VIDEO: Torii Hunter in VETERAN LEADERSHIP

[Parker Hageman]

What is the biggest blockbuster coming to Target Field in 2015? VETERAN LEADERSHIP. Check out the movie trailer spoof: 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN-iPar9s2I&feature=youtu.be

(WARNING: One NSFW word)

[HitInAPinch]

  season hasn't started yet and I'm already sick of Torii Hunter...

[Brock Beauchamp]

Fantastic.

[ExpectMorePayLess]

I have no problem with anyone expressing their thoughts.  I don't have to believe in them just because you state something intelligent or ignorant.  We don't give each other enough credit for ignoring thoughts that aren't yours.

 

In terms of Hunters leadership - There are just too many coaches, players, and front office people who rave about his leadership.   I'm going to tend to believe that "picture" of what he brings to my club in terms of leadership.  As far as Hunter's influence is concerned in working with Hicks and Buxton, I think it very narrow minded to not see the overall big picture.  

 

Torri brings a wealth of baseball knowledge that any outfielder would relish.  Being Black on any major league team isn't an easy task when you look at the number of people who look like you and probably / possibly share your cultural upbringing.  Understanding how to exist in the business that is major league baseball as a minority is a learned experience by itself.   There are the do's and don'ts that every parent tells their child and there are the extra do's and don'ts that every minority parent tells their child.  How to survive in a world where it sometimes feels like you are not particularly wanted as an ethnic group is rougher than most imagine.  Ex: Torri Hunter will probably be the ONLY African American on the team if Hicks is sent down to AAA.

 

Visualize yourself as the only individual who looks like yourself and question if you would want the leadership of someone else who looks like you and had lived your dream for 17+ years.  Think of the questions you would want to ask that person?  Think of the questions Torri had for Carew and Oliva and Pucket that were not baseball (on the field) related?  If you think being a minority is easy in the MLB today - Just ask Rod Carew or Tony Oliva if they believe it's an easy task.  Easier yes - Easy no way.

 

Regardless to my feelings about Hunter off the field - I think his influence is without measure for all the young players, but especially the Hicks and Buxton of the organization.  I wish he was able to share more with the handful of other African Americans in the organization.  See who players gravitate to outside of baseball.  That often tells you a lot about comfort levels and how an organization should address these comfort levels.  In bringing back Torri, the Twins made an excellent first move.

[TheLeviathan]

I guess my question is - what does leadership look like?  What is it he's providing?

 

I think his personality type is much needed for this team.  In between stupid dugout scuffles or on-field scuffles the guy seems genuinely positive, upbeat, and driven.  I think those are qualities this team could use more of.  I'm unsure, however, if those positives outweigh the negatives with him.  (He's an arrogant jerk to put it succinctly)  So I guess I'm curious what leadership traits people see him as bringing.

[Platoon]

 My problem with Torii is that he is all about Torii. am I the only one who thinks that suddenly the story line was Arcia could not play the overhang? Arcia was not a great RF'er, but that is where he belongs defensively. He is now in LF because Hunter likely insisted on either RF or no field. A true mentor would have played left, and worked with Arcia in right. Barring a complete hitting collapse, next year Arcai will be back in right, and will have lost a year out there, yet another victim of the Twins insular thinking. As for Hunter, there is a very fine line between clubhouse leader, and clubhouse agitator!

[twinsnorth49]

I only care about whether it brings about results on the field and in the standings. Which I highly doubt it will.

[jay]

Barring a complete hitting collapse, next year Arcai will be back in right, and will have lost a year out there, yet another victim of the Twins insular thinking.

 

Why is Arcia going to move back to RF?  I keep on seeing this used as a fault to bringing in Hunter and a negative in Arcia's development, but I don't see what it is based on.  Why wouldn't he stay in LF? 

[John Bonnes]

I run a little little counter to the sabrmetric mantra about leadership. I do believe it is important. I believe that some players and coaches can impact the players around them. And just because we can't measure it, doesn't mean it isn't important.

 

But I also think it is an awfully tricky thing to about which to write and to cover. It is easy to see some types of it and hard to see other types of it. And the disproportionate coverage of it makes me uneasy as an analyst.

 

It can also often be a lazy, cliche-riddled story that one writes when there is nothing else to write. And it can become a crutch taking away from real analysis. And it certainly helps when the "leader" always gives good quotes to the media. It's easy to reward him for that.

 

I don't doubt that Torii has a fair amount of leader in him. But I also wonder just how much some of the other guys have that isn't paraded in front of the cameras or isn't credited to them because they aren't as accommodating to the media. 

[GMinTraining]

 My problem with Torii is that he is all about Torii.  He is now in LF because Hunter likely insisted on either RF or no field. A true mentor would have played left, and worked with Arcia in right. As for Hunter, there is a very fine line between clubhouse leader, and clubhouse agitator!

 

I am amazed at how often people get agitated based on assumptions.  When we ass u me we ...........

 

I'm sure your comments would be viewed as agitating by everyone in the clubhouse if you conveyed those thoughts based on a "likely insisted" point of view. 

 

Michael Jordan had run ins with teammates

LaBron James had run ins with teammates

Kevin Garnett had run ins with teammates

Jadier Molina had run ins with teammates

 

All might be jerks - but all considered great leaders.    Does what you do bring WINS?    Bottom line.    We will see, but he does have a great history of winning.     Just saying..........

 

Some players lead by example (Mauer) and players feed off that comfort.

 

Some players lead by bringing positive energy (Hunter) to the dugout verbally and players also feed off of that.

 

Great teams have both types of leaders and the Twins now have both. IMO

[jimmer]

I run a little little counter to the sabrmetric mantra about leadership. I do believe it is important. I believe that some players and coaches can impact the players around them. And just because we can't measure it, doesn't mean it isn't important.

 

But I also think it is an awfully tricky thing to about which to write and to cover. It is easy to see some types of it and hard to see other types of it. And the disproportionate coverage of it makes me uneasy as an analyst.

 

It can also often be a lazy, cliche-riddled story that one writes when there is nothing else to write. And it can become a crutch taking away from real analysis. And it certainly helps when the "leader" always gives good quotes to the media. It's easy to reward him for that.

 

I don't doubt that Torii has a fair amount of leader in him. But I also wonder just how much some of the other guys have that isn't paraded in front of the cameras or isn't credited to them because they aren't as accommodating to the media. 

I don't know of any SABR guys who discount leadership, or say it isn't necessary or helpful in sports.  Just that they can't quantify it.

[Seth Stohs]

and it's because it can't be quantified that it bugs so many.

 

It's huge, and frankly, it shouldn't be quantified. And, to be honest, it doesn't necessarily produce results. But it's there, and it can be noticed by those involved. 

 

There's no question in my mind that Hunter can be, has been and is a great leader. Hopefully some of it will wear off. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

It's huge, and frankly, it shouldn't be quantified. And, to be honest, it doesn't necessarily produce results. But it's there, and it can be noticed by those involved.

You make team leadership sound like dishwashing in my house. An important role that I currently fill, but would probably be filled in some fashion by another if I no longer lived here.