Molitor's job is safe

[DaveW]

Meh, I think you are reading way, way, way to into a one line answer made to an interview question. He basically said we are going to study what other teams have going on right now. I would rather have him say that than pull a Michael Scott and say "We have a super secret plan!!"

And I think you are giving the Pohlads way way way way too much benefit of the doubt. Have you been following this same org we have for the past 20 years? These are the guys who tried to get rid of the Twins period! The guys who have never said one forward thinking baseball idea (and many question their even basic understanding of the game)

[LaBombo]

 

What's so wrong with the media guide comment?  There are 30 teams that all have their front office's made up differently.

 

For example, the Dodgers media guide for 2015.  http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/2/4/114179024/LAD_2015_Media_Guide_wuzuz729.pdf

 

There is nothing wrong with a vague comment like the one Jim Pohlad gave in my book.  People are looking way, way, way to into things to already be making decisions and generalizations about a blanket statement like that.

 

What's wrong with the media guide comment?

 

One thing is that if it's taken at face value, it's an admission that Jim Pohlad knows virtually nothing about the management structure of major league baseball teams. And that doesn't bode well for the selection of a new GM.

 

The greater problem is that it gives a very strong impression that even after years as 'acting owner', Jim Pohlad still thinks of the Twins as a lucrative but troublesome estate bequeathed to him by his father.

 

For me, it makes Jim Pohlad look even more like what he often has over the years: a son who inherited the family farm despite not actively working it while growing up, or even liking the idea of farming.

 

The farm has made money in the hands of a capable and trusted farm hand who worked for dad and now oversees the entire operation. But lately the old hand has let things slide a bit and battled some health issues, and it's time for a replacement.

 

But because he's never taken much of an interest in the farm, the son finds himself at a loss when trying to hire a new manager because he doesn't know what the manager or the guys he hires actually do.

 

In other words, Jim Pohlad's comment essentially amounts to admitting that be it farming or baseball, all he knows is what he learned from watching Field of Dreams.

 

And rightly or wrongly, human nature dictates that a baseball forum is going to be filled with fans who find it appalling the Jim Pohlad could appear to care so little about a sport and a team that we imagine, were we in his shoes, would grow from a part-time passion into a full-time occupation and obsession.

 

That's what's wrong with the media guide comment.

[DaveW]

MSP has a population of 3.2 million people. That isn't anything close to a "small town" FYI.

[bird]

 

What's wrong with the media guide comment?

 

One thing is that if it's taken at face value, it's an admission that Jim Pohlad knows virtually nothing about the management structure of major league baseball teams. And that doesn't bode well for the selection of a new GM.

 

The greater problem is that it gives a very strong impression that even after years as 'acting owner', Jim Pohlad still thinks of the Twins as a lucrative but troublesome estate bequeathed to him by his father.

 

For me, it makes Jim Pohlad look even more like what he often has over the years: a son who inherited the family farm despite not actively working it while growing up, or even liking the idea of farming.

 

The farm has made money in the hands of a capable and trusted farm hand who worked for dad and now oversees the entire operation. But lately the old hand has let things slide a bit and battled some health issues, and it's time for a replacement.

 

But because he's never taken much of an interest in the farm, the son finds himself at a loss when trying to hire a new manager because he doesn't know what the manager or the guys he hires actually do.

 

In other words, Jim Pohlad's comment essentially amounts to admitting that be it farming or baseball, all he knows is what he learned from watching Field of Dreams.

 

And rightly or wrongly, human nature dictates that a baseball forum is going to be filled with fans who find it appalling the Jim Pohlad could appear to care so little about a sport and a team that we imagine, were we in his shoes, would grow from a part-time passion into a full-time occupation and obsession.

 

That's what's wrong with the media guide comment.

 

 

This is an unfair and inaccurate portrayal of the man. Jim Pohlad has put on a business suit and headed off to work early almost every morning for longer than many of you have been alive. He's been a worker, a producer. He's not sitting around. It's not like the Twins are an idle child's plaything that he simply doesn't appreciate. He has other endeavors as well, and not all of them are selfish ones.

 

I very much believe that he'd prefer it if he wash't close to the spotlights. He doesn't possess the type of personality, the kind of charisma, that endears people to him, that's certain. We can't pretend to know his passion, and we as rabid fans should cut some slack here.

