brad Pitt was already spoken for.

[JB_Iowa]

maybe you can explain this one, but I have been impressed by how thorough the search has been. They've interviewed deserving internal candidates, which I think is great. They have certainly gone outside the organization. I personally can't see anything to complain about.

 

I think there are 3 really good candidates that each have really good reasons why they could be a good manager. For me:

 

 

 

I lean toward Lovullo because I have always wanted new blood from outside the organization.

 

I know there were differences b/t Molly and Gardy but I still view Molitor as part of the Old Boys Club and I see Mient.... as needing a little more seasoning.

 

I just wish they had more viable candidates from outside the organization.

[JB_Iowa]

Brad Pitt was already spoken for.

 

I may be the only female on earth who cannot find anything very attractive about Mr. Pitt.

[Seth Stohs]

I just wish they had more viable candidates from outside the organization.

 

I guess in my opinion Joe McEwing and Sandy Alomar, Jr. are very viable candidates, and had Chip Hale not taken the Arizona job, he was obviously a very strong candidate (and no, playing for the Twins in the mid-90s doesn't mean he's an internal option). 

[nicksaviking]

Well if Molitor had a third interview that went "OK " and didn't get offered the job, I think he's out.

 

If an internal candidate who they are very familiar with hasn't impressed them enough to get hired already, I think it's Luvollo

[Willihammer]

It seemed obvious Molitor was hired as bench coach to succeed Gardy. I think that remains Plan A. We've only heard good things about him. He is by all accounts an open minded, creative baseball mind. Liked by players.. Bring him back with Bruno, a new pitching coach, maybe a new catching coach, one or two more fresh faces. That would be enough to appease this fan.

[Pius Jefferson]

We might find out Monday or the announcement will have to wait until Wednesday at the earliest.