Rocco: "I'm not frustrated at all"

[JeffReboulet]

 

Um, yeah. I get it, incredible 100 win season, but the team was just totally outclassed and outplayed over 3 games. It would have been nice if he could have at least acknowledged the fanbase's justified frustration.

 

Of course he should be proud of the regular season, but this is the immediate reaction after a very lopsided series loss? 

 

Between the piss poor bullpen management, a playoff series in which we weren't competitive, and this chill interview, I'm over Rocco.

 

I apologize in advance for an overdramatic hot take post, but this interview kinda pissed me off. Come on!

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

 

Um, yeah. I get it, incredible 100 win season, but the team was just totally outclassed and outplayed over 3 games. It would have been nice if he could have at least acknowledged the fanbase's justified frustration.

 

Of course he should be proud of the regular season, but this is the immediate reaction after a very lopsided series loss? 

 

Between the piss poor bullpen management, a playoff series in which we weren't competitive, and this chill interview, I'm over Rocco.

 

I apologize in advance for an overdramatic hot take post, but this interview kinda pissed me off. Come on!

That's exactly how a manager should deal with this situation, though I would have awarded bonus points for Rocco saying "Whoa, I kinda ****ed up there but that's not on the players".

 

As a manager of any profession, take personal responsibility but never place blame on those below you, even if they make more money than you.

 

Edit: He actually alluded to this a bit by saying he hadn't been here before and learned in the process. That's not exactly what I want to hear but it's not awful, either.

[Rosterman]

Rostering players that weren't 100%.

 

Attack the strike zone. Waaaaaay too many base-on-balls for a team that didn't do walks this season. What happened?

 

Is there a reason NOT to bat Luiz Arraez at the top of the order. Seriously?

 

You win game one, then worry about game two. Then game three. Especially in a short series.

 

Bases loaded. No outs. Even a routine grounder would bring home a run. But, 15% of the time you don't score.

 

The fans were there! So were the Yankee announcers.

 

Next Year! Nearly 30 years of Next Year!

 

 

 

 

 

[glunn]

I wish that there had been a questions asked about whether Kepler and Garver were suffering from injuries or rustiness, and why Castro did not play.

[Bomba2026]

Yeah Rocco wasn't frustrated but every fan in this State and the ones who paid to see that in person are.....

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Yeah Rocco wasn't frustrated but every fan in this State and the ones who paid to see that in person are.....

Yep, he seems rather oblivious to the fanbase in general.

 

Which I'd actually be somewhat okay with if he managed like an analytical general. Instead, he talks like Epstein and manages like Gardenhire.

[Bomba2026]

Wonder in another world if Rocco was manager of the 91 Twins?? omg, he would have taken Jack Morris out in the 5th inning!

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Wonder in another world if Rocco was manager of the 91 Twins?? omg, he would have taken Jack Morris out in the 5th inning!

Yawn. Different game, different time.

[akmanak]

He made some rookie mistakes managing and if he can tighten them up I would be happy if the Twins have him manage for a long time.

 

Ine thing I believe should be done is to switch the 3rd base coach. I dont remember how many times I wonder wth was he thinking.

[Platoon]

Yawn. Different game, different time.

Same game. Different mentality. Still 3 outs, 4 balls, 3 strikes, and 9 innings. Amd good pitching generally trumps good hitting. Same game.

[wsnydes]

Edit: He actually alluded to this a bit by saying he hadn't been here before and learned in the process. That's not exactly what I want to hear but it's not awful, either.

Agreed, I don't really want to hear it but we all know that it's the reality with a rookie manager. Or rookie anything for that matter. There's learning to be done and mistakes will be made. It's just a part of the process. Everyone was there at one point or another.

[bighat]

I have no problem with what he said, mainly because he's staying on message.

 

Rocco's done this all year. He's been quiet, full of praise, and has never criticized the efforts of his players in front of the media. For him to do an about-face on that after this series would have been shocking. He's developing a reputation as a players' manager, which I think is a good thing.

 

After such a sickening series, I don't know if there's anything that Rocco could have said that would have made fans happy, frankly.

[USAFChief]

Howeda nailed it, as far as I'm concerned...couldn't be more tone deaf.

 

And for the record, he couldn't have managed worse in this post season. He had as bad a series as his team.

[insagt1]

There were about 100 different ways he could have handled that interview. To say he wasn't frustrated was like saying he didn't care. No fire. No compete. The only team to get swept...again,,and he's not frustrated. Gee whiz...at least acknowlege that it was not a good series. I hate iinterviews like that. As for being a 'players manager', I have never felt that is a good thing either. As a result, this is what you get.

