Rocco: "I'm not frustrated at all"

[ewen21]

 

If you really believe effort/urgency/caring were the fundamental issue in this year's post-season (your post includes strong language to that effect), then we've discovered a reason your 'frustration' (and that of those that share that view) would be 'different' than mine. I think it's much more likely that several players and the manager were trying way TOO hard, made a ton of mistakes in the process, and were quickly overwhelmed by a team that was a little bit better and a little bit more experienced. 

 

Look, I've acknowledged the "I'm not frustrated at all" comment was a poor choice.

But, IMO, a lot of the sentiment in this thread (broader thread) goes beyond the perspective of what should/shouldn't have been said in a 2019 post-game presser...and just feels more like people being so mad at the outcomes...including irrelevant past failures...that they're looking for almost anything that helps them express their outrage. I 'get it' as a fan. But I'm not agreeing with it. It was a post-game presser, not a press conference to summarize the season...and it was pretty much identical to every post-game presser he's ever done...huge win or horrible loss.

Thanks for your response.  I am particularly turned off by the "i'm not frustrated at all" comment and I actually LIKE Rocco.  I even defended him during the series when people cited his decision making as being one of the keys to the loss in game one.  Truth be told, I did not watch any of the pressers after any of the games and I really could care less unless something caught my attention.  This did.

 

As far as the urgency/effort/caring angle which you inferred as the thrust of my "angst" you are completely off on that one.  I don't doubt they felt it was important to win, tried (as best as they could) and cared.  That is all out the window when you come into the thing scared and this team had a lot of players who sure looked like they were to me.  If you come in intimidated all the caring, effort and urgency amounts to very little.  I saw players who were not comfortable and it showed.  I did not see calm, focused, professional at bats and this is something that has gone on and on for years with this ballclub when playing the Yankees.

 

Rocco should know his audience better than to say that.  So he isn't frustrated.  That's wonderful.  I still thing it was an ignorant thing to say.  As far as "psychotic angst" goes I am still not sure what you are alluding to.  I was over this season as soon as we made the last out in the 7th Monday night.  At no point did I scream at the TV or lose sleep over what happened.  I went to be that night and slept like a champ.  What amazes me now is the lengths people want to go to distance themselves from feeling any frustration over this.  What is the point in that?  I love this team and watch and follow it religiously year round. 

 

The underlined parts above.  Why are you telling me this if you aren't talking about me?  Or are you?  I can tell you if "psychotic angst" and the underlined above is being use to characterize me you are really missing the mark.  By a lot.  I can take criticism, but get it right

 

[Number3]

Speaking of Tampa (someone did) the Twins had the same formula if they were to prevail. Win 2 at home and somehow scratch one out in the Bronx and more than likely it would be game 5. Fact is game 3 at Target was there for the taking until the Yankees tacked on the 2 extra runs against the big pen acquisition. All it would have taken was to just draw some blood and the Twins just couldn't do it. I am afraid that whatever the reason was will carry over to 2020.

[Riverbrian]

Ozzie managed over 1400 big league games. Took a while for him to get run out of anywhere.

I never walked through a minefield but I imagine someone could get lucky for awhile or it could happen right away.

 

In either case... you are probably better off with a map so you avoid them altogether.

 

Regardless... The overwhelming majority haven’t been speaking their minds for quite some time. You know that... I know that.

[SwainZag]

 

Speaking of Tampa (someone did) the Twins had the same formula if they were to prevail. Win 2 at home and somehow scratch one out in the Bronx and more than likely it would be game 5. Fact is game 3 at Target was there for the taking until the Yankees tacked on the 2 extra runs against the big pen acquisition. All it would have taken was to just draw some blood and the Twins just couldn't do it. I am afraid that whatever the reason was will carry over to 2020.

 

The difference is the Rays put up some runs.  The lit up sought after ace Grienke for 6 ER in less than 4 innings.  The Twins routinely put their-selves in position to score runs, especially in Game 3 and couldn't find the hits...and they have a much better lineup than Tampa.  1/12 with runners in RISP in Game 3 and 3/27 for the series.  

 

Blame Rocco for pitching decisions.  Blame Kepler, Garver, Arraez for not being 100%.....either way, you aren't going to beat the Yankees scoring 7 runs in 3 games, period.  

[Longdistancetwins]

 

I was over this season as soon as we made the last out in the 7th Monday night.  At no point did I scream at the TV or lose sleep over what happened.  I went to be that night and slept like a champ.  

 

I only listened on the radio in my apartment and was actually getting a few cleaning things done.  But I admit to throwing a slipper at some point late in the game.

 

But I slept well enough, late as it was on the East Coast.

[ewen21]

 

I only listened on the radio in my apartment and was actually getting a few cleaning things done.  But I admit to throwing a slipper at some point late in the game.

