Article: Reports: Twins to Hire Rocco Baldelli as Manager

[PseudoSABR]

 

Apparently he wants mauer on the team. I'm already losing confidence. And potentially the FO does also. I just don't know why I should trust them at this point.

What I had heard was that he already talked to Mauer and would welcome him on the team.  I'm not sure he's advocating for Mauer, but rather being respectful towards the team's most popular player whose on the cusp of retirement.  I mean what is he suppose to say publicly about Mauer on the first day on the job?

[PseudoSABR]

 

I would think a player with a desire to manage would start learning Spanish during the later part of their career. They have time in the off-season and a fantastic opportunity to 

How many languages do you know?  I studied Spanish for several years and French, too.  Neither stuck with me.  It's harder and more time consuming to learn a foreign language than people are willing to grant, evidently.  

 

Do I wish he knew Spanish? Yes.  Do I think it's fair to hold that he doesn't know Spanish against him? No.

[Nine of twelve]

Just out of curiosity I checked out some of the comments on startribune.com. Ignorance. One poster said, "Never heard of him." It was really ridiculous.

[Squirrel]

 

I would think a player with a desire to manage would start learning Spanish during the later part of their career. They have time in the off-season and a fantastic opportunity to practice and learn from their teammates during their final season(s). There is also lots of travel time coaches could use to learn a 2nd language. Obviously, that travel time can be used for other preparation but they could find the time just as many of us have to master additional / incremental skills for our professions.

Since his career was cut short, way short, there was no way to know when the latter part of his career was. His career ended, rather abruptly, at a young age (relatively speaking) and he's been working in some capacity ever since. He said he knows some Spanish, but isn't fluent. I'll take that as a good start. Also, as Pseudo mentioned, languages are not easy for everyone to just learn ... I had years of French, some German and some Italian ... no fluency whatsoever, not even broken conversational abilities, despite living for 2 1/2 years in a French speaking country. And I had the same SAT score! Not to mention to various Spanish-speaking countries players come from. There are likely different dialects and idioms to learn that are specific to certain countries, even areas of certain countries. While I had hoped for someone with a level of fluency, I don't fault him for this lack and I'll give him time to build on the some that he already knows. Or see who he hires to 'help' in that area of 'weakness.'

[Nine of twelve]

 

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

Mega-like!

[PseudoSABR]

 

 And I had the same SAT score! 

Smarty!  And non-relevant, which I think is your point.  

[Mike Sixel]

 

What I had heard was that he already talked to Mauer and would welcome him on the team.  I'm not sure he's advocating for Mauer, but rather being respectful towards the team's most popular player whose on the cusp of retirement.  I mean what is he suppose to say publicly about Mauer on the first day on the job?

 

I heard the FO indicated they might want him back....now, maybe that is just being respectful...but they might want him back.....I'm hoping it is about respect, and not the other.

[Mike Sixel]

I also scored 1300, but that was so long ago that it might be different scoring? And, I don't speak a 2nd language. I'm terrible at them....my kids are bilingual though. Immersion programs are great....

[Nine of twelve]

 

How long before Sid refers to him as “Rocco Altobelli”?

Sid doesn't know who Rocco Altobelli is either. My bet is that the first faux pas from him is Rocco Marciano.

[PseudoSABR]

 

I heard the FO indicated they might want him back....now, maybe that is just being respectful...but they might want him back.....I'm hoping it is about respect, and not the other.

I'm lukewarm on Mauer.  At worst, he goes the way of Ichiro, and retires when he shows he doesn't have it.  And at the right price, Mauer isn't a negative player (though of course, we'd want someone better, but with both 1B and DH open next year, I don't think he'd be blocking anyone right away).  

[Doomtints]

School was too easy. I breezed through without doing any work, simply acing every test they threw at me.

 

This didn't work in college, mind you. College was a wakeup call, I actually had to work.

 

I got a 32 on the ACT and a 1420 on the SAT, back when the SAT topped off at 1600 (or was it 1500?). We had to pass a standardized test to graduate, and I got one question wrong on it.

 

In my senior year, in one of the classes that I didn't do any work, I needed something like a 92 or 94 on the final exam to pass the course. I got a 98, and I wasn't worried for a second about not passing it. No, I didn't study.

If we want to start throwing around GRE scores, then I might be impressed.

[nytwinsfan]

Mega-like!

 

Rocco's Pube Pizza??? 

[Mike Sixel]

 

I'm lukewarm on Mauer.  At worst, he goes the way of Ichiro, and retires when he shows he doesn't have it.  And at the right price, Mauer isn't a negative player (though of course, we'd want someone better, but with both 1B and DH open next year, I don't think he'd be blocking anyone right away).  

 

I don't want to turn this into a Mauer thread.....so I'll bite my tongue. Sorry I started it, as this topic tends to take over threads.

[Pius Jefferson]

Just hire Mike Mussina and Moose and Rocco can help the Pohald's find their checkbooks.

