Article: Reports: Twins to Hire Rocco Baldelli as Manager

[less cowbell more neau]

 

Wow. This gives some new weight to everybody calling the team's higher ups "boy geniuses."

 

Very happy for Baldelli, he's certainly a feel-good story. It makes me a little nervous that he's never managed, mainly because that mean's he's never handled a bullpen, but I'm positive he was grilled about that subject at length throughout the interview process.

 

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

Giving you a like for posting "Rocco's Modern Baseball Team" before I did.

 

Will the baseball games interfere with the inevitable D&D LARPing or will the Dungeon Master incorporate the game into the scenario somehow?

[Lee-The-Twins-Fan]

 

As for me, the FBI just left me a voicemail that I was about to be arrested. I just have to call them back....

 

Given that, seems like I should clean up my behavior.....

I got one of those phone calls a few weeks ago, only it was the IRS. I returned the call and the voice answered "IRS". No big phone message system. I knew it was a scam. 

 

I'm sure Rocco doesn't have this problem... 

[nicksaviking]

 

Curious that his chronic medical condition would not affect him, given the rigorous travel schedule as well as the mental, emotional, and other physical demands of a Major League Manager.

 

Well he's been working full time for the Rays since he retired. I don't know why it wouldn't have been an issue then but it is now.

[wabene]

Hey I got like 15 likes on one post earlier and yeah I'm riding high right now but wouldn't you think my profile would be up for a promotion? The Wahoo's? IDK string a few of these together, moderator?

[laloesch]

 

 

ROCKOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[D. Hocking]

I listened to his press conference.  Not an informed or educated opinion, but I liked what I heard.

 

He seemed to know his strengths and weaknesses and really seemed to know he needed to hire staff that complimented those strengths and weaknesses and seemed to be able to think on his feet and was well-spoken in his answers.      He acknowledged the ability of speaking Spanish being one of these areas.   Not that this necessarily means anything on how one will be as a manager, but he also seemed very personable.

[bird]

 

As for me, the FBI just left me a voicemail that I was about to be arrested. I just have to call them back....

 

Given that, seems like I should clean up my behavior.....

 

 

Make sure you give whomever answers your social security number and date of birth and don't mind all the noise in the background.

[DocBauer]

I hope it's a good hire, like all of us. I like the various roles he has held in his post player career. I like he comes from a team that has been embracing change and analytics. I like he has "player credibility". I like he is young enough to embrace new thinking and identify with today's players. I'll even state I like and appreciate the comments made by the always classy Plouffe.

 

I don't like zero manager experience.

 

The next move, IMO, is a bench coach to work beside him who does have manager experience.

[ashbury]

Guys Sid was 61 when Rocco was born. Crazy

Sid was 52 when Rocco Altobelli opened his first salon.

[ashbury]

Hey I got like 15 likes on one post earlier and yeah I'm riding high right now but wouldn't you think my profile would be up for a promotion? The Wahoo's? IDK string a few of these together, moderator?

Fixed. You like?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Circus Boy]

 

I listened to his press conference.  Not an informed or educated opinion, but I liked what I heard.

 

He seemed to know his strengths and weaknesses and really seemed to know he needed to hire staff that complimented those strengths and weaknesses and seemed to be able to think on his feet and was well-spoken in his answers.      He acknowledged the ability of speaking Spanish being one of these areas.   Not that this necessarily means anything on how one will be as a manager, but he also seemed very personable.

I've found the ability to cuss in several languages and ask "where's the restroom?" a distinct advantage in many social settings.

[D. Hocking]

 

I've found the ability to cuss in several languages and ask "where's the restroom?" a distinct advantage in many social settings.

 

Esp. if the other phrase you learned was "beer please".

[wabene]

Sounds like the right person for the right job. Hope the fan base gives him a chance.

Ah IDK I want a little pushback myself

[jkcarew]

 

Keith Law

1:09 I discussed this on the BBTN podcast this morning - I know Rocco well, and think very highly of him. He's very bright and curious. He's more than just open to new ideas and will work well with the stats guys. I believe he'll be a good developmental manager. But as you said, he hasn't managed, and that's a negative regardless of who the candidate is. I hope he finds someone for his staff who has plenty of in-game experience and can help him learn that part of the game quickly; the track record of no-experience managers is poor.