 

But I slept well enough, late as it was on the East Coast.

Hey, I live in Dutchess County (near Poughkeepsie)

 

 

[Old Twins Cap]

Rocco is a cool cat and cerebral.

 

Question is:  Does that work with players in terms of their desire or level of intensity?

 

Look at Aaron Boone, smoldering anger in the dugout, eyes quick to jump at the next thing, ready to fly into action.

 

Rocco is cool and distant.

 

Cerebral can work, look at .... um, searching right now for a cerebral and distant manager..... Gene Mauch?

 

Managing is about relationships. We don't know much about that with Rocco at this point. How direct is he with players? How does he cajole, convince or collaborate to get what he wants on the field.

 

Twins had a great season by any measure, and for any number of reasons, and Rocco was at the helm.

 

That's about what we know.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

But I admit to throwing a slipper at some point late in the game.

That's the kind on intensity I'd like to see from Baldelli! He should be throwing sneakers in the dugout, and throwing loafers at the press conference...

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Fact is game 3 at Target was there for the taking until the Yankees tacked on the 2 extra runs against the big pen acquisition.

I'm not sure game 3 was really "there for the taking" but this was another inexplicable Rocco blunder. Elimination game, 9th inning, all hands on deck, everybody but Odo and Rogers still available -- and he decides this is the time to stretch out Romo for multiple innings? To a season high pitch count?

[ewen21]

 

The difference is the Rays put up some runs.  The lit up sought after ace Grienke for 6 ER in less than 4 innings.  The Twins routinely put their-selves in position to score runs, especially in Game 3 and couldn't find the hits...and they have a much better lineup than Tampa.  1/12 with runners in RISP in Game 3 and 3/27 for the series.  

 

Blame Rocco for pitching decisions.  Blame Kepler, Garver, Arraez for not being 100%.....either way, you aren't going to beat the Yankees scoring 7 runs in 3 games, period.  

Not sure why people are latching onto moves that may or may not made a difference when we scored just 7 freakin runs in three games.  Offense was supposed to be a strength and this team crapped the bed.  That is indefensible and it covers a whole lot of guys.

 

This doesn't come down to the manager.  I guess it makes people feel better to focus on that.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

1. I'm okay with someone not being frustrated after the first attempt at something. Pretty sure Rocco wasn't part of the other couple of times we lost to the Yankees.

 

2. Yeah. PR is complex. This is what is to have two capacities. Let us be thankful we are persons of no capacity whatever.

 

3. Next year is gonna be good.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

1. I'm okay with someone not being frustrated after the first attempt at something. Pretty sure Rocco wasn't part of the other couple of times we lost to the Yankees.

I hope someone in Rocco's position would feel some level of frustration after one lethargic playoff sweep, and not require multiple such occurrences to prompt that feeling.

 

As for being his "first attempt", it's not as if Rocco was a passive observer (although it sure seemed like it in the 9th inning of game 3). He was actively working to win these games, as he had the 162 games before, as he had the past seasons on the Tampa coaching staff. I don't want him to be discouraged by the results here, of course, and hopefully he learned useful things from the experience -- but that doesn't mean he shouldn't also feel some frustration with the result.

 

There's nothing inherently bad about frustration. It's a natural human response, and we should all feel some level of it at times -- so it was a little weird to hear that denial from Rocco, in such an obvious situation.

[BD57]

There's nothing he can say which will make fans who want a scapegoat happy.

 

If he blames anyone, the fans will say he should've blamed anyone else.

 

If he blames himself, the fans will say it's not good enough.

 

Because fans will not accept that, sometimes, the other guys are flat out better than our guys.

 

We scored a total of seven runs in three games; the Yankees scored seven runs in a single inning.

 

We do not have "shut down pitching," which is what we need to compete in the post-season. 

 

Hopefully, the FO will go out and get someone to head the rotation so Berrios is our #2.

 

Hopefully also, our young hitters will grow into the moment - we didn't have a single "crooked number" inning in three games.   That's a quick way to three "L's."

 

When "They" are better than "You," then "You" need to face up to it, tip your hat, and go to work on getting better.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

There's nothing he can say which will make fans who want a scapegoat happy.

 

If he blames anyone, the fans will say he should've blamed anyone else.

 

If he blames himself, the fans will say it's not good enough.

 

Because fans will not accept that, sometimes, the other guys are flat out better than our guys.

We can say "some fans" this, and "some fans" that, but there are plenty of fans here who aren't looking for a scapegoat, aren't looking for him to blame anyone, but would like to hear a bit less detachment from reality from our manager. That's all.

[Brock Beauchamp]

We can say "some fans" this, and "some fans" that, but there are plenty of fans here who aren't looking for a scapegoat, aren't looking for him to blame anyone, but would like to hear a bit less detachment from reality from our manager. That's all.

