Allen and Brunansky gone?

[diehardtwinsfan]

honestly, I'm not sure what work Falvey has in Cleveland at the moment other than to hand things off.  It's playoffs; it isn't like the FO is going to be doing much in Cleveland at the moment.

[nicksaviking]

honestly, I'm not sure what work Falvey has in Cleveland at the moment other than to hand things off.  It's playoffs; it isn't like the FO is going to be doing much in Cleveland at the moment.

I assumed he was in charge of the pep talks that caused the team to get a 2-0 series lead.

[h2oface]

Gardenhire was so valuable that every team in baseball has not offered him a job. Francona, immediately. Maddon. Faster than immediately. Folks always proposed Gardenhire was so good that he would have to be fending off the offers. Hmmmm. I always saw Gardenhire of getting in the way of the team's talent during the playoff years. Looking forward to massive change and a team that does more than talk about themselves and how talented they are at the beginning of each year.

[goulik]

I assumed he was in charge of the pep talks that caused the team to get a 2-0 series lead.

YES! Next year World Series because of PBO pep talks!! Can't wait!

[Guest]

The manager rarely is the problem. I agree it was time to move on from Gardenhire but right now, it's looking more like "careful what you wish for."

It was time to move on from Gardenhire. Unfortunately, there was a desire to retain much of the Gardenhire-ism, including most of his coaches and the system that he was a leader of. The owner and GM did not want wholesale change, so they hired a manager who was willing to go along with most of the existing program. You can't just make one change and expect one new person to make much difference.

[Kwak]

 

It was time to move on from Gardenhire. Unfortunately, there was a desire to retain much of the Gardenhire-ism, including most of his coaches and the system that he was a leader of. The owner and GM did not want wholesale change, so they hired a manager who was willing to go along with most of the existing program. You can't just make one change and expect one new person to make much difference.

It has not been stated "how much change" is actually desired. The 2.5 MM annual attendance isn't sustainable, but >2 MM is sustainable with a decent team. We expect that spending will always be controlled to about 50% of total revenue--which will be at a level near the middle of the pack in dollars spent annually. A one-year wonder (Championship) is possible at that spending level--but not a dynasty. My inference from published statements is that a consistently profitable team waiting for "the magic season" is the plan. Winning the championship about every 30 years (30 teams in MLB) will satisfy the appetites of the fan base is consistent with my inferences.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

But who fired them?  Molitor?  And if so, does Molitor need get the OK from Falvey?

 

It is strange that the person who will be in charge soon would let the current regime just make moves without him there.

The article doesn't say that anyone was fired. It states that there is heresay to that effect.

[ScrapTheNickname]

With an owner, a vice president and chief baseball officer, a general manager, a manager, and coaches up and down the bench ... it will be even harder to know who to blame next year!

[Thrylos]

Too early.   They don't have to do anything until the World Series is over.  Not sure why any of the coaches should have teflon in a 103 loss team.  They are all part of the problem.   I see zero reason for them to be back.  Zero.  

 

This team needs a whole bunch of new blood infusion from winning cultures where losing is not ok (unlike with the Twins.)   I'd keep Mientkiewicz around.  He has a ring and is a fighter.  Allen might be ok, but the Mitchell report taint is nothing I would want to be around young players in the organization.  Sorry. If Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are not in the Hall of Fame, Allen should not have a job in baseball.  

 

Also, if you have a look at the Twins' organization from the majors to the top prospects, about half of them are Latinos.  They just cannot afford not to have more Spanish speaking players in the organization from the majors down.  The fact that Berrios (e.g.) is seeking a fellow Latino player and not his coach to discuss pitching, is troublesome.  

 

The Twins have to realize that being a former Twin or a Minnesotan, is not a qualification for a job, and go out there and seek better and more diverse talent.

