One of Rocco Baldelli’s Apparent Strengths Can Also Be a Major Weakness

[Greggory Masterson]

Any manager’s most head-scratching moves can be interpreted in any number of ways. The most charitable interpretation for many of Twins manager Rocco Baldelli’s worst moves? He trusts his guys.

Image courtesy of © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pending one last week of games, Manuel Margot just set the record for the worst pinch-hitting season in baseball history. He has both the most plate appearances (35) and the most at-bats (30) as a pinch-hitter without a hit in baseball history, within a single season.

You might be tired of hearing about this, especially from me. But Margot's situation has officially become unprecedented. As long as he doesn’t get a hit as a pinch-hitter in the next six games, he’ll go down as the record-holder.

On the same night on which Margot crossed that legendary threshold, Twins utility infielder Willi Castro also made history, becoming the first player in MLB history to appear at five positions 25 or more times in a single season. Castro set this record in one of the most challenging configurations—shortstop and center field (the two most critical defensive positions beyond catcher), then second base, left field, and third base.

Rocco Baldelli deployed these two players to the tune of two of the most unique seasons in history. Baldelli does nothing if not keep us and his players on their toes. However, both cases, by some interpretations, can be chalked up to the same core Baldelli trait: trust.

By all accounts, Baldelli trusts his guys--perhaps to a fault. The Twins’ skipper will put nearly anyone in any position. Look no further than the next game after Margot and Castro each made their niche history. In the bottom of the fifth inning, with a runner on second and two outs, Baldelli removed rookie starter Zebby Matthews from the game for a reliever—a reasonable choice to protect his young arm from a quick blowup.

But the reliever that he chose was Cole Irvin. If you haven’t paid attention to Twins baseball over the last week, you might not have even known Irvin was in the organization. The lefty slop-thrower and recent starter had been waived by the Orioles and claimed by the Twins last week, reportedly to provide length out of the pen.

This was the guy that Baldelli went to with the tying run at home plate. A few pitches later, the Red Sox took the lead on a three-run homer, and never looked back.

By all appearances, if you’re on Baldelli’s team and you fit the mold for what he wants (in this case, a lefty reliever), he’s going to use you as if he trusts you. The same could be said about Ronny Henriquez, who had 29 unspectacular MLB innings at the time but was given a save opportunity a week ago against division rival Cleveland in the bottom of the 10th inning. If you want to go back even further, you could recall his moves to bring in rookies Zack Littell and Cody Stashak to hold a lead during Game 1 of the 2019 ALDS at Yankee Stadium.

Baldelli is going to trust his guys, through and through, to fill the roles he sees as necessary. Crucially, too, he views all 26 or 28 players on the active roster as his guys. You can probably play the Uno Reverse card here and claim that his ballyhooed quick hooks for starters could be a sign of a lack of trust—but getting into that discussion is another topic, so my quick counter here is that he wouldn’t choose fledgling relievers over starters if he didn’t trust the fledgling relievers to do their job.

Trust is important. That almost goes without saying, but it’s also held up to empirical scrutiny from team scientists. Social scientists define trust as holding a belief that another person will essentially hold up their end of the bargain, and then acting according to that belief—putting your money where your belief is. Believing that your reliever will get you key outs, that your bench bat will be able to hit in a big spot, or that your utility player can reliably play any of five positions, then making a move to play them in that spot would be an example of trust.

This type of trust is generally referred to as cognitive trust—believing that someone else has the required abilities and the right intentions to use them. This definition contrasts with other types of trust, like affective trust—trust that another person has your best interests, can keep a secret, whatever. This distinction might seem trivial, but think about how you trust your coworkers versus your family. You might trust your mother to love you and look out for you, but not to change the oil like your mechanic coworker Jim.

The effects of cognitive trust might be intuitive, but there are clear benefits that might not come to mind immediately. Beyond the confidence that, say, the manager can instill in an individual, he also instills confidence in that individual’s teammates. If the manager never wavers in his belief that, let’s just say, Manuel Margot can pinch-hit, it’s easier for teammates to also trust Margot. This means they are free to focus on their role, rather than worrying about whether their teammate will hold up their end of the bargain.

