Article: Reports: Twins to Hire Rocco Baldelli as Manager

[Winston Smith]

Now get him some better players. Don't go into the season hoping Buxton and Sano turn things around because, fool me once...… If those guys do turn it around make it icing on the cake. Get some better players stop with the mediocre!!!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

 I sympathize with his illness but how does someone with an energy sapping disease stay alert and focused through the grueling 162 game season? This is a question out of pure curiosity, not criticism in any way.

All conjecture and I'm talking out of my rear end, but... Until 10 years ago he was able to play a 162 game season at a high level.  but if he could play, he can travel and watch, coach, and manage - the exertion level has to be much lower as the manager.

 

Speaking personally as a person who would be identified by others as "disabled", all I want is the opportunity to succeed or fail. Baldelli has shown the tenacity and competitiveness to be a major league baseball player. He's shown the mental toughness to gut out the physical demands of being a manager. All he wants is the opportunity to succeed or fail, and I applaud the FO to give him his shot based on his merit 

[John Kelsey]

Love it. 

[Monkeypaws]

http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f99526_7968175bd221cf361a1a73e0aebb1816.jpg

[RatherBeGolfing]

 

I have no opinion on this - like most, I lack any real information beyond this article to make a judgment.  The thing I am happy about is that Shelton did not get the job or any of the others already on this team.  I see collective guilt for the team and if Molitor had to take the fall his right hand man, bench coach, should be seen as part of the same problem or why was he there?  I do not like Shelton and he might be great somewhere, but it would not have been the right hire here. 

 

Agreed. How much you can put on Shelton is up for debate but it's just bad optics more than anything to let the current leader go and then bring his right hand man up. It feels then like a change wasn't really made

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I guess Joe Espada was indeed a serious candidate, so nothing could be decided until the Astros' season was over. But apparently after talking to him the FO still liked Rocco better - or, Espada is leaning toward Toronto? And apparently there were no Red Sox or Dodgers candidates the Twins wanted to interview. So here we are. I'm glad they didn't drag this out.

 

I have no independent opinion on the decision. Cautiously optimistic, because that's the way I roll.

I also would have been fine with Espada. I don't think the team would have gone wrong with either candidate.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

His disease that cause him to retire early. Was that treatable enough so he has energy and is healthy enough to handle the stress of this job?

I'm assuming the answer is yes, but the article didn't mention it.

It's been quite a while since I read up on it but I thought he was receiving some treatment.

 

I know a huge problem for his playing days is that for a large chunk of it, he didn't actually know what was wrong with him. The disease was discovered pretty late in his career, IIRC.

[yarnivek1972]

http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f99526_7968175bd221cf361a1a73e0aebb1816.jpg

Meh, overated IMO.

[birddog]

He seems as good as any of the other candidates. I'll form an opinion in a couple years, but his success will be based on players. The last time Minnesota hired a "hot commodity" to keep him from signing elsewhere we got Brad Childress. Please don't be Chilly, Rocco.

[Puckett34]

[bobs]

As a player, this guy was Christian Yelich before Christian Yelich was Christian Yelich.  The injuries were so unfortunate.  He was a talent.  Now, let's hope he's the right guy for this job.  He certainly sounds like it.  Talent still wins, however, and when you watch teams like Boston and Houston you see just how far the Twins would have to go to be a WS contender.  First, let's just get them to being an AL Central contender.

[nicksaviking]

 

I guess Joe Espada was indeed a serious candidate, so nothing could be decided until the Astros' season was over. But apparently after talking to him the FO still liked Rocco better - or, Espada is leaning toward Toronto? And apparently there were no Red Sox or Dodgers candidates the Twins wanted to interview. So here we are. I'm glad they didn't drag this out.

 

I have no independent opinion on the decision. Cautiously optimistic, because that's the way I roll.

 

My only concern with Espada was that it seemed like it might be over-mining the Astros system. Alex Cora is about to win a World Series, let's go do the same with Espada. That's probably not why a team would want Espada, but I'd be concerned that it would probably be why many of the fans would.