There is a nice balance of distance you must keep.

 

The fans just witnessed 3 of the worst played games of 2019, at the worst possible time. I think its fair to show frustration. He didn't manage well..and his players definitely didn't respond at all.His bullpen failed. His starters failed...except for Jake. His hitters were a big disaster...3 of them who pretty much helped carry the offense during the year...Sano, Garver, Kepler were totally inept...totally. And their 'd' was nothing to write home about either.

 

Situational hitting was non existent. The game was over when Sano, Gonzo and Cave failed in the 2nd inning. They all forgot that you can score runs without HR's. They said they weren't concerned about 'history'..but they neglected to factor in 2019 history....and how the Yanks beat them 4 of 6 including that miserable 14-12 game. Yankees are the better team, but may not be once they hit Houston. They own us completely.

 

What I saw was a Twins team with little fire, little commitment and that starts at the top. Being too laid back when you are struggling is not good. Gone was all the dugout excitement. Maybe they missed the Turtle? Even Cruz had a lousy series. Standing there watching strike 3 to end it all...said it all.

 

It was a great regular season. It was a tremendous flop in the playoffs. We all get to choose how we feel about that.

[twinsnorth49]

4th best record in all of baseball and getting dominated 3 straight games to be eliminated, isn’t frustrating?

 

There’s stoic and then there’s just stupid.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Recent rookie managers who made the postseason -- only 2 out of 14 failed to win a game:

 

Rocco Baldelli, 2019 - swept in DS

Alex Cora, 2018 - won DS, won CS, won WS

Aaron Boone, 2018 - won 2 games in DS

Torey Lovullo, 2017 - won 1 game in DS

Jeff Banister, 2015 - won 2 games in DS

Dave Roberts, 2016 - won DS, won 2 games in CS

Brad Ausmus, 2014 - swept in DS

Matt Williams, 2014 - won 1 game in DS

Mike Matheny, 2012 - won WC game, won DS, won 3 games in CS

Ron Roenicke, 2011 - won DS, won 2 games in CS

Kirk Gibson, 2011 (first full year) - won 2 games in DS

Ken Macha, 2003 -  won 2 games in DS

Ron Gardenhire, 2002 - won DS, won 1 game in CS

Bob Brenly, 2001 - won DS, won CS, won WS

[SomeGuy]

101 wins in what was supposed to be a "figure out what we have" year. He should be extremely happy with the season and the future of the franchise.

[prouster]

They did way more than anyone thought they would this year, so that’s good.

 

But would it have killed Rocco to say he wanted to win it all?

[Number3]

insagt posted

"What I saw was a Twins team with little fire, little commitment and that starts at the top. Being too laid back when you are struggling is not good. Gone was all the dugout excitement. Maybe they missed the Turtle? Even Cruz had a lousy series. Standing there watching strike 3 to end it all...said it all...."

 

Couldn't agree more. I watched very little of the whole debacle mainly because of exactly that. The Twins had the demeanor of a bunch who wished they were some place else as if "Why are we still playing? Isn't 101 wins good enough?" Losing the ALDS is one thing; Not even showing up is entirely different

 

Of course Rocco is happy after a Central title and 101 wins his first year. What does he care about recent Twins playoff history, esp against the Yankees? Has to have room for improvement next year.

Problem is, good luck with that.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Baldelli: “I do not sit here frustrated at all.”

[Otto von Ballpark]

Baldelli: “I do not sit here frustrated at all.”

Or maybe he was actually standing?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Same game. Different mentality. Still 3 outs, 4 balls, 3 strikes, and 9 innings. Amd good pitching generally trumps good hitting. Same game.

Not even close to the same game.

 

Were half the pitchers throwing 98mph in 1991? Pretty sure that’s a hard no.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I agree with Rocco when he says that losses like these last 3 happen from time to time to time to time to time to time to time to time to time to time to time to time to time to time to time to time.

[SpicyGarvSauce]

 

4th best record in all of baseball and getting dominated 3 straight games to be eliminated, isn’t frustrating?

There’s stoic and then there’s just stupid.

 

First 100+ win team to get swept in the postseason.

 

History!

[gunnarthor]

I'm ok in general with these comments. He didn't have a good series as a manager but he's a rookie and I think he'll get better. He certainly had some good points this season and the players obviously had a much better atmosphere than they had under Molly. I think Rocco deserves most of that credit. 

