Berardino: "No contact" between Twins & Maddon

[jokin]

If I'm TR, I'm getting on the blower yesterday to call Dave Martinez, Joe Maddon, and Tim Bogar to schedule interviews. If only to be able to say to the guy he does wind up hiring, "we passed over A, B, C, and D to hire you. Now go win a World Series."

 

Of course.  All a part of changing the perception of the direction this club is heading.

[USAFChief]

I think one possibility is that they are avoiding Maddon because they don't want it to be perceived as a slight against the two candidates we have narrowed our search down to.  

 

.

Or perhaps the Twins have already made their hire, and are waiting for the WS to end to make an announcement. That would be a scenario that would at least sort of fit the circumstances.

[jokin]

Thanks for your thoughtful response.

 

What is most bothersome is not that they didn't "seriously pursue" Maddon, it's that they didn't even call.

 

Costs you $0 dollars and 30 seconds to pick up the phone!

 

Maybe all parties knew Maddon wouldn't be a good fit, but call him anyway. Hear what their side has to say, then let your fans hear it from you, not them. Thirty seconds of your time. If not Ryan, someone else in the FO. Granted the timing wasn't great. This is not the behavior of a "do what it takes" organization. Yet apparently 15 other teams already with managers did call him.

 

And Maddon's agent basically said that Joe would have welcomed a call... and why not?  It never hurts to break bread with a fellow professional,  Maddon can only increase his leverage by interviewing with Ryan, while Ryan can only enhance the Twins image and increase the awareness and perception that the Twins are in it to win it, there are no losers in this exchange...

[jokin]

Or perhaps the Twins have already made their hire, and are waiting for the WS to end to make an announcement. That would be a scenario that would at least sort of fit the circumstances.

 

Possible, but I think it would have leaked out already if that were the case, and it was just announced that Lavullo was invited to a second interview.

[JB_Iowa]

Particularly when your team's offseason base of operations is actually only a two hour car ride away.

 

They sent people to watch and talk to Nick Gordon weekly, and Orlando is twice as far.

 

I believe he started is RV trek to his home in California the day after he opted out of his contract.

[jay]

Maddon can only increase his leverage by interviewing with Ryan, while Ryan can only enhance the Twins image and increase the awareness and perception that the Twins are in it to win it, there are no losers in this exchange...

 

I disagree.  Holding an interview under false pretenses to manage perceptions is extremely unprofessional.

[Willihammer]

I disagree.  Holding an interview under false pretenses to manage perceptions is extremely unprofessional.

Then hold a fair an open interview casting as wide a net as possible?

[USAFChief]

I disagree.  Holding an interview under false pretenses to manage perceptions is extremely unprofessional.

How about you call him up to find out exactly why, according to published reports, his agent had reached out to several teams within hours of the news breaking on Friday, but the Twins weren't one of them.

 

You know...the Twins...the team with the only. Open. Landing. Spot.

 

If you're running an organization and there is a perception your organization isn't a desirable, or even consideration worthy landing spot for top industry talent, wouldn't that concern you? Wouldn't you want to at least understand why?

[tobi0040]

How about you call him up to find out exactly why, according to published reports, his agent had reached out to several teams within hours of the news breaking on Friday, but the Twins weren't one of them.

 

You know...the Twins...the team with the only. Open. Landing. Spot.

 

If you're running an organization and there is a perception your organization isn't a desirable, or even consideration worthy landing spot for top industry talent, wouldn't that concern you? Wouldn't you want to at least understand why?

 

Yet another great reason why a phone call would have made sense.  I have yet to see one that makes sense for NOT calling the guy.

 

Luvullo had a second interview four days after Madden opted out.  So the Twins already hired the guy theory does not work, unless they are doing a token interview with Luvollo, which is also unprofessional.

[bird]

Even more sad that Terry Ryan and Jim Pohlad had the perfect opportunity to put that perception to rest once and for all and send a positive message, they are the only team currently bidding for a manager's services.  they have a free shot to put out a very competitive offer- no down side if the Cubs or someone else matches or beats it.  

Absolutely.

 

Jim Pohlad and his people need to get some PR advice. Badly.

 

How simple would it have been to spin this right off the face of the earth? "Listen, we made a call to his agent to inquire as to his interest. He had failed to call us, and was apparently focused on other opportunities."

