Article: Reports: Twins Leaning Toward Falvey As Baseball Ops Chief

[Mike Sixel]

Good luck to him and the employees and the team! 

[Doomtints]

 

I sure hope they're not hiring the young guy so he wouldn't be as strong and therefore wouldn't make the top-to-bottom changes this organization needs.

 

In other words, my fear here is that Falvey would be more prone to keep Antony and many others in the Twins' org while simply employing some of the strategies he used in Cleveland.

 

In my view, this team needs an absolute overhaul of its front office. Keep some people if you need, but the new POBO has to bring a new culture and a new way of doing things. Period.

 

I was skeptical when I heard this, but someone told me that the Twins not only have stipulated that Molitor must be kept, but have also said during interviews that Antony must stay too.  

[Vanimal46]

 

There are certainly people and departments that should stay.  Keith Law mentioned that the next GM needed to provide an analytics to the baseball operations but he did praise the minor league development ops.  I suspect the new PBO and GM will make a few changes this year and a few more next year.  But I think the biggest changes will be bringing new people in instead of firing people.  

Agreed. Especially when it comes to the analytics team. They need to basically double the staff, not eliminate and start completely over. For most every department, I'd be looking to add on staff, not subtract. 

[prouster]

 

It's not a binary, either-or thing.  There are degrees of maintaining the status quo, and one of those degrees would be hiring a less aggressive outside candidate.

 

I agree. I just think that if maintaining the status quo was a priority, they would have hired Antony. Why take the outside guy if you don't have to? I don't think the front office is so conniving as to hire an up and coming executive simply to hide their real intentions.

 

In any case, I was hoping for McCleod, probably because I know the most about him. The Falvey hire seems promising, though. Cleveland seems to do well with only a moderately talented roster (excluding Kluber and Carrasco, of course).

[USAFChief]

Congrats to Jeremy for scooping this a full day ahead of anyone else!

[old nurse]

 

Congratulations Derek Falvey! I like that he's young and he'll bring fresh new ideas to the organization. Maybe the GM will be in his 20's. I'm happy that he uses analytics. I really want him to clean house and that definitely includes Antony, Steil, Rantz and Deron Johnson this should be the first order of business! I hope he fires the entire coaching staff. I also want him to fire all of the minor league staffs. Fire all of our roving instructors. Our country club atmosphere must end starting today. Keep Audra Martin! Do we still have the Fox Sports North Girls? If not bring them back and have them wear outfits like Alary's, Hooters and Wild Bill's! On a final note TC Bear should be fired on October 2nd immediately following the game! \m/

If every one else must go, so must Audra. T and A is available somewhere downtown for you. New ideas, not the same old thing is what you wanted.

[h2oface]

He can't run for president for a couple years.....

 

Perhaps Francona will follow him?

 

I was was thinking young.... but not necessarily robbing the cradle. I was thinking Baby Falvey for GM, but not POBO. Time will tell. Looking forward to something completely different.

[Thrylos]

Great hire.  Waiting to see how this off-season start to shape up.  Looking forward for the clean up as well... 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I agree. I just think that if maintaining the status quo was a priority, they would have hired Antony. Why take the outside guy if you don't have to? I don't think the front office is so conniving as to hire an up and coming executive simply to hide their real intentions.

It's not a matter of them being conniving.  It's just a matter of comfort.  And once we establish there is a need to go outside, they might be most comfortable with the outside hire who is interested in making the least amount of waves.  (Again, that's not my take on Falvey yet, but that's how I understand that concern.)

[HitInAPinch]

 

I sure hope they're not hiring the young guy so he wouldn't be as strong and therefore wouldn't make the top-to-bottom changes this organization needs.

 

In other words, my fear here is that Falvey would be more prone to keep Antony and many others in the Twins' org while simply employing some of the strategies he used in Cleveland.

 

In my view, this team needs an absolute overhaul of its front office. Keep some people if you need, but the new POBO has to bring a new culture and a new way of doing things. Period.

33 years old, 9 seasons in Cleveland's front office, starting as a baseball operations intern in November 2007. 