[jokin]

 

This is an unfair and inaccurate portrayal of the man. Jim Pohlad has put on a business suit and headed off to work early almost every morning for longer than many of you have been alive. He's been a worker, a producer. He's not sitting around. It's not like the Twins are an idle child's plaything that he simply doesn't appreciate. He has other endeavors as well, and not all of them are selfish ones.

 

I very much believe that he'd prefer it if he wash't close to the spotlights. He doesn't possess the type of personality, the kind of charisma, that endears people to him, that's certain. We can't pretend to know his passion, and we as rabid fans should cut some slack here.

 

There have been a litany of local and national reporters over the entire Pohlad era who have written pretty plainly that Carl's sons have never had anywhere near the passion for baseball and the Twins that their mother, Eloise had.

[Halsey Hall]

I've read enough today that my eyes are sore. But just for the record, I want Molitor back next year.

 

If that statement hurt your eyes, join the crowd.

[Brian]

Manager is overrated. Keep him, let him go, makes no difference to me. The next GM and Pohlad's role going forward (read: hands off after today's enlightening comments) is much more important. 

[Old Twins Cap]

The Pohlads have a lot going on, like a billion's worth, or two. 

 

They only care when it gets embarrassing.  And that's what we are seeing now.  The Twins as embarrassment.  The Pohlads come out of their shell to deal with it.

 

Are they Neanderthals looking at something that is far too complex for them to understand?

 

Yes. 

 

The lives of the rich and famous can be fascinating.  But also, they can be banal in that one person, with so much money and potential, is so simple-minded and ineffectual.

 

The Pohlads are not evil or a crucible of meaning in any real sense.  They are simply dull and ineffective.  But because they have a lot of money, and own a baseball team, with a lot of employees and sycophants, it seems worse than that.

 

It isn't.  They are dullards doing the best they can.

[LaBombo]

 

This is an unfair and inaccurate portrayal of the man. Jim Pohlad has put on a business suit and headed off to work early almost every morning for longer than many of you have been alive. He's been a worker, a producer. He's not sitting around. It's not like the Twins are an idle child's plaything that he simply doesn't appreciate. He has other endeavors as well, and not all of them are selfish ones.

 

I very much believe that he'd prefer it if he wash't close to the spotlights. He doesn't possess the type of personality, the kind of charisma, that endears people to him, that's certain. We can't pretend to know his passion, and we as rabid fans should cut some slack here.

 

No, your reading and mischaracterization of my post is unfair and inaccurate.

 

Jim Pohlad may be one of the hardest workers and sharpest guys in the world, but if his passion and energy is directed at baseball, it's a fair well-kept secret he did nothing to reveal today.

 

And I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jim Pohlad understands and appreciates the business side of the Twins, or if he's motivated the organization to take an active and positive role in the community beyond its product on the field.

 

But the fact remains that as I said, his comments today have done nothing to dispel the notion that he's a man who would not have a particularly strong interest in following the Twins, let alone owning them, if he had not inherited the team along with rest of his family and assumed the primary ownership role.

[DaveW]

My "dream" wasn't for Ryan to get fired, my hope is for the Twins to compete for a title.

I am skeptical of that hope if DSP is running round his search and the new GM has no say over next years manager.. Clearly I'm not alone in that skepticism.

 

[jokin]

 

Nope, never said that for "years"

My "dream" wasn't for Ryan to get fired, my hope is for the Twins to compete for a title.

I am skeptical of that hope if DSP is running round his search and the new GM has no say over next years manager.. Clearly I'm not alone in that skepticism.

 

Is it really up for debate that when it comes to baseball background, knowledge, training, acumen and savvy...is there another team in baseball with two less qualified men to make such important personnel decisions at the top of their organization than Dave St Peter and Rob Antony? These are guys whose college backgrounds are rooted in communication, marketing and PR- not even a business degree or baseball-player pedigree between them?... might as well use a dart board or ouija board.

 

(You can't make this stuff up)... Dave St Pete's qualifications out of college as an attractive new-hire were realized as a T-shirt salesman in the Gift Shop and then Public Relations correspondent. He does get credit for overseeing the construction and marketing of the new ballpark, but he also seems to have provided some impetus and encouragement in pursuing international FAs, more for the marketing possibilities than for the true MLB talent level- not sure how that qualifies him to spearhead the search for the best available, stilted-culture-busting baseball man, replete with a 21st Century sabre-analytical skillset. Selling the Twins' GM job to some up-and-coming Ivy League brainiac or seasoned proven professional  involves a little more persuasive power than some boiler-plate power point presentation at a group ticket sale confab-Somehow, I don't think the prospective GM is going to be swayed by glitzy talk about new food/beverage concessions and the new watering holes DSP plans to open in 2017. 