 

Re: Gardenhire:   He should be the first to get fired.  Just him getting rehired brought the 2016 nasty Karma in the organization. (half-kidding)

[DaveW]

Entire coaching staff with the exception of Eddie G should be fired.

 

Bruno is terrible, Allen has zero success stories and Molitor is the worst manager this franchise has ever seen.

 

Good riddance to the lot of them!

[old nurse]

 

Entire coaching staff with the exception of Eddie G should be fired.

Bruno is terrible, Allen has zero success stories and Molitor is the worst manager this franchise has ever seen.

Good riddance to the lot of them!

The bullpen was just outstanding under Eddie. The young relievers developed.  Crafty veterans got even craftier.

[HitInAPinch]

Sid's column was posted on the 6th.  5 days later, no confirmation that I can find.

 

Still, I find it possible that discussions were had [at the very least, end of season reviews].

If anything were to happen, Falvey would be the person doing that and that won't happen until the Indians are out of the playoffs.  That won't be for awhile.

[DaveW]

 

The bullpen was just outstanding under Eddie. The young relievers developed.  Crafty veterans got even craftier.

Eddie was given exactly ZERO to work with. It's miracle he pieced together a bullpen that did as "well" as it did the last two years.

[jimmer]

 

Eddie was given exactly ZERO to work with. It's miracle he pieced together a bullpen that did as "well" as it did the last two years.

Last in AL Bullpen ERA in 2016 (12th in FIP and WAR), 10th in AL ERA in 2015 (10th in FIP, 9th in WAR)..

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

"and Kevin Jepsen will come in to close this one out" 

 

"Alex Wimmers, a great story,...."

 

"and Neil Ramirez will come in to limit the damage"

 

Shall I go on?

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I assumed he was in charge of the pep talks that caused the team to get a 2-0 series lead.

*falvey hits play*

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7vtWB4owdE

[old nurse]

 

Eddie was given exactly ZERO to work with. It's miracle he pieced together a bullpen that did as "well" as it did the last two years.

Jr Graham is pitching much better in the Yankees organization,  Fien pitched better in LA.  Regression under Eddie, not much for improvement. Even from bad to mediocre.

[DaveW]

Jr Graham is pitching much better in the Yankees organization, Fien pitched better in LA. Regression under Eddie, not much for improvement. Even from bad to mediocre.

meh, Eddie is at least likable as a coach, unlike Bruno, Allen and especially Molitor.

 

But yeah, 8 wouldn't be dad if they fired Eddie as well. This whole coaching staff and FO needs to go IMO

[Doomtints]

Next hitting coach:  David Ortiz.

 

Make it happen, Twins.

[DrNeau]

 

I'm not sure Brunansky was the problem.

 

Bruno works much harder with the guys than Molitor does. Molitor is distant and in his own world. Anyone who watches the games knows that. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Bruno works much harder with the guys than Molitor does. Molitor is distant and in his own world. Anyone who watches the games knows that.

really, how?

 

Don't get me wrong, I have no idea and don't really want anyone on the big league coaching staff around. I just can't make any determination from 70, 9 second clips as to how attentive or close, or warm a coach is.

 

Judging by results the team was pretty average hitting wise. Not very good fundamentally with fielding and base running. The pitching talent was so bad, it's hard to tell, but as others have mentioned pitchers have done well elsewhere so just blow it up.

[DrNeau]

 

really, how?

Don't get me wrong, I have no idea and don't really want anyone on the big league coaching staff around. I just can't make any determination from 70, 9 second clips as to how attentive or close, or warm a coach is.

 

I have the MLB.TV package, and watch nearly every game. I watch way more than just a few clips here and there. Molitor rarely talks to the players - period. The players don't approach him much to talk, either. No one will argue this because it's clear; anyone who does - is not watching the games. 

 

Bruno... you can hear him during every player's at bat. He is audibly right in your TV.

"ATTA BOY!""

"GOOD TAKE!"

He does the same thing when working with them on tee drills and in the cage. He's rooting them on. Molitor? Not so much. Distant. 