 

Promoted to assistant GM last fall after Ross Atkins was hired as GM by the Toronto Blue Jays and former Indians club president Mark Shapiro.

 

He receives high marks for his interactions with the scouting and player-development departments.

 

Your comments about Falvey are absurd.  Period.

[darin617]

I would have like to see the Twins get Jason McLeod. I hope this was a bring in the best candidate for the job or that he was the cheapest to hire on the short list of candidates.

These are the few jobs where over paying to get the best is never a bad thing. They control our beloved Minnesota Twins future. I can't wait for 2019 to start winning divisions again.

[gunnarthor]

https://twitter.com/keithlaw/status/780462392358608896

[mazeville]

 

33 years old, 9 seasons in Cleveland's front office, starting as a baseball operations intern in November 2007. 

 

Promoted to assistant GM last fall after Ross Atkins was hired as GM by the Toronto Blue Jays and former Indians club president Mark Shapiro.

 

He receives high marks for his interactions with the scouting and player-development departments.

 

Your comments about Falvey are absurd.  Period.

 

That doesn't tell me a thing why my comments are absurd.

 

Here are two things that are absurd about your comment:

 

First, you assume that getting "high marks for his interaction with the scouting and player-development departments" automatically necessitates POBO material. Those "high marks" don't tell me anything. You know who else got high marks for such things? Terry Ryan. 

 

Second, it's absurd to dismiss any question about this hiring. The Twins are about to break the team record for losses. Its owner refuses to let the new POBO name his own manager. It will finish last for the fifth time in six seasons. I'm not going to suddenly ignore all of this team's bad moves simply because this one looks good. 

 

I'll give the hire this: It's a gutsy move. But what will ultimately make this move successful is if the ownership enables Falvey to make the overhaul he needs to make — rather than simply be a new name atop the same organization.

[scottz]

This is a good hire as long as he gets rid of the pop-pop-pop "rockets red glare" fireworks display of mediocrity.

[FireFalvey]

<--- Really glad I signed up today and staked this prime real estate!

[raindog]

 

<--- Really glad I signed up today and staked this prime real estate!

It is time for a change imo

[Mike Sixel]

 

<--- Really glad I signed up today and staked this prime real estate!

 

it's funny, for its utterly perfect depiction of parts of the interwebs.

[Craig Arko]

 

it's funny, for its utterly perfect depiction of parts of the interwebs.

Possibly parts close by.

[HitInAPinch]

Replies inline.

 

 

That doesn't tell me a thing why my comments are absurd.

 

Here are two things that are absurd about your comment:

 

First, you assume that getting "high marks for his interaction with the scouting and player-development departments" automatically necessitates POBO material. Those "high marks" don't tell me anything. You know who else got high marks for such things? Terry Ryan. 

 

Derek Falvey has grown up in a completely different baseball world than Terry Ryan.  "High marks" in one decade are not the same as they are now.  High marks from the scouting departments and player development in the current generation of MLB front office means an awful lot as to the character and skills of the person.  The same as what happened in Terry Ryan's generation. 

 

Also, from the Pioneer Press article:  One of Falvey’s associates raved about his “people skills,” calling him “an outstanding person” and a “communicator with an analytic mind-set.”    Follow-ups to the interview....

 

Second, it's absurd to dismiss any question about this hiring. The Twins are about to break the team record for losses. Its owner refuses to let the new POBO name his own manager. It will finish last for the fifth time in six seasons. I'm not going to suddenly ignore all of this team's bad moves simply because this one looks good. 

 

Every single thing Jim Pohlad has said and done have pointed to only one thing:  Change.  Step 1 seems to be completed.  Step 2 is the person hired for Step1 to hire a GM.  Keeping a manager to assist in a turnover is an establish SOP in every business.  

 

I'll give the hire this: It's a gutsy move. But what will ultimately make this move successful is if the ownership enables Falvey to make the overhaul he needs to make — rather than simply be a new name atop the same organization.

 

[Brandon]

Since Falvey is coming from Asst GM to president...I think keeping some of the same ops people in place during the first year makes sense while Falvey comes in and tries to prove himself. If he does prove himself I suspect he will earn more freedom to bring in his own people.