 

Is DSP the guy who is going to identify and then convince the top candidate (willing to interview) that because the Twins culture is so inherently hidebound, the winning GM candidate does not get to choose his field manager? iNot. Going. To. Happen.

 

Rob Antony seems like a nice guy, alway media-accessible... but based on his first stint as Acting GM, I don't think he inspired confidence in anybody that he was future GM material. Does Antony, who presumably hasn't played more than HS baseball- if that, have enough GM cred as presumably, a short-timer in the role, to garner respect for all of his personnel decisions from the HOF manager who ostensibly works for Him?  Now let's fast-forward to late last March. Do we think it possible that Paul Molitor sarcastically said "Thanks Alot" in the mirror several times last spring and into the summer for all that help that was promised to him in the offseason? Here's Rob Antony's rationale at the start of Spring Training for failing to fulfill the promise of bolstering the bullpen and signing Park:

 

 

"Yeah, I think if the right one or two-year deal had presented itself we might have had interest. But at the same time – a year ago we didn’t have Kevin Jepsen in the bullpen, a year ago we didn’t have Trevor May as an option in the bullpen. Them, along with Casey Fien and Glen Perkins, you start to look and go "Okay, there are four guys at the back end of our bullpen." Guys that we’re comfortable with. Then you’ve got Pressly and Graham and some others that we think would be able to handle that role in the middle innings.                                                                          So we didn’t want to get too carried away or spend a ton of money and commit a lot of years to guys, when we have in-house guys who we think can be better than those options in the not-too-distant future.                             [On acquiring Byung-Ho Park]: 

It is accurate, in that we were watching him since high school and had interest in signing him after he graduated...

The biggest thing that we gained by knowing him the last ten years is that we know what type of person he is, what kind of worker he is, teammate, attitude, adjustability, all those things which gave us great confidence in going after him...

We felt so strongly, we bid $12.85 million (just to) get the rights to Park..."

 

Huh? $25M cavaiierly committed to Park, based on the recommendations of some Korean stringer scout, David Kim, for his baseball ability, plus he passed all of your nice-guy compatibility tests? Hey Rob, wouldn't "bigger things" than the ones you listed-  like, say ready-talent to turn on a MLB FB and accurate assessment of his projected transition to MLB level play over a 10-year scouting process- be the most critical factors in how "strongly" you felt? Especially for filling a redundant need in the lineup? (Antony, tying in with St. Peter and the marketing benefits, later alludes to the excitement in Twinsland over the intense Korean media interest generated by the signing).

 

I actually wish the interviewer had asked Antony why he didn't feel as "strongly" about two guys many of us at TD were pounding the table on, players the Twins Actually Needed and apparently didn't even contemplate making an offer to- Jose Abreu and Aledmys Diaz- to name just two affordable International FAs available recently. Or upgrading instead at SS with a proven major leaguer for 1/3 the cost in Ian Desmond on the "right one or two year deal" he claimed the Twins were stymied on while seeking BP FAs?

 

Speaking of the bullpen guys, Antony missed wildly on his "Big Six" picks to click RP arms going into the season- Jepsen, Fien and Graham all went bust (not difficult to forsee on the first two, and of course the case of Graham has its own unique set of management bungling), it was also obvious from last season that Perkins had huge question marks around his shoulder health- counting on him for Anything in 2016 was whistling past the graveyard, May was grudgingly (on his part) supposed to seamlessly translate to a still-unfamiliar role and the jury was, and still is, out on Pressly. That's essentially Oh For Six. Of course, none of this should have come as a great surprise, given that Ryan had publicly admitted last November that bolstering the Pen was the top priority- demonstrably obvious to all after finishing second to last in the AL in overall team RP WAR numbers in 2015.

 

The only logical conclusion a Twins fan could have is a huge vote of "No Confidence" of DSP's and RA's collective abilities to lead the transition team to both:

 

1) leading a successful new GM Search and

2) finding and acquiring sufficient talent and upside in the critical July trade market for the bevy of urgently expendable veterans.

[Thrylos]

 

MSP has a population of 3.2 million people. That isn't anything close to a "small town" FYI.

 

'tis the values and the neighborliness that make them a small town.  Not the population.  The Garrison Keillor stuff