Rocco Baldelli’s Leadership Highlighted In Twins Reset

[LastOnePicked]

"Let the season begin" is considered a blunt message?! I don't know the person who tweeted that phrase, but I question the frame they've given that weakest of whiteboard motivational phrases.

And maybe that's indicative of the larger problem - a manager who doesn't understand how to get results in a market filled with reporters and/or fans who don't understand direct feedback.

"Your jobs are on the line" is a blunt message. It might do a bit more good than anything Rocco has said at this point.

[Paul Mantooth]

Ted - this is embarrassing.  His leadership is highlighted for...doing his job?  Look I'm on the side of more the front office's fault than Rocco.  I don't even care that much if he calls out players publicly or privately.  What does matter is results.  In terms of results, whatever he's done in the past 2.5 years isn't really working.  There could be a lot of reasons why, some probably good ones.  However after his big display of leadership this weekend, the Twins played different inspired baseball for...3 innings.  Otherwise, it was more of the same.

To me, this is a 'hot take' - just on the other side from what is typically characterized as such.

[hitterscount]

5 hours ago, jjswol said:

Demanding accountability is easy. It is what you do when nothing changes that matters.

I don’t think any of us know what it’s like in the clubhouse. From the outside looking in it appears everyone is out for themselves… the body language, not just the Atlanta series, doesn’t look good. We know last year the starters were frustrated with the quick hook. For the most part Rocco has done a better job this year with them. There have been some questionable bullpen decisions this year that I believe have cost them 5-7 losses. The refusal to play small ball when we are in these extended scoring ruts is maddening, especially with the quality starts we have wasted. I guess my point is you need respect to ask for accountability…. Maybe Rocco is… but this is year 3 of underwhelming and sloppy baseball and yet nothing really changes unless an injury forces the issue.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

7 hours ago, Bamboo Bat said:

100% disagree. 

The interpretation I'm reading is that he "demanded accountability" & that was tough, good leadership. 

My interpretation is that Rocco just woke up. When I first heard this interview it sounded like he was calling out the hitters, criticizing them for not making any adjustments during the Braves series. More like 'blaming' the hitters rather than taking 'accountability' on himself. YMMV.

Where was this 'accountability' in April? May? June? Then the great leadership of "Oh, OK, you want player-only meetings, I'll go to my office & play Sudoku." Accountability isn't a one time, one interview attribute. If Rocco (or anyone else) wants us to buy into this nonsense, it's going to have to be over weeks, months, or seasons...not minutes. 

We aren’t in the clubhouse. We don’t know what he says or how he approaches players in private.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

To the OP, I agree that Rocco is a good modern leader, and he’s pulling every lever he can to squeeze more out of a terrible lineup.

he also rolled with Popkins instead of hiring a better/more experienced hitting coach. He’s running out of levers to pull on squeezing more out. While the issue is the roster, it still might be time at the end of the season to move on from Rocco

[jkcarew]

I do subscribe to the theory that ‘good’ managers probably get too much credit, and ‘bad’ managers probably too much blame.

And since I’m pretty convinced Rocco fits pretty squarely into the latter category, I’ll not pile on here.

I will say…all great leaders know that actions speak louder than words. Actions take more courage than words, though.

[mikelink45]

The FO, the coaches and the managers lack leadership.  We let good prospects languish in the minors when we need their bats.  We hesitate to make changes in the lineup - to move the under productive players. 

Not sure why we are trying to justify a 500 or less team in any way.   

I do not hold Baldelli completely responsible.  The FO wanted this system to be in place and they got the players and coaches to bring their desires to reality.  It has not worked.

Now comes accountability.  When it isn't working make changes!

I am waiting. 

[Karbo]

There is so much blame to go around this team I can't pin point it just on Rocco. The FO is so stuck on the "Drive the ball" philosophy they don't look at things like contact rates, which leads to a team poised to shatter the MLB team K rate. They won't move on from players that have been sub avg. for years, because on the few occasions they hit the ball, its hit well. The hitting coach is failing to connect with the players, or he is so off target, they want to conduct their own hitters meetings, Looks to me like a team pretty much void of real leadership from the FO on down.