 

He got out-managed (and Aaron Boone ain't exactly Tony La Russa) but I'm not sure that made that much difference. Maybe not starting Dobnak in game 2 would've helped but we just were outplayed - again. 

[cardsfan]

4th best record in all of baseball and getting dominated 3 straight games to be eliminated, isn’t frustrating?

 

There’s stoic and then there’s just stupid.

47-16 against 4 teams. Maybe 101 wins wouldn't have happened or the HR record if the Twins played less games against Royals, White Sox, Tigers and Orioles.

[Riverbrian]

I shouldn't be surprised but still find myself surprised that we have people here who don't recognize PR. 

 

Public Relations is a pretty big field these days. They offer degrees in Public Relations at Universities and Colleges around the country. 

 

The reason you need public relations is because over time it has become clear that every time you walk up to a public microphone, the public will inflate the words you use to problematic levels. 

 

He is not going to stand in front of the public and point out mistakes made by the front office, the players or himself. Because if he does... the public will make him eat those words and they will be spoon fed back to him as long as he remains in a public position.

 

If you don't believe that will happen... you simply don't recognize this behavior in yourself. Universities and Colleges around the country would have no reason to offer degrees in this field. 

 

How anyone is shocked by positive comments, cliches, measured statements out of the PR playbook in this day and age is what is truly shocking.

 

Be honest with yourself, what you want is for him to express himself honestly. Then after he does, you want to take those honest words and bang him over the head with them again and again.  

 

 

The real conversations happen inside the offices of 1 Twins Way and that's where the real conversation should happen because we have proven time and time again that we can't handle the truth.  

[John Kelsey]

 

I shouldn't be surprised but still find myself surprised that we have people here who don't recognize PR. 

 

Public Relations is a pretty big field these days. They offer degrees in Public Relations at Universities and Colleges around the country. 

 

The reason you need public relations is because over time it has become clear that every time you walk up to a public microphone, the public will inflate the words you use to problematic levels. 

 

He is not going to stand in front of the public and point out mistakes made by the front office, the players or himself. Because if he does... the public will make him eat those words and they will be spoon fed back to him as long as he remains in a public position.

 

If you don't believe that will happen... you simply don't recognize this behavior in yourself. Universities and Colleges around the country would have no reason to offer degrees in this field. 

 

How anyone is shocked by positive comments, cliches, measured statements out of the PR playbook in this day and age is what is truly shocking.

 

Be honest with yourself, what you want is for him to do is express himself honestly. Then after he does, you want to take those honest words and bang him over the head with them again and again.  

 

 

The real conversations happen inside the offices of 1 Twins Way and that's where the real conversation should happen because we have proven time and time again that we can't handle the truth.  

 

Exactly, I really don't care what he says in press conferences because I doubt he actually believes most of it. 

 

I had much more of a problem with his management than his press conference. I generally like Rocco and I'm glad we have him but he was brutal in this series. 

[Craig Arko]

 

I shouldn't be surprised but still find myself surprised that we have people here who don't recognize PR. 

 

Public Relations is a pretty big field these days. They offer degrees in Public Relations at Universities and Colleges around the country. 

 

The reason you need public relations is because over time it has become clear that every time you walk up to a public microphone, the public will inflate the words you use to problematic levels. 

 

He is not going to stand in front of the public and point out mistakes made by the front office, the players or himself. Because if he does... the public will make him eat those words and they will be spoon fed back to him as long as he remains in a public position.

 

If you don't believe that will happen... you simply don't recognize this behavior in yourself. Universities and Colleges around the country would have no reason to offer degrees in this field. 

 

How anyone is shocked by positive comments, cliches, measured statements out of the PR playbook in this day and age is what is truly shocking.

 

Be honest with yourself, what you want is for him to do is express himself honestly. Then after he does, you want to take those honest words and bang him over the head with them again and again.  

 

 

The real conversations happen inside the offices of 1 Twins Way and that's where the real conversation should happen because we have proven time and time again that we can't handle the truth.  

 

You are wise beyond your years. Heck, even beyond mine.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I shouldn't be surprised but still find myself surprised that we have people here who don't recognize PR. 

But in pro sports, the product is emotional. There's also an element of PR to show empathy to obviously frustrated fans. This isn't just General Mills responding to a product recall or something, where you want to take emotion out of it. It doesn't have to involve specific blame or anything, but a little more empathy might be warranted. "Not frustrated at all"?