 

But I don't know anything about him, I'm sure he would be great also. I'm happy with Baldelli, I like the Plouffe endorsement, not because I want Plouffe's input, just I can hope that it's representative of other players as well. While free agency is largely based on money, it's also based on geography, hopefully Baldelli is popular enough to offset some of the Twins unfixable geography issues.

[jkcarew]

Hope he's good.  I would think we can expect some growing pains as would be expected with anyone new to the role.  I'll be pulling for him, for sure.

 

Like that they went outside the organization.

[ashbury]

 

http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f99526_7968175bd221cf361a1a73e0aebb1816.jpg

Approves:

[FireFalvey]

Bold move to bring in someone who's career was cut short due to channelopathy to win the cold hearts of a fan base willing to deride a generational talent over bi-lateral leg weakness.  

[jmlease1]

Seems fine. I doubt there's a managerial candidate out there that would make me go, "Wow, this is a huge win! We are KILLING it in the managerial search!"

 

But Rocco seems like a reasonable choice. Should be on board with the front office's approach, should be able to relate with and work with young players. Hopefully he can handle the tactical situations well and improve bullpen and lineup useage.

[Monkeypaws]

[luckylager]

Rocco seems like a solid choice. In-line with other recently hired young managers who have been very successful.  Hopefully the players respond and the front office makes a few big moves in the off season. 

[Squirrel]

 

http://static.wixstatic.com/media/f99526_7968175bd221cf361a1a73e0aebb1816.jpg

I knew that place well ... you a Winonan?

[puckstopper1]

My only question is what kind of track record does he have with Hispanic players?  If he is light in that area, a coach on his staff needs to have the ability to communicate well with and get the most out of Hispanic players given the critical role will play in the Twins future.

[d-mac]

Can't say I know much about Baldelli, other than he was a great player in MVP 2005. Great speed, defense, and some power.

 

But hey, if Plouffe thinks he'll be a good fit, I'll take his word for it.

[bird]

The name Rocco engenders more confidence than Bam Bam, don't you think? And far more than Molitorsie.

[beckmt]

Good hire, FO now owns this, so will see if he is the manager who gets the most out of his talent.

[PseudoSABR]

I like his story, his pedigree, and his name.  Well done, Twins.

[IndianaTwin]

 

The name Rocco engenders more confidence than Bam Bam, don't you think? And far more than Molitorsie.

 

But speaking of Bam Bam, I'd think that a Rocco would certainly be a step up over mere Pebbles. 

 

[Winston Smith]

Looks like the Pohlads have a nice plane.

[Thebigalguy]

The Minnesota Twins took a major hit from many of us in the state who follow baseball closely but not uncritically when two inexperienced front office executives who remind us more of automatons than human beings fired reigning Manager of the Year Paul Molitor because they could. We don't hold the decision against Baldelli, their new manager, but many of us aren't likely to buy tickets next year unless Molitor gets another managerial job. There are way too many other things to do in Minneapolis and St. Paul, truly great cities, than support a Chicken-Soup-Is-Goo-For-The-Soul franchise. Their systems analysis approach to baseball is something like Robert Mcnamara's approach to the Vietnam quagmire in the Sixties. And we all know how that turned out.  

[Teddy]

Very excited about this hire. I'll be quite interested in seeing how the coaching staff shakes out. I'd have to think Shelton, Pickler, Alston and Rowson are locks, and I'd really like to see Guardado back. Not sure about Glynn, as he was more of a Twins system guy.

[AceWrigley]

<< I look forward to seeing this club become Rocco's Modern Baseball Team. >>

 

Hmmm. If Rocco is Rocco, I wonder who are Heff, Filburt and Spunky?

We can change Target Field to O-Town Park.

Watch out for Mr. Bighead.

[Ben Noble]

Worked out pretty darn well the last time the Twins hired a manager in his 30s...