Souhan: Perkins planning on front-office job after career

[Seth Stohs]

Jim Souhan wrote an article on Glen Perkins' post-playing career. He would like a front-office job with the Twins, and I think it makes a ton of sense. 

 

 

“I think there’s a spot for a lot of teams, for guys that played, and translating what sabermetrics and statistics can work for players. What players can use and what front offices can use are two completely different things. I think I can help with that.”

 

I think this is an interesting, and may be an important role at some point.

 

 

 

“There’s such a divide. The majority of players think analytics are crap. The majority of front offices are 70-30, analytics to scouting. So I think there’s a place in this organization when I’m done in finding what the players can use and what the team should use.

“Being in this clubhouse, I also know the human element, that sabermetrics tries to get rid of. I have a pretty good idea how both sides work.”

 

I completely agree with that. I don't think players need to know the advanced stats, or at least they don't need to care about them and digging into them. But if someone can be there to help them understand them, it could be helpful. 

[jctwins]

I would hope a multi-million dollar organization would be a bit more selective in its hiring practices than guys that play sports well. 

 

Since when does a person not have to earn the right to even discuss the possibility that they might be qualified to work for someone else? 

 

Walking off of the baseball field as a guy that "understands" something is a hell of a lot different than being qualified to get paid a salary to do it for a professional basebal club. If they buy into this I have even less respect for this organization than I do already.

[nytwinsfan]

Jim Souhan wrote an article on Glen Perkins' post-playing career. He would like a front-office job with the Twins, and I think it makes a ton of sense. 

 

 

I think this is an interesting, and may be an important role at some point.

 

 

I completely agree with that. I don't think players need to know the advanced stats, or at least they don't need to care about them and digging into them. But if someone can be there to help them understand them, it could be helpful. 

 

From all accounts, Perkins' would be great in this role.

[JB_Iowa]

Who knows whether this will ever come to be?

 

But Perkins actually does have an interesting concept here. He isn't talking about creating the stats himself but rather interpreting statistical data from other sources.

 

In other words, serving as a kind of translator helping to bridge the gap between quant-speak and players. There have been a number of articles in the past about how players aren't receptive to advanced metrics (not just Twins players but players in other organizations too).

 

I have to think that they would be more receptive to that type of info from a successful former player than from yet another numbers guy.

 

But anyway, this is several years distant. A lot could change by then - both for Perkins and for the Twins use of statistical analysis.

[Seth Stohs]

I would hope a multi-million dollar organization would be a bit more selective in its hiring practices than guys that play sports well. 

 

Since when does a person not have to earn the right to even discuss the possibility that they might be qualified to work for someone else? 

 

Walking off of the baseball field as a guy that "understands" something is a hell of a lot different than being qualified to get paid a salary to do it for a professional basebal club. If they buy into this I have even less respect for this organization than I do already.

 

Oh.

 

I guess I didn't read that the Twins had promised him anything. 

 

And, I guess maybe you're right, that no player could possibly be qualified.

[Rosterman]

Considering where Perk was just a few years ago, frustrated, removed from the 40-man, wishing to move on but nobody wanted him as a starter and the Twins kept him on the minor league roster and he came back and is more than happy to praise the team. Considering he is a local collegiate guy and all, he is the type of guy you want to keep involved in the organization: shades of Hrbek, Steinbach, Stigman, Oliva and the ilk!

[Craig Arko]

Oh.

 

I guess I didn't read that the Twins had promised him anything. 

 

And, I guess maybe you're right, that no player could possibly be qualified.

Much like no former astronaut could possibly be qualified to be the NASA administrator.

[Paul Pleiss]

I think that Glen Perkins and Joe Mauer should retire together and then open up a local Dairy Queen. I'd like to buy a dilly bar and a grape star from thow gentlemen. I'd even like to have them autograph my birthday cake with some ice cream frosting. Yum.

 

As far as Perk finding a role with the Twins. Yes. Sounds great. He doesn't need to be the guy doing the analytics, as some posters seem to infer, but more a link between the stat heads and the players. A roving instructor, of sorts. Someone that believes in the numbers, and has the respect of the guys in the dugout. That seems like a good fit.

[jimmer]

I think that Glen Perkins and Joe Mauer should retire together and then open up a local Dairy Queen. I'd like to buy a dilly bar and a grape star from thow gentlemen. I'd even like to have them autograph my birthday cake with some ice cream frosting. Yum.

 

As far as Perk finding a role with the Twins. Yes. Sounds great. He doesn't need to be the guy doing the analytics, as some posters seem to infer, but more a link between the stat heads and the players. A roving instructor, of sorts. Someone that believes in the numbers, and has the respect of the guys in the dugout. That seems like a good fit.

yes, a numbers translator, exactly.  Talk to the players and let them know what the numbers are, what they mean, and what they can do to work on them.