[HitInAPinch]

I didn't see anyone posting this before.  If I missed it, please delete this one.  Thanks  

 

MLB TR also posted an article today on Falvey: 

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/09/derek-falvey-favorite-twins-front-office.html
 

Last paragraph is probably the most interesting   

[USAFChief]

 

<--- Really glad I signed up today and staked this prime real estate!

I hope, REALLY hope, this isn't an alt account for an existing member.  That would be a clear violation of TD policy, bro.  A CLEAR violation.  

 

If it were, I might have an excuse to be forced to take moderator action, which would leave that "FireFalvey" handle open for usurpation by a moderator use by a new poster.

 

 

[mazeville]

 

Replies inline.

 

Derek Falvey has grown up in a completely different baseball world than Terry Ryan."High marks" in one decade are not the same as they are now.High marks from the scouting departments and player development in the current generation of MLB front office means an awful lot as to the character and skills of the person.The same as what happened in Terry Ryan's generation.

Also, from the Pioneer Press article:One of Falvey’s associates raved about his “people skills,” calling him “an outstanding person” and a “communicator with an analytic mind-set.”  Follow-ups to the interview....

 

Except that TR got "high marks" last year. As far as I know, last year is still the same decade as this year. 

 

And LOTS of people say that TR has people skills and is an outstanding person. People LOVE the guy. 

Every single thing Jim Pohlad has said and done have pointed to only one thing:Change.Step 1 seems to be completed.Step 2 is the person hired for Step1 to hire a GM.Keeping a manager to assist in a turnover is an establish SOP in every business.

 

It is certainly not SOP in the baseball business. You hire a new POBO, that POBO gets to hire a manager. Highly, highly common. 

 

I'm not anti-Pohlad, not by a long shot. But forcing your new POBO to keep a manager is short-sighted. Worse, it's a sign that the ownership is taking a more hands-on role than it should. My hope is that Pohlad basically lied when he said that Molitor would return. (It wouldn't be the first time, either)

 

And again, this team has been AWFUL for years. They do not deserve the benefit of the doubt whatsoever when it comes to their decisions. I refuse to give it to them because glowing media reports say the new POBO is highly regarded.

[FireFalvey]

 

I hope, REALLY hope, this isn't an alt account for an existing member.  That would be a clear violation of TD policy, bro.  A CLEAR violation.  

 

If it were, I might have an excuse to be forced to take moderator action, which would leave that "FireFalvey" handle open for usurpation by a moderator use by a new poster.

 

Nah, just your classic Long Time, First Time ready for a bright future

[ExpectMorePayLess]

TR seemed like a great communicator with everyone except the players.  Maybe Buxton and Sano, but you never hear players talk about any form of communication with the FO staff.  General Managers, Assistant General Managers, etc. - How well does management really know their players / prospects?  How do you groom what you don't attempt to know about?  All FO media quotes seem to come after a falling out conversations with players and never proactive conversations (from management)?

 

I hope new management finds it important to know their players and not just maneuver players.  Hicks, Buxton, Rosario, Vargas, Berrios, were treated like yo yo's during their career.  Not one had strong responses as to why they were demoted or what they were told in regards to demotions.  "Yeah - I was told ............."

[Craig Arko]

 

Nah, just your classic Long Time, First Time ready for a bright future

 

I study nuclear science
I love my classes
I got a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses
Things are going great, and they're only getting better
I'm doing all right, getting good grades
The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades

 

[USAFChief]

 

Nah, just your classic Long Time, First Time ready for a bright future

http://67.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1itsg87X61rn95k2o1_500.jpg

 

If you say so.

 

 

[John Kelsey]

 

<--- Really glad I signed up today and staked this prime real estate!

 

http://i.makeagif.com/media/10-22-2015/t_l9xu.gif

[gunnarthor]

 

Nah, just your classic Long Time, First Time ready for a bright future

Funny, we don't see you and DaveW in the same places anymore ...

[Vanimal46]

 

Funny, we don't see you and DaveW in the same places anymore ...

He did attach a Twitter handle, so he may be the real deal! Someone was going to take the username eventually. What better time than 12 hours before it's announced he has the job?!