Article: President Candidates Narrowed To Five

[tobi0040]

I think we can close our eyes and pick any two of these external people and have a huge, enormous upgrade.

[Pius Jefferson]

Does this mean McLeod would take the job even if the Cubs don't win the World Series?

[SF Twins Fan]

 

And here I was foolishly clicking on this thread thinking I might have some other choice than the Orange Menace or Hillary.

 

 

Depressing.  

 

I may or may not be further depressed by how strongly I agreed with the sentiments of someone whose username (in jest i'm sure) is associated with these guys.

For the record I don't like LMFAO at all.  I honestly have no idea why I picked this username other than it was easy to remember.  This is my username on the Strib that I used before I found this amazing news source for Twins information.

[beckmt]

McLeod and let him pick the GM. Though Piccolo is the last of my out of organization candidates.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I posted a month ago or so, semi-joking, that Rob Antony was the front runner.

 

I will be mildly surprised if he's not in one of these two positions, likely the GM chair.

I just don't see it. If the Twins are going to hire one of the four finalists (sans Antony), I don't see any of those people taking the job and saying "but I'll let you decide who my GM will be on day one".

 

All four of those guys are highly respected and will likely have other POBO/GM interviews in the near future. Why would they accept a job where the owners meddle so much as to dictate their subordinates? If they just wait one more year, they will probably get another round of interviews with a different team (especially McLeod, who is one of the most sought-after front office guys in the sport).

 

These four guys are interviewing the Twins nearly as much as the Twins are interviewing them. This isn't a typical "I'll take the job because I need it" scenario where the business has most (all) of the power. These candidates can afford to pick and choose their roles.

[Mr. Brooks]

I just don't see it. If the Twins are going to hire one of the four finalists (sans Antony), I don't see any of those people taking the job and saying "but I'll let you decide who my GM will be on day one".

 

All four of those guys are highly respected and will likely have other POBO/GM interviews in the near future. Why would they accept a job where the owners meddle so much as to dictate their subordinates? If they just wait one more year, they will probably get another round of interviews with a different team (especially McLeod, who is one of the most sought-after front office guys in the sport).

 

These four guys are interviewing the Twins nearly as much as the Twins are interviewing them. This isn't a typical "I'll take the job because I need it" scenario where the business has most (all) of the power. These candidates can afford to pick and choose their roles.

You are probably right, but, the owner has already declared that he chooses the manager. Whats to say he won't choose the GM as well?

[Brock Beauchamp]

You are probably right, but, the owner has already declared that he chooses the manager. Whats to say he won't choose the GM as well?

It's a fair point but...

 

1. I'm not sold that Molitor will be the manager next season. That easily could have been a version of "we have utmost faith in our manager".

 

2. Molitor is only under contract for one more season. Nobody brings in a GM for a single season. An incoming person could say "I'll see what Molly has for a season and make a decision." It's unlikely he or she will feel the same about a GM.

[nicksaviking]

Are we certain that these men are actually interviewing for the POBO gig? Because I haven't once heard the front office mention that they'll even hire one, it was only an inside scoop by some of the local media.

 

Even if they do hire one, do we know that these four are the candidates for the job? I haven't once seen one of these reports mention mention that these guys are interviewing for the POBO job, only that they are interviewing for front office/leadership roles. We assume the POBO would be hired first as that would be the logical thing to do, but are we positive they aren't in fact interviewing for the GM job?

[USAFChief]

 

I just don't see it. If the Twins are going to hire one of the four finalists (sans Antony), I don't see any of those people taking the job and saying "but I'll let you decide who my GM will be on day one".

 

All four of those guys are highly respected and will likely have other POBO/GM interviews in the near future. Why would they accept a job where the owners meddle so much as to dictate their subordinates? If they just wait one more year, they will probably get another round of interviews with a different team (especially McLeod, who is one of the most sought-after front office guys in the sport).

 

These four guys are interviewing the Twins nearly as much as the Twins are interviewing them. This isn't a typical "I'll take the job because I need it" scenario where the business has most (all) of the power. These candidates can afford to pick and choose their roles.

I hope you're right.

 

But, again, I'll be mildly surprised if you are.  

[Craig Arko]

For the record I don't like LMFAO at all.  I honestly have no idea why I picked this username other than it was easy to remember.  This is my username on the Strib that I used before I found this amazing news source for Twins information.

Talk to Brock. You can change it if you want to.

[ashbury]

That will give an extremely elderly man a peace at mind and he can go into the great adios feeling pretty okay about things.

Old Air Force sergeants never die, they just go to a higher plane.

[Mike Sixel]

 

He's not a number. He is a free man.

 

 

"Who is number 1?"

 

I still have no idea what the show was about....but great show.

[ashbury]

You are probably right, but, the owner has already declared that he chooses the manager.

I choose to believe this one gets walked back, as needed.

 

Mollie gets promoted to VP of Strategic Acumen and Advanced Baseball Thinkology, and the GM's choice is thereupon ushered into the dugout.

[rghrbek]

My gut says McLeod, provided he can get out of his gophers/FSN duties.

 

 

[Doomtints]

Always hoped McLeod would be the guy.  I'm happy to see the rumors going in that direction.

 

This would not uproot McLeod's family too much either.  Chicago and the Twin Cities are not that far apart.  He wouldn't need to uproot his family at all, probably, since during the baseball season he would never be around even if they all lived in the same city.  Barring a job with the White Sox, Brewers, or Cardinals, the Twins are a pretty good deal in that regard.