Yep, this. I don’t want Rocco screaming and kicking chairs but I do want some recognition of just how badly this series was played and the years of Twins ineptitude that came before it, even if it wasn’t Baldelli’s fault.

 

Because that’s the reality of the situation.

[darin617]

Anyone not frustrated should not be part of the team. The 100 win season was thanks to a very weak division along with getting to beat up on Baltimore as well.

 

The Yankees series was just a nightmare to be kind. Poor defense and the starting pitching was weak.

 

Maybe the bullpen could have been better if Dyson was not out for the season and healthy. And I don't think anyone expected Nick Anderson to turn into such an awesome RP as well. Those 2 alone could have made a massive difference.

[jorgenswest]

I think he has to stay consistent to his nature. His response was genuine Rocco.

 

I wonder if more fire in a post game interview is a necessary attribute in manager. I don’t think so but if that is the case the Twins should look elsewhere.

[ewen21]

Anyone not frustrated should not be part of the team. The 100 win season was thanks to a very weak division along with getting to beat up on Baltimore as well.

 

The Yankees series was just a nightmare to be kind. Poor defense and the starting pitching was weak.

 

Maybe the bullpen could have been better if Dyson was not out for the season and healthy. And I don't think anyone expected Nick Anderson to turn into such an awesome RP as well. Those 2 alone could have made a massive difference.

You mention "poor defense" over seven runs scored in three games?

 

I swear, I don't get how the offense has hardly been called out here. Rocco and poor defense seems to be the more acceptable target.

 

I guess I'm going to need to start a thread blasting the offense for how horrible it was in the playoffs yet again

[ewen21]

I think he has to stay consistent to his nature. His response was genuine Rocco.

 

I wonder if more fire in a post game interview is a necessary attribute in manager. I don’t think so but if that is the case the Twins should look elsewhere.

Yeah this thing about "more fire" is totally missing the point. He could have been level-headed and honest without blowing a gasket or directly ripping particular players.

 

if he's is actually satisfied with the performance in those three games then I'm pretty disappointed in him. So much emphasis is put on good vibes and feeling good about the players that it ceases to sound genuine after a while.

 

If it is genuine then to me it's flat out strange

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think he has to stay consistent to his nature. His response was genuine Rocco.

 

I wonder if more fire in a post game interview is a necessary attribute in manager. I don’t think so but if that is the case the Twins should look elsewhere.

I’m not looking for fire, I’m looking for more of an honest assessment of what the hell happened out there.

[BD57]

 

We can say "some fans" this, and "some fans" that, but there are plenty of fans here who aren't looking for a scapegoat, aren't looking for him to blame anyone, but would like to hear a bit less detachment from reality from our manager. That's all.

 

Well "detachment from reality" is a matter of opinion.

 

This team wasn't supposed to win the division, and certainly wasn't supposed to win 101 games - people forget that ... get a little "greedy."

 

Do you REALLY think Rocco's not aware of the team's weaknesses?   

 

I don't ... I just think he's not willing to say anything remotely critical of his guys in public.

[Otto von Ballpark]

This team wasn't supposed to win the division, and certainly wasn't supposed to win 101 games - people forget that ... get a little "greedy."

 

And that's exactly what many of us *don't* want to hear said or implied by our manager after a humiliating playoff performance (by said manager as well as players). At least not exclusively, to the point of "no frustration at all."

 

The whole thing is a matter of opinion, of course. Like most things on this site. And I have no problem with your opinion either, as long as it doesn't rely too much on "bad fan" stereotypes -- we're not all looking for scapegoats or blame. A simple "yes, I am frustrated -- who wouldn't be?" doesn't involve either scapegoating or blame, but would go a long way toward bridging that detachment from reality that many of us perceive (and would not aggrieve his players at all).

 

For the record, this team was widely expected to compete for a playoff spot, either division or wild card. That's not a team or manager who should be happy just to be in the playoffs, and feel no frustration after a lifeless exit. 101 wins might make it even more frustrating, although evidence suggests that relative to league, these Twins were no better than the 2006 or 2010 squads. Still plenty good enough to be frustrated after that playoff performance, of course.

[ashbury]

And that's exactly what many of us *don't* want to hear said or implied by our manager after a humiliating playoff performance (by said manager as well as players). At least not exclusively, to the point of "no frustration at all."

 

The whole thing is a matter of opinion, of course.

More than just opinion. Like many words, "frustrated" conveys a wide variety of meanings for different people. We see that all the time on the Internet, with people talking past one another because they mean different things without realizing it.

 

When I hear someone talking about their job, and they use that word, I expect they are about to say they are thinking about quitting. Too many obstacles not of their own making, poor support from the management above them, caught between a rock and a hard place... "frustrated" goes beyond disappointment and resolve to conduct a post-mortem to see where things went wrong.