And that’s where you want players to be: controlling what they can control and not worried about their teammates’ shortcomings. Their cognitive resources are focused on their job, not that of their teammate. That’s the manager’s job. Willi Castro himself had a nice quote alluding to this.

But that goes much farther when those trusted teammates hold up their end of the bargain.

There have been a ton of reports about just how much the players like their manager. Trust can be part of it. But there’s probably a limit to how much trust is responsible. Not every great manager in baseball history has offered this near-unconditional trust to their whole roster. Sparky Anderson, Tony La Russa, Casey Stengel, and Earl Weaver are prominent examples of managers who placed a huge amount of trust in specific players in specific circumstances, but were open about the exclusiveness of that trust and the way it was limited and bounded by the response of those players to that trust in those situations.

In one framing, Baldelli is showing more trust in his own employers--a fundamentally self-serving trust, since it tends both to ingratiate him to his superiors and to give him cover when things go wrong--than in the actual players in whom he's ostensibly investing that faith. If you trust everyone, do you really trust anyone? Or are you just nodding along? Anderson, especially, would say the latter. Baldelli might need to be a little more honest with himself, and embrace the affective trust that comes from experience and emotion, rather than continuing to silo his trust in the cognitive realm and give it indiscriminately. With one week to go, the stakes of his leadership and his tactical choices over the final six games are sky-high, and when the chips are down, not everyone is to be trusted.

View full article

[S Bart]

One thing that probably has not been mentioned much is that Joe Pohlad was in Boston this last weekend sitting behind the Twins dugout. I was at the game and saw him. He was able to view the team's play and Rocco's managing. I am not sure if it means that anything will change with the team, but I do give him credit for being present. It is not common for a baseball owner to attend an away game.

[Whitey333]

That was about the biggest bunch of gobbled goop I've ever read.  A great example of baseball insistence on over analyzing everything.   Well nevermind!

[Doctor Wu]

The same could be said about Ronny Henriquez, who had 29 unspectacular MLB innings at the time but was given a save opportunity a week ago against division rival Cleveland in the bottom of the 10th inning.

I'm not so sure that is a fair complaint. Henriquez has pitched quite well this season, although almost never in a save situation. But what the hell, why not see what he can do?

[CRF]

Strengths? His weakness...is his biggest weakness. 

[Trov]

54 minutes ago, Doctor Wu said:

The same could be said about Ronny Henriquez, who had 29 unspectacular MLB innings at the time but was given a save opportunity a week ago against division rival Cleveland in the bottom of the 10th inning.

I'm not so sure that is a fair complaint. Henriquez has pitched quite well this season, although almost never in a save situation. But what the hell, why not see what he can do?

I had more of issue of putting Duran in game before.  I get the argument of having your best reliever in there, or at least he should be our best, to even push to extras, but there is something about save situations that are different.  LaTroy Hawkins was a great set up guy, but was not a very good closer.  Something about those last outs made him not be as good, or hitters were better against.  It is the mental thing.  I would have rather seen the pitchers get reversed in use. 

[NotAboutWinning]

Is it trust or rigidity... Doing the same thing over and over and expecting difference results? A manager's greatest quality is the ability to adapt.

[Hubie29]

12 minutes ago, NotAboutWinning said:

Is it trust or rigidity... Doing the same thing over and over and expecting difference results? A manager's greatest quality is the ability to adapt.

"Strengths" and "Rocco" should never be used in the same sentence. 

[Greglw3]

22 minutes ago, NotAboutWinning said:

Is it trust or rigidity... Doing the same thing over and over and expecting difference results? A manager's greatest quality is the ability to adapt.

I think that is commonly known as insanity.

[Blyleven2011]

I really enjoyed a relaxing day off from twins baseball ....

I really enjoyed Rocco not making senseless games moves that backfired  ...

I really enjoyed the twins season from May through the allstar break ... 

I really don't enjoy bashing the twins management , but I have that right ...