 

Plus, the Twins are committed to a clean sweep.  He can build whatever he wants in Minnesota and only need to deal with Molitor for a year.  He may not get that opportunity elsewhere, to completely build everything out as HE wants.  

[d-mac]

 

He's not a number. He is a free man.

 

 

"Who is number 1?"

 

I always think of this when someone makes this reference:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7LH__BPqSY

 

OR:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmJKY59NX8o

 

 

[Mr. Brooks]

It's a fair point but...

 

1. I'm not sold that Molitor will be the manager next season. That easily could have been a version of "we have utmost faith in our manager".

 

2. Molitor is only under contract for one more season. Nobody brings in a GM for a single season. An incoming person could say "I'll see what Molly has for a season and make a decision." It's unlikely he or she will feel the same about a GM.

1. Sure, it COULD be that. But it also could be that he really won't allow him to be fired. We don't know yet.

 

2. Of course not one year. But for all we know Pohlad is telling candidates that Anthony is their GM.

Yeah I know that's unlikely, but sorry I don't have a lot of faith at this point.

 

And as I've said before, that stance on Molitor is perfectly reasonable in a vacuum.

But, I want the new POBO making that call, not the owner.

[h2oface]

McLeod would be my pick. The way I understand it, the new president is to chose the GM. If this Molitor obstacle is truly going to be pushed, it is only for a year by contract. The interviews, as it has been promoted, have no GM selection component. The new POBO needs to be the one making the selections down the ladder after he is hired.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

And as I've said before, that stance on Molitor is perfectly reasonable in a vacuum.
But, I want the new POBO making that call, not the owner.

I think this is one of the few things that TD agrees on nearly 100% of the time.

[Doomtints]

 

I think this is one of the few things that TD agrees on nearly 100% of the time.

 

True, but I think we are overreacting a bit.  It's common for C-level execs to come in with the stipulation that they do not fire certain people.  It's unusual to hear about it for sports, but Pohlad is a businessman. 

 

Pohlad's only mistake here is announcing this stipulation to the world.  This would have been a mistake in the business world too, mind you.    

 

I think this is less of an issue than we imagine it to be.  It's not great, but it's not terrible.  Any incoming management team will have a lot to worry about and may even think it's a good thing to not have to worry about a manager for a year.  

 

For Molitor, I think he knows he is gone in a year unless the Twins make the playoffs.  And I think he knows the Twins chances in 2017 are very slim.  The pressure is more on for Molitor than it is for the next management group, who can use Molitor as a get-out-of-jail free card if there isn't an immediate improvement.  

 

In any case, it actually would not surprise me if Molitor retires before the 2017 season starts.  If he senses that the writing is on the wall for him, I think he walks.  Why stay if everyone you know has been canned, and you know you're next, continuing to be employed only because of a contract and not because management has confidence in you?  Money would be the only reason, and I don't suspect money is much of a problem for him.

Edited September 23, 2016 by Doomtints

[Loosey]

 

Sign Jason McLeod as the President of Baseball Operations and Derek Falvey as the GM.  It would be a promotion for both.  McLeod has the experience you'd want for the POBO and Falvey is a young and upcoming Assistant GM that could step into the larger role of GM.

Yes, Yes, Yes 100% agree.

[gil4]

 

I always think of this when someone makes this reference:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7LH__BPqSY

 

OR:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmJKY59NX8o

Same here.  I never heard of the show and didn't even realize it was from a show until a couple of years ago. 

[Thrylos]

Hold it for a second.

 

Narrowed to 5 is much different than the title of the referred piece ("could stop at five) and way much different than the line before the last in the relevant piece in the linked article:

 

It’s still possible that list of outside interviews will grow.

 

So really no news here...

[Jordan1212]

Rob Antony only kidding haha no seriously I think it should be McLeod don't you guys look at Boston look at the Cubs he had his hands all over that according to my sources. That's the type of guy we need

[Kwak]

Interviewing Anthony for the PBOp ensures that he won't be the GM--no one hires a rival to work for them!

[tobi0040]

Interviewing Anthony for the PBOp ensures that he won't be the GM--no one hires a rival to work for them!

This would be a classic move though. This guy was the number two over a period where we lost 90 games four times and 100 once, five of the last six years.

 

Then you promote him two levels.

[nytwinsfan]

In light of rumors that it will be the Indians' Assistant AG, Derek Falvey,

 

 

I thought I'd post this interesting article on sports analytics, which quotes Falvey at some length, showing his clear acceptance and focus on analytics as a key part of the GM role: http://www.news-herald.com/article/HR/20160223/NEWS/160229814

 

 

“Every team is using the science at this stage. Certainly, we as an organization are geared to aggregating information,’’ Indians Assistant General Manager Derek Falvey said.
 

“We have a department with four of five people focused on analytics. There always is a lot of research and development in this area. I hope we are always pushing the envelope in using analytics to improve every phase of our operation. You need to think that way to succeed in an extremely competitive environment.”

 

Edited September 26, 2016 by nytwinsfan

[Rosterman]

Rob Anthony.

 

Seriously, whoever they hire, well they then have to turn around and interview other (different) candidates for the general manager position. I would think the president of baseball operations would have a say in that hire.