 

When I do a Google image search for the word, I see pictures like these as the first choices, and this lines up with my understanding of the word. I frankly don't want the manager of my team feeling like this, after the heat of the moment during the game. It would be someone not cut out for the job.

 

"I'm not frustrated" does not mean "I am satisfied." We're really nitpicking his words here. Rocco's a leader, in my book, and he demonstrated that in the post-game remarks. Sometimes your troops need a kick in the pants, and other times they need a pat on the back.

 

[mrtwinsfan]

Gotta score runs,  Watch Sanos at bat with bases loaded no outs, NO PLAN , watch his eyes - its silly 

[ewen21]

 

More than just opinion. Like many words, "frustrated" conveys a wide variety of meanings for different people. We see that all the time on the Internet, with people talking past one another because they mean different things without realizing it.

 

When I hear someone talking about their job, and they use that word, I expect they are about to say they are thinking about quitting. Too many obstacles not of their own making, poor support from the management above them, caught between a rock and a hard place... "frustrated" goes beyond disappointment and resolve to conduct a post-mortem to see where things went wrong.

 

When I do a Google image search for the word, I see pictures like these as the first choices, and this lines up with my understanding of the word. I frankly don't want the manager of my team feeling like this, after the heat of the moment during the game. It would be someone not cut out for the job.

 

"I'm not frustrated" does not mean "I am satisfied." We're really nitpicking his words here. Rocco's a leader, in my book, and he demonstrated that in the post-game remarks. Sometimes your troops need a kick in the pants, and other times they need a pat on the back.

 

 

That is a pretty brittle spirit if you ask me.  As a teacher I face a variety of frustrations daily.  None of it is enough to make think of quitting or giving up.  Frustration is part of life and those who insist they aren't frustrated about certain outcomes might not be as emotionally invested as others who do feel it and have the focus and determination to power though it an succeed.

 

You have an odd view on frustration, in my opinion.  Those accompanying pictures represent frustration to you?  Frustration = irrational behavior and being overcome with emotion?  Not in my world.  I cannot afford to be that way as educator.  I do need to be introspective and judge my performance honestly because a lot of people are watching me and judging my performance.

 

Not sure why there is an apparent phobia with frustration.  Some of my best work was achieved at times where I felt stress and was frustrated with the way things were going.  People have to deal with adversity in order to succeed.  To deny it exists and look only at the positives accomplishes nothing and for that reason I am disappointed in Rocco.

[howieramone2]

 

All that waiting and it was over in a blink of an eye with absolutely nothing to cheer about.  One and done is just as bad as not making the playoffs at all. 

On a recent chat on MLBTR, they took a survey on this very question. 60% of the voters disagreed with you.

[howieramone2]

 

As far as Baldelli being a rookie manager:

 

Cash, Shildt, and Martinez are all rookie *playoff* managers this year. And they seem to be doing all right. (Shildt was in his first full regular season too.)

 

Counsell and Snitker were rookie playoff managers last year. (I'll leave out the larger market first years too.) Counsell's team had a deep run, and Snitker's team at least managed a win versus the mighty Dodgers.

So what's your point?

[ashbury]

You have an odd view on frustration, in my opinion.  Those accompanying pictures represent frustration to you?

You caught me. I salted the entire Internet with my personal and odd opinion on what "frustrated" means, in order that an image search would back me up.

[ewen21]

 

You caught me. I salted the entire Internet with my personal and odd opinion on what "frustrated" means, in order that an image search would back me up.

You're concept of the word is very different from mine.  Frustration can be a daily thing for days at a time.  If I reacted the way your depictions of it I wouldn't have lasted 23 years in the NY state public school system.  You've turned it around to make frustration seem irrational or something that puts you on the brink of a tantrum.  I know lots of people in education and law enforcement who deal with frustration at work all the time and they handle it.  I don't believe Rocco is being truthful.  I have to think in his heart of hearts he felt some frustration bowing out in the first round.  THen again, maybe he didn't feel a single stitch of frustration before, during and after that debacle.  If this is the case I see I don't understand it.  Had we taken them to five games and showed up that would be a different story.  Getting swept that way?

 

Hey man.  I guess some people are content no matter what, but it is more likely they tell people they are and really aren't.   I have been a Rocco supporter and this is disappointing.  He can have an even keel and a steady demeanor and still experience frustration on the job.  That is entirely normal, in my opinion.

 

 

[darin617]

 

You mention "poor defense" over seven runs scored in three games?

I swear, I don't get how the offense has hardly been called out here. Rocco and poor defense seems to be the more acceptable target.

I guess I'm going to need to start a thread blasting the offense for how horrible it was in the playoffs yet again

 

You are 100% correct on that as well. The bats went cold as well.