Berardino: Molitor's Cell Phone Policy

[Seth Stohs]

Pioneer Press's Mike Berardino wrote about Paul Molitor's policy regarding usage of cell phones in the clubhouse on game days. Eddie Guardado is quoted frequently regarding the atmosphere in the locker room. 

 

Honestly, it's only the 1/2 hour before games. I don't think that's too much to ask. What say you?

[brvama]

I absolutely agree with the policy. In most cases, this will be 4 hours or less. It doesn't matter what job one is at, each individual should be expected to give their undivided attention to their work. While I endorse technology, a major problem with instant communiction via smart phones and tablets is the lack of face-to-face communication, which brings a deeper understanding to any communication. When society foregoes f2f communication humans will have effectively become robots. I alo like Eddie's take on the plan.

[Squirrel]

What say you?

Good!

[Willihammer]

 

I don't want to make those things bigger than they are, but hopefully the people out in the clubhouse, the leadership, will take care of some of those things, too.

 

I only wonder about selecting special "leadership" players to do the enforcing. Seems like that has the potential to lead to hostility after a while.

 

If it were me I'd have someone with actual authority do the enforcing on players. Seems less likely to divide a clubhouse that way. JMO.

[Seth Stohs]

I go back and forth on it. I don't have a problem with asking players to stay off of social media before and/or after the game for a half-hour or whatever. 

 

I'm not as comfortable with saying no cell phones, period.

 

I understand the thought though, build team. I'm not one who thinks that a player should be solely focused on baseball for a certain amount of time before or after a game. 

[Bark's Lounge]

I believe this to be a necessary rule. I don't want to sound like a crotchety old man, but come on, enough is enough - keep the dangnabit phones in your locker.

 

I understand that social media has its benefits, but this is Major League Baseball, let's keep it organic. Instead of tweeting or whatever, get to know your teammates, understand where they are coming from, try to find out what makes them tick or not tick. It's these kinds of actions that can really form a cohesive group of guys ready to go to greatest reaches for each other.

[JB_Iowa]

Presumably players' families have access to an emergency number during games that they could use in this time frame as well.

 

1/2 hour seems little enough.

 

Personally I would probably make it more.

 

Craig Breslow mentioned in a Dorsey piece on ST that teammates often text each other in the clubhouse.  Get a clue - a text is not the same as a personal conversation.  Go over and TALK to your teammate.

 

And Torii will probably end up an enforcer because he can actually remember before people had cell phones permanently attached.

[Otto von Ballpark]

The key will be getting them doing other stuff, meetings, prepping for the game, etc. The rule itself is pretty superfluous, and not helpful if the guys just sulk or zone out instead.

 

Again, I think winning is the best way to bring focus.

[Paul Pleiss]

Me, if I was in the Twins clubhouse "Yo, Paully, what's up with this new celly policy? You trying to ruin my twitter game, bro? I can't be having none of that. I've gotta get at my hunnies on instagram and all them sexy snaps. Whattaya say I just keep using my phone and you keep chewing them sunflower seeds?"

[Squirrel]

Me, if I was in the Twins clubhouse "Yo, Paully, what's up with this new celly policy? You trying to ruin my twitter game, bro? I can't be having none of that. I've gotta get at my hunnies on instagram and all them sexy snaps. Whattaya say I just keep using my phone and you keep chewing them sunflower seeds?"

Hey, Paully ... wait ... what?  YOU have ... hunnies???  yeah, okay ... 

 

[USAFChief]

Me, if I was in the Twins clubhouse "Yo, Paully, what's up with this new celly policy? You trying to ruin my twitter game, bro? I can't be having none of that. I've gotta get at my hunnies on instagram and all them sexy snaps. Whattaya say I just keep using my phone and you keep chewing them sunflower seeds?"

And if I was Paully, my answer: "You're right. I understand the celly coverage is fantastic in Rochester. See the travel secretary, he'll be working on a plane ticket within the hour. One way, coach."

[jimmer]

I like this policy and I think it's sad there even needs to be a policy like this to begin with.

[Thrylos]

Lemme see:  Most workplaces have a policy of not being on mobile phones while at work.  From the point the Twins' players walk into the clubhouse doors, they are at work.

 

I see no issues regarding this.