Interesting.  Thanks as always for sharing, Mike.

 

I think cause and effect is confused in the last part of Law's statement.  Aaron Boone seemed to do OK, winning 100 games...nine more than the previous year...and ending up with (probably) the 2nd-best team in baseball.  The thing is, the 2018 New York Yankees of the world have seldom gambled with first-year managers.

 

I think it's a significantly smaller gamble, with significantly more upside, when the 2019 Minnesota Twins make the call to go that route.  We'll see.

[Dantes929]

I will give him the benefit of the doubt until a starter is throwing a 5 inning shutout but then give up runs in the 6th  (pulled to late) or throws a 5 inning shutout and then is pulled for a reliever who then give up runs (pulled to early) which will be proof positive he doesn't know when how to handle a bullpen at which point I will lump him with every other manager ever.

[Doomtints]

 

I will give him the benefit of the doubt until a starter is throwing a 5 inning shutout but then give up runs in the 6th  (pulled to late) or throws a 5 inning shutout and then is pulled for a reliever who then give up runs (pulled to early) which will be proof positive he doesn't know when how to handle a bullpen at which point I will lump him with every other manager ever.

 

Sure, every manager makes those mistakes.

 

The good ones don't make the mistake a couple of times a week.

[h2oface]

 

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.  

 

We? Us? 

Do they all know what "a Chicken-Soup-Is-Goo-For-The-Soul franchise" means?

 

I can't even find it on google!

[Squirrel]

 

 

 

He acknowledged the ability of speaking Spanish being one of these areas.

 

One of which areas? A weakness or a strength?
 

[h2oface]

 

Hey I got like 15 likes on one post earlier and yeah I'm riding high right now but wouldn't you think my profile would be up for a promotion? The Wahoo's? IDK string a few of these together, moderator?

 

Counting "likes" now? Perfect qualification for admission in a jr high girl's school....... 

But I don't know.... they might require previous experience. 

Edited October 25, 2018 by h2oface

[D. Hocking]

 

One of which areas? A weakness or a strength?
 

 

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.

Edited October 25, 2018 by D. Hocking

[TheLeviathan]

I eagerly await his every decision to be hated by 50% of hte fan base, supported by the other 50% of the fan base with no rational basis.

 

It's a sweet gig.

[h2oface]

 

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.

 

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.

Edited October 25, 2018 by h2oface

[LaBombo]

 

That will be Bert.

 

Yup. Sid will call him "Rocky Colavito".

[h2oface]

I like a guy with a goodfellas first name and that wears his hair upside down.

 

Looking forward to 90 and 100 wins seasons starting NEXT YEAR!

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

How many current managers are fluent in Spanish?  Honestly wondering?

[raindog]

Reference Trevor Plouffe's endorsement. Now I remember, Plouffe is the one who invited Park and other players over to his spring training pad to watch episodes of "The Bachelor" on a beautiful afternoon in Fl. This was prior to the wonderful 2016 season. His use of the overused "awesome" by teenagers in his endorsement is indicative of a certain level of maturity. Rocco has the right first name but that is about it. Flop city and the exact opposite of what the Twins need. I am sure the players will love him as long as they don't mind the continued mediocrity on the field. 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.

Some of these takes are absolutely hilarious.

Edited October 25, 2018 by raindog

[h2oface]

 

How many current managers are fluent in Spanish? Honestly wondering?

 

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.

Edited October 25, 2018 by h2oface

[PseudoSABR]

 

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.

I don't see what his intelligence or his education have to do with learning Spanish.  It's not as if he could learn it by osmosis, he'd need to study it and probably go through an immersion program, which would take time, likely time away from the work experience that led to the job he just got.

[Mike Sixel]

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.

[Major League Ready]

 

I don't see what his intelligence or his education have to do with learning Spanish.  It's not as if he could learn it by osmosis, he'd need to study it and probably go through an immersion program, which would take time, likely time away from the work experience that led to the job he just got.

 

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.

Edited October 26, 2018 by Major Leauge Ready