[Darius]

I’m really trying to feel good about it. But, when is the last time to Twins FO has made a decision that has worked out? 2006?

 

Also, the team needs good players otherwise it’s meaningless. They could have the best manager ever to walk the Earth...but if Buxton can’t hit, Sano can’t stay healthy/out of trouble, Berrios can’t put together a complete season, and the bullpen can resemble something competent, Baldelli will look just as bad as Molly did.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Good hire. I bet he can still knock one into the seats in left, too.

[S.]

 

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.  

This is unintentionally the funniest post of the offseason.

[Linus]

I’m giving it until next July before the board is calling him a bum and wanting a new manager. Just a reminder that the hitting and pitching coaches last year were Falvines hand picked selections.

[Riverbrian]

 

 

Keith Law

"Cora had managerial experience".

 

"the track record of no-experience managers is poor". 

 

Keith Law just lost me.

 

If he qualifies Cora because he had a couple of years managing in the PR Winter League. 

 

He obviously in charge of his own version of qualification. 

[USAFChief]

One of which areas? A weakness or a strength?

 

...

 

 

...

 

 

Yes.

[Major League Ready]

 

Since his career was cut short, way short, there was no way to know when the latter part of his career was. His career ended, rather abruptly, at a young age (relatively speaking) and he's been working in some capacity ever since. He said he knows some Spanish, but isn't fluent. I'll take that as a good start. Also, as Pseudo mentioned, languages are not easy for everyone to just learn ... I had years of French, some German and some Italian ... no fluency whatsoever, not even broken conversational abilities, despite living for 2 1/2 years in a French speaking country. And I had the same SAT score! Not to mention to various Spanish-speaking countries players come from. There are likely different dialects and idioms to learn that are specific to certain countries, even areas of certain countries. While I had hoped for someone with a level of fluency, I don't fault him for this lack and I'll give him time to build on the some that he already knows. Or see who he hires to 'help' in that area of 'weakness.'

 

I meant no slight on Baldelli. The context was meant to be players in general who have a desire to coach/manage. The fact that he is already making an effort demonstrates more willingness to adapt than most MLB coaches. I guess my point is that you would think more coaches would be making the effort. I am sure the Latin layers would appreciate the effort. It's one of those things that help build winning chemistry.

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

 

Me too (no hashtag). 

 

I wouldnt' really expect the old farts (older than 50) to necessarily be progressive and innovative enough to actually do something so very important for communication these days, but young, evolved, aware, and smart people that want to be great managers and coaches going forward.... I would think it would be part of their canon.

Canon

 

LOL

[Han Joelo]

As long as he gets a crusty old bench coach named "Mickey" and a chubby first base coach named "Paulie," I'll be fine with this.

 

"Roc, Gibby's gettin' killed out there!  Ya gotta pull him."

 

"He knows what he's doin, Mick."

 

The hitting coach can be named Clubber, the pitching coach Apollo, and of course, the strength and conditioning coach will be named Ivan.  The memes will make themselves.

[h2oface]

 

Canon

 

LOL

 

.....and I only got a 10 on my SATs!

[Squirrel]

 

...


...


Yes.

Pfft.

 

[nicksaviking]

I heard the FO indicated they might want him back....now, maybe that is just being respectful...but they might want him back.....I'm hoping it is about respect, and not the other.

I don’t know, I’d think saying you want the local hero to stay, regardless how you really feel, when you know he’s going to retire is probably on page one of the PR handbook. Forget the front office, it was probably the first thing everyone told Baldelli to say when they prepped for his press conference.

[Doctor Wu]

 

Rocco Power!

 

Let's see how the coaching staff shakes out, now.

 

I like it!

That was the first thing I thought about after hearing the news. Who will stay and who will go? And who will Rocco want to bring on board?

[Doctor Wu]

 

Unfortunately, it was a weakness.  He said he could not speak it well, but thought it was an important question.    I would have preferred had he been fluent in Spanish, but from it was an answer it was apparent he had thought about it and thought it was an important issue and would be a factor when hiring his staff. 

 

I might be putting words in his mouth, but he seemed to be aware not all players were alike, that some players might connect well with his style, but would be good to have a coaching staff that could connect to the some of the players in a way he could not (some of that was Spanish related, but I think he also meant it more generally).   I had it on in the background while was working, so I might not have gotten everything correctly.

At this point even a coach who is remotely fluent in Spanish will be a plus.

[Doctor Wu]

 

Yup. Sid will call him "Rocky Colavito".

That will be better than Rocky Racoon!

[Doctor Wu]

 

I surprises me that a guy with a 4.25 GPA with Ivy league schools a possibility.... hasn't learned to speak Spanish fluently in the last 8 years....

 

I guess it surprises me that anyone that wants to manage or coach in the MLB now hasn't, or isn't in the process of learning Spanish now.

Good point. In this day and age, with so many Latin American players, the ability to speak Spanish is becoming a more important consideration.