[Squirrel]

I have the MLB.TV package, and watch nearly every game. I watch way more than just a few clips here and there. Molitor rarely talks to the players - period. The players don't approach him much to talk, either. No one will argue this because it's clear; anyone who does - is not watching the games.

 

Because the cameras are on the dugout 100% of the time you are able to make this determination? I'm sorry, but no way you can tell this. I also have the MLB package and the cameras aren't even focused on the the dugout 25% of the time let alone any significant amount of time to determine anything. I'm with sconnie on this. I don't disagree with the manager and coaching staff needing to be changed, but no way you can tell this from watching television. He's right ... you see seconds here and there during a game. No way to tell anything from that. From the results of the season, absolutely, but not from watching the games on TV.

[DrNeau]

 

Because the cameras are on the dugout 100% of the time you are able to make this determination? I'm sorry, but no way you can tell this. I also have the MLB package and the cameras aren't even focused on the the dugout 25% of the time let alone any significant amount of time to determine anything. I'm with sconnie on this. I don't disagree with the manager and coaching staff needing to be changed, but no way you can tell this from watching television. He's right ... you see seconds here and there during a game. No way to tell anything from that. From the results of the season, absolutely, but not from watching the games on TV.

 

I am surprised that anyone would disagree with this. It is clearly obvious. That's a weird-looking eye. There are spots in it. 

[DrNeau]

So from watching an entire season, there's "no way to tell anything", because the camera pans around. LOL. Disagree. 

[Squirrel]

 

So from watching an entire season, there's "no way to tell anything", because the camera pans around. LOL. Disagree. 

Not definitively about how the managers and coaching staff are interacting with the team, no. Do I think there should be changes there? Absolutely, but on tangible information, not on what you think you see on the tellie.

[PseudoSABR]

 

I am surprised that anyone would disagree with this. It is clearly obvious. 

It may be clearly obvious given the very limited slice of the coach/manger-player interaction you've seen.  The great majority of coaching happens out of sight of the cameras. If they televised batting practice and fielding drills and within the clubhouse and training rooms you may have a point.  I certainly don't make much of my own anecdotal observations of coaching-interaction over the course of season, although I too watch the game through MLB.tv.  

 

I agree that Molitor is aloof during game-time, but I can't extend that observation to color how he interacts with players during non-game, coaching situations. 

 

[DrNeau]

Watch a Cubs, Indians, or Chattanooga Lookouts game and you will see a noticeable difference in how a manager interacts with their players. I agree there is more going on than what we observe, but assessments made on observable content can't be dismissed simply out of reserving hope - or faith - that Molitor is a different person off the field.

[Kwak]

Perhaps you feel the manager of a MLB team should act like a little league coach--all hugging and nurturing? At this level such management style would be unique. The manager should never pose as a player's "friend"--because he isn't! Performance standards must be established and enforced. The manager is the one responsible to decide if the player has failed and needs discipline or removal from the team. His judgement should never be clouded by "friendship".

[Squirrel]

 

Watch a Cubs, Indians, or Chattanooga Lookouts game and you will see a noticeable difference in how a manager interacts with their players. I agree there is more going on than what we observe, but assessments made on observable content can't be dismissed simply out of reserving hope - or faith - that Molitor is a different person off the field.

Okay, now you are putting words into my mouth that I didn't say, or even imply. I am not reserving hope nor faith that Molitor is a different person off the field. All I'm saying that is your very small snippets of observation are far from any kind of tangible anything from which to make definitive judgements about anything. Fine, you think he should go based solely on what you've seen while watching a game on the telly. I think that's far from the whole story and not something to base any decisions on, good or bad. I think decisions should be made based on ALL interactions and on results and think he should go based on that ... not just 7 seconds here or there of observation through the boob tube. 

 

And, fwiw, I wasn't even in favor of hiring Molitor to begin with.