[specialiststeve]

Umm... Baldelli's LACK of leadership is why we are where we are. 

Took a players meeting where the players took and discussed that they need to take accountability for their play including and highlighted the hitting. 

Players have to hold each other accountable to be a team driven team but... 

Coaches also have to hold themselves accountable which I don't really see. The approach for the at bats for the time of our new hitting coach has been terrible.. where is the accountability? 

Baldelli's continued misuse of the bullpen has screwed up Lopez and Duran and others who have no clue what their roll is. 

If the hitting coach and manager were being held accountable they likely would have been fired. Hmmm.. with the all star break up us.... timing would seem to fit. 

[JD-TWINS]

On 7/3/2023 at 9:56 AM, TopGunn#22 said:

Ted, 2 games doesn't make Rocco a Saint.  I could argue, and I will,  that it took far too long for him to say anything about this now 3 years running underachieving bunch.  I still think Rocco stares at his computer analytics while the game on the field passes him by.  We had plenty of baserunners yesterday, but just couldn't seem to get that important 2nd run across the plate.  Once again, Rocco punched a bullpen button (and it was a good one with Duran) yet it blew up in his face.  Rocco has developed a knack for making moves that most of the time just don't work out.  This team has far more talent than any team in the horrible A.L. Central and they are one game under .500.  When it was time for a comeback, we went meekly with 3 consecutive strikeouts in the 9th.  You can blame the players (and we should) but we all know it's easier to fire a manager than an entire roster.  I'll give Rocco the rest of July to guide us to a 5 game lead.  If it's status quo at that time he and the F.O. should be unemployed this off season.  

Within physical boundaries (reasonable rest) & mental expectations (maturity) the Manager inserts players and PLAYERS make things happen or not. Strategic decisions fall on the Manager but hitting a ball or not looking foolish trying to hit a ball or not throwing into the middle/middle of the plate are ALL driven by the players. There’s no accountability to the manager that a $35M/yr player can’t hit - leads the league in batted into double plays!!

Buxton has fantastic exit velocity over past 15-20 AB’s - CC has approximately 7-8 hits in past 4 games - Kepler is playing inspired defense and has had two 2-hit games in past 4 - Gallo is contributing………they all didn’t just react to Baldelli’s taking accountability for their play. It may be we’ve run across some just “OK pitching” but it appears that hitting with 2 strikes is glaringly better over the past 4 games……adjustment by hitters.

[Linus]

I find articles like this to be somewhat pointless. None of us knows what goes on in the clubhouse so it’s pretty impossible to assess his leadership or lack thereof. His hands are somewhat tied because it’s clear the FO sets the roster so he can’t just ship Kepler off to Siberia and there are so few bench players benching guys really isn’t an option anymore. 

[Craig Arko]

Sometimes the best way to lead is to just let the troops do what they do, only better, without interference. If that’s what happened here, good move.

[NotAboutWinning]

3 hours ago, Craig Arko said:

Sometimes the best way to lead is to just let the troops do what they do, only better, without interference. If that’s what happened here, good move.

He learns... although somewhat slowly.

[twinfan]

Look. I will always agree that the players are the ones that can make a manager better or worse. But a manager has to take the heat when a team isn't playing well. That's where Rocco has to take the heat. I feel the team needs a shakeup- even after these 2 wins- and firing the manager and hitting coach seemed plausible. Get rid of Gallo? Well, he does lead the team in Home Runs. Dump Kepler? Well he is just about the best outfielder out there (with a possible exception of Michael A Taylor). I bet the over at the start of the season and still think this team can win 84 games- especially if the starting pitching keeps going well and we get Polanco back for the second half. 

[Guest]

On 7/3/2023 at 1:54 PM, Rosterman said:

He still writes out the lineup, and makes the in-game changes. Of course, with the talent available.

Rocco usually hands out the lineup that usually is drafted by Tingler.  Rocco does a swell job of striding to the home plate ump with lineup card in hand.