 

And I agree that the Twin's reputation as an organization that detests bidding wars preceded all of this.

[bird]

Why does making a phone call or conducting an interview even matter? Simply to placate people that the Twins were interested?

We're being extremely cynical if we don't think TR has enough information to decide whether that is needed. Disagree with that decision plenty, but all the noise about not calling him is missing the bigger picture.

 

Let's contemplate why TR might not need to have Maddon come in for an interview...

Money is obviously the easiest answer, but might be too lazy. What else might there be? (And his thick glasses don't count as a real answer.)

Two words, jay:  P  R

 

Leave it to the Twins to turn an opportunity into a problem when it comes to public relations. They're unstoppable.

[tobi0040]

Absolutely.

 

Jim Pohlad and his people need to get some PR advice. Badly.

 

How simple would it have been to spin this right off the face of the earth. "Listen, we made a call to his agent to inquire s to his interest. He had failed to call us, and was apparently focused on other opportunities."

 

And I agree that the Twin's reputation as an organization that detests bidding wars preceded all of this.

 

I guess we should not be shocked here. Second generation businesses fail at a very high rate.

[bird]

Saying "Maddon wasn't interested anyway" is just sour grapes on the part of Twins Territory.  What does it hurt to call his agent and hear it straight from the source?  

But isn't it quite fair to say that Maddon appeared to have only mild interest if any at all, for whatever unknown reasons? We heard that Maddon's people initiated contact with several organizations. We heard that the only organization with an opening was not one of those contacted. To me, this speaks volumes about his level of interest, and we can debate the reasons for this ad nauseum.

[Boom Boom]

But isn't it quite fair to say that Maddon appeared to have only mild interest if any at all, for whatever unknown reasons? We heard that Maddon's people initiated contact with several organizations. We heard that the only organization with an opening was not one of those contacted. To me, this speaks volumes about his level of interest, and we can debate the reasons for this ad nauseum.

 

There's conflicting reports on whether or not Maddon gave the Twins the cold shoulder.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/280384252.html

 

"...Maddon is interested in speaking with the Twins, according to a person close to the two-time American League Manager of the Year."

[nicksaviking]

I think one possibility is that they are avoiding Maddon because they don't want it to be perceived as a slight against the two candidates we have narrowed our search down to.  

 

This would seem to be a terrible reason not to interview Maddon.  After all, the dozen or so other teams interested in Maddon don't seem to have a problem with the perceived slight against a manager they actually have under contract.

 

Not to mention, who the hell would want a manager with that thin of skin? Any first time manager who couldn't understand why the club may want to find out about a guy as high profile as Maddon isn't a guy I want in a Twins uniform.

[USAFChief]

Two words, jay:  P  R

 

Leave it to the Twins to turn an opportunity into a problem when it comes to public relations. They're unstoppable.

Concur.

 

And it seems to me whoever the new manager is, he is going to be, fairly or unfairly, compared to Madden by fans and the press. If the Twins struggle again in 2015, it could get ugly quickly for the new guy.

[nicksaviking]

But isn't it quite fair to say that Maddon appeared to have only mild interest if any at all, for whatever unknown reasons? We heard that Maddon's people initiated contact with several organizations. We heard that the only organization with an opening was not one of those contacted. To me, this speaks volumes about his level of interest, and we can debate the reasons for this ad nauseum.

 

Where did we hear this?  All I've heard is teams were initiating contact.

[Winston Smith]

Let's hope Ryan isn't doing his job based on hearsay. The only real way of knowing Maddon wasn't interested or wanted more money than what he'd pay is to call.

 

Let's hope the question is asked and the answer isn't that I didn't have a phone number or I heard this or that.

[Boom Boom]

Where did we hear this?  All I've heard is teams were initiating contact.

 

And even if there is a list of teams that Maddon's camp has reached out to, which I've never seen, there's no telling whether or not it's complete or even accurate.

 

If Maddon's people had been gauging interest between some teams, it's probably the same people "close to Maddon" in the story I linked to above who said he'd love to talk to the Twins.

[USAFChief]

Where did we hear this?  All I've heard is teams were initiating contact.

 

A post by JB_Iowa Friday:

 

Posted 24 October 2014 - 09:38

 

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal · 3m3 minutes ago

Maddon’s agent, Alan Nero, says he contacted several teams after opt-out. Expects 4 to 5 legit suitors. Says Maddon wants to explore FA.

