What about TK as bench coach?

[John Bonnes]

It didn't occur to me until after the press conference today, but with all the talk about Molitor not having any managerial experience and all the plaudits being throw TK's way, I wonder if there has been any talk about having TK on Molly's staff. I would think they would want someone with some managerial experience to lean on occasionally, and Molitor and TK would seem to get along awfully well. 

 

Does that make sense to anyone besides me?

[Thrylos]

Nope.  I remember TK as a mega curmageon who really disliked rookies and young players later in the day.   He is fine where he is.  This organization needs new blood, hopefully from outside.

[Physics Guy]

It makes a great deal of sense, but it seems to me Kelly is happy with his level of involvement with the team.  I doubt he wants to grind through a 162 game season again.  If he were to take a position, my guess is that it would be only for a couple of years.  I was surprised that he is only 64, just 6 years older than Molitor.

[John Bonnes]

It makes a great deal of sense, but it seems to me Kelly is happy with his level of involvement with the team.  I doubt he wants to grind through a 162 game season again.  If he were to take a position, my guess is that it would be only for a couple of years.  I was surprised that he is only 64, just 6 years older than Molitor.

 

I thought this, too. But I could see him taking the job for a year to shepherd the rookie manager along.

[Physics Guy]

My guess is that Gene Glynn ends up as the bench coach.  He has significant experience as a manager in the minors and spent 10+ years on major league staffs.  He would be a logical choice, but I have no idea if there is any connection between Paul and Gene.

[Seth Stohs]

My assumption is that he wouldn't want to do the 162. His admiration for Molitor makes it possible. How about Sam Perlozzo. Another former MLB manager who came to the Twins just last year?

[Linus]

While I don't think TK would sign on for being a bench coach for 162 games, I could easily see him being a "consultant" to Molly where is around a lot during spring training and at Target Field to be of service to Molly in any way possible.

 

Best of both worlds?

[kab21]

I think it's a terrible idea.  There should never be the question that it's Molitor's team and he's the manager.  Molitor will have growing pains but I think doing something like this undercuts his authority.  Glynn has managing experience but he would clearly be under Molitor in the hierarchy.

[ashbury]

Glynn would be a solid choice IMO.  But there are tons of solid choices at various levels of baseball and Molitor probably will pick someone else, just by the law of averages.

 

TK would say thanks but no thanks, to getting back in to the 162 game grind again.

[USAFChief]

I think it's a terrible idea.  There should never be the question that it's Molitor's team and he's the manager.  Molitor will have growing pains but I think doing something like this undercuts his authority.  Glynn has managing experience but he would clearly be under Molitor in the hierarchy.

Concur.

[Linus]

Well, one of the secrets to the success of the Twins during the Kelly / Ryan era was that they are two of the best baseball guys in terms of determining if somebody is actually going to be a productive player at the MLB level.

 

We should not shun this input from Kelly no matter who the manager is.

[Thrylos]

Well, one of the secrets to the success of the Twins during the Kelly / Ryan era was that they are two of the best baseball guys in terms of determining if somebody is actually going to be a productive player at the MLB level.

 

We should not shun this input from Kelly no matter who the manager is.

 

I think that you are mixing the Kelly/MacPhail era (of the 2 World Championships) with the Kelly/Ryan era of the bottoming out and contraction... 

 

The Kelly/Ryan era was an era of suckiness, not of success... 

[ScottyB]

TK just had a stroke - let the guy heal.  ST help will be enough and he'll be around Target Field anyway for advice.

[EephusKnuckler]

Put me in the "terrible idea" camp. I'm fine with him working in a minimal instructor/consultant/whatever role but no way do I want him on the bench for every game. He's still got a great mind for the game but I'm not sure his style would get through to the young players if they had to listen to him every day. Their eyes would glaze over when he starts droning on and mumbling.

[kab21]

Well, one of the secrets to the success of the Twins during the Kelly / Ryan era was that they are two of the best baseball guys in terms of determining if somebody is actually going to be a productive player at the MLB level.

 

We should not shun this input from Kelly no matter who the manager is.

So basically he should keep doing what he is doing?

[Linus]

So basically he should keep doing what he is doing?

I'm not sure how much involvement he has during the regular season.  My point is that the guy had a real knack for figuring out what guys would make it and how other guys could contribute in a different way.  He seemed to get the most out of the guys he had.  That's an incredibly valuable skill that should not be overlooked.

[Winston Smith]

New blood please!

[BrianTrottier]

Why is it that (many) people were adamant about going outside the organization for a manager, but when it comes to the coaching staff the general sentiment seems to be for yet another old boys reunion tour? Also, if getting the band back together is a terrible idea for the players, why would it be a good idea to do the same with the coaching staff? Personally, I think the organization needs to get much more creative than that if they want to have even a chance to compete in today's game.

[DocBauer]

Huge fan of TK, and think the Twins are very lucky to have him still involved, as a scout, advisor and instructor. But not only does he seem to enjoy his role now, I doubt he'd want to return to that regular season grind again. And even if he did, how weird would it be to not be the guy in charge?

 

I agree he can be a great resource for Molitor, simply being the same scout, advisor and instructor he is now.

 

I can understand TK, Gardenhire, or any manager actually, occassionally loathe to play a youngster over a veteran when they are trying to win games. But I always find it funny when people slam TK as not liking or playing youngsters. And yet, who was the manager in charge when the new, or second, wave of new Twins first hit the bigs? That included the entire United Nations infield as well as the Soul Patrol outfield and later Marty Cordova and others. And the thing TK is most known for these days is all the time, energy and hard work he puts in to working with the Twins minor leaguers.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Or maybe Molitor was preferred over Lovullo and Douggie exactly because he won't need any hand holding. I don't remember there being this conversation when Gardy was hired-and anyway Gardy would've shot down the idea, let's say... colorfully

[ashbury]

TK just had a stroke - let the guy heal.

Gah, totally forgot about that.  Even more reason to expect he'd be uninterested.

[Rosterman]

Sam Perlozzo is a wondeful idea...Kelly is aro8nd in the front office and can advise as seen fit.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I think Kelly would probably decline the invitation, if it was even offered, for health reasons. He had a stroke about a month ago, it's hard to say what the lingering effects of that will be.

[kab21]

I'm not sure how much involvement he has during the regular season.  My point is that the guy had a real knack for figuring out what guys would make it and how other guys could contribute in a different way.  He seemed to get the most out of the guys he had.  That's an incredibly valuable skill that should not be overlooked.

 

How has it been overlooked?  He is a part of the org and Molitor can chat with him as much as he wants.

 

It's just a bad idea to put a longtime former Twins manager anywhere in the managing hierarchy.  Molitor has to clearly be The Man.

[John Bonnes]

I had completely forgotten about the stroke news - thanks. 

 

It feels like Glynn is certainly in the mix and it also feels like that could mean Mientkiewicz moving up to AAA. 

 

BTW, I personally feel like the Twins (and Molitor) will get a few key positions from outside of the organization. I would go as far as saying I'll be surprised if the pitching coach is from within the organization, though I have zero inside knowledge to support that hunch. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

BTW, I personally feel like the Twins (and Molitor) will get a few key positions from outside of the organization. I would go as far as saying I'll be surprised if the pitching coach is from within the organization, though I have zero inside knowledge to support that hunch. 

I think Cuellar has an outside shot at the job but yeah, I also believe the next pitching coach will come from outside the organization.