[nicksaviking]

All this talk of who should be calling who reminds me of a report or interview we had posted here two summers ago about how Ryan goes about trade deadline deals.  Basically Ryan stated that the Twins don't do much soliciting themselves, they wait for other teams to call them for trade offers.  The implication was that the team getting the call generally has the upper hand in negotiations. 

[nicksaviking]

A post by JB_Iowa Friday:

 

Posted 24 October 2014 - 09:38

 

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal · 3m3 minutes ago

Maddon’s agent, Alan Nero, says he contacted several teams after opt-out. Expects 4 to 5 legit suitors. Says Maddon wants to explore FA.

 

I recall that one now. 

[Boom Boom]

All this talk of who should be calling who reminds me of a report or interview we had posted here two summers ago about how Ryan goes about trade deadline deals.  Basically Ryan stated that the Twins don't do much soliciting themselves, they wait for other teams to call them for trade offers.  The implication was that the team getting the call generally has the upper hand in negotiations. 

 

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take... and the prom queen isn't going to ask you out.

 

(that is to say, the royal "you," not you specifically :v)

[Riverbrian]

Trying to leave my shoes... Because I'd like Maddon to manage my team... Trying to leave The Twins Shoes.

 

And put myself into Joe's Shoes.

 

If I was Joe... This Free Agent possibility would be the chance to remove something he's always had to work around. "The small market budget".

 

He's had to go toe to toe with the Yankees and Red Sox year after year and do so knowing that David Price and James Shields were going to be eventually playing for the Red Sox or Yankees.

 

If I was Joe... I'd be looking at the big money clubs for my next contract. Because that way... If he devoloped a Myers into a superstar. He'd have a better chance of keeping that superstar into his FA contract years.

 

If I was Joe... It wouldn't matter if the Cubs or Twins had a great pipeline of young talent. I'd want to know which organization could retain that young talent.

 

This would provide the one thing he didn't have in Tampa. This makes the Cubs attractive because they have the potential to be a big money club.

 

With that said... The Twins at the very least... Should sit down with Joe. Just ask the question.

 

"What would it take... What are you looking for?"

 

If Joe expresses what I just did. You either conform or you move on. But you gotta ask the question.

 

Not asking... Is shortsighted.

[bird]

Concur.

 

And it seems to me whoever the new manager is, he is going to be, fairly or unfairly, compared to Madden by fans and the press. If the Twins struggle again in 2015, it could get ugly quickly for the new guy.

I'm much more fearful he gets compared to Gardy.

[Shane Wahl]

Maddon is, without any doubt, the guy for the Twins job. There should be no disputing that. They should have at least contacted him about the possibility. The Twins are in a better spot than the Cubs.

[Jerr]

Or perhaps the Twins have already made their hire, and are waiting for the WS to end to make an announcement. That would be a scenario that would at least sort of fit the circumstances.

Finally, someone brings up the question that first came to my mind.

What if, the Twins already inked a deal with someone else and were simply waiting for the World Series to end????

Twins being respectful as they tend to be   

And Madden ain't nearly worth all the concern I have seen on here

Let the facts come out and then we can react.

[JB_Iowa]

Finally, someone brings up the question that first came to my mind.

What if, the Twins already inked a deal with someone else and were simply waiting for the World Series to end????

Twins being respectful as they tend to be

Then what were they doing interviewing Lovullo on Tuesday?

 

Your timeline doesn't work.

[Jerr]

Or perhaps the Twins have already made their hire, and are waiting for the WS to end to make an announcement. That would be a scenario that would at least sort of fit the circumstances.

 

Then what were they doing interviewing Lovullo on Tuesday?

 

Your timeline doesn't work.

Maybe that was when they actually signed the deal. could have been a verbal and a handshake to that point.

Madden came in late and unexpected. I can't fault the Twins, if that is the case.

I need to wait and hear all the facts. 

[Jerr]

Then what were they doing interviewing Lovullo on Tuesday?

 

Your timeline doesn't work.

Maybe that was when they actually signed the deal. could have been a verbal and a handshake to that point.

Madden came in late and unexpected. I can't fault the Twins, if that is the case.

I need to wait and hear all the facts.