[Schmoeman5]

That's one way of looking at it. Obviously, Rocco didn't trust Matthews to get through the 5th. And he didn't "trust" the hitter (usually Wallner, Larnach, or Julien) that Margot has pinch hit for 35 times.

[Schmoeman5]

2 hours ago, S Bart said:

One thing that probably has not been mentioned much is that Joe Pohlad was in Boston this last weekend sitting behind the Twins dugout. I was at the game and saw him. He was able to view the team's play and Rocco's managing. I am not sure if it means that anything will change with the team, but I do give him credit for being present. It is not common for a baseball owner to attend an away game.

Did he have his notebook? 

[FlyingFinn]

I'm not normally anti-Rocco, but if his calm and trust in players still results in our hitters getting tight in the stretch run, that isn't good. If the Twins don't make the playoffs, I will flip and say Rocco has to go just to make a change. Otherwise, it seems we could see this again next year.

[LambchoP]

Like someone just said.... definition of insanity. Rocco had a specific game plan starting the season and he's stuck to it no matter the consequences. Problem is, MLB managers need the ability to adapt. When something is obviously not working, the thing to do is change up. Rocco lacks the ability or motivation to switch things up, or hold players accountable, hence the 0-30 Margot disaster...

[nicksaviking]

Sorry, but I can't get behind the unconditional trust angle, because for every instance he trusts a player, he also distrusts another.

His trust in Margot to pinch hit is offset by his distrust in Wallner to stay in the lineup. His trust in Cole Irvin or Caleb Theilbar or Ronny Hernandez is offset by his distrust of the starting pitcher.

[Peter]

Rocco/FO aren’t going anywhere 

[nicksaviking]

25 minutes ago, Peter said:

Rocco/FO aren’t going anywhere 

They fired Gardenhire after things got stale, and then did the same with Molitor even just one year removed from a playoff appearance. In both cases I was in favor of the moves, not necessarily because the managers did anything wrong, but because firing the manager tends to be one of the most effective moves when it comes to motivating under-performing players. The situation is similar now and it's easier and cheaper to replace the manager than a dozen players.

However I agree, Baldelli likely isn't going anywhere for the simple reason that he's still under contract and with ownership crying poor, I don't see them paying two managers next year.

[bean5302]

34 minutes ago, Peter said:

Rocco/FO aren’t going anywhere 

To the best of public knowledge, Falvey and Levine's contract is up at the end of the year. That absolutely never happens if a GM isn't on a very hot seat as it's a very uncomfortable position and undermines a front office's authority to make major future decisions somewhat.

Last year, Joe Pohlad is on record saying that ownership's expectations had risen to advancing in the playoffs, not just making them, and that ownership was frustrated with the stagnant .500 ball results the Twins were getting.

Now, a lot has changed since Joe Pohlad's comments to the press. Ownership has slashed payroll, and they've talked about a totally new direction of the franchise, but publicly, Falvey and Levine have not been extended. Levine interviewed for the Red Sox job, and he was quickly eliminated by the Red Sox, not by Levine himself which would have suggested the potential he was extended by the Twins behind the scenes.

It's been speculated on Twins Daily that Falvey and Levine received a secret squirrel cloak and dagger extension without the public knowing. I have no idea whatsoever how that would have benefitted the Twins, and it certainly could have hurt their operations to keep it a secret, but they do like to keep their secrets as if they're some CIA operation.

Personally, I expect Falvey and Levine to get the ax very soon after the season ends if the Twins don't make the playoffs. It's likely any incoming GM will want their own manager.

[USAFChief]

48 minutes ago, Peter said:

Rocco/FO aren’t going anywhere 

Including the WS.

[bean5302]

I don't like Baldelli's management style.
I don't believe in the need or advantages of tons of rest days.
I don't believe in the value of planned positional flexibility.
I don't believe in splits as an absolute.
I don't believe in the quick hook without a physical performance reason or lots of runs.

That said, I don't think Baldelli is all that different from Gardy or Molitor when it comes to having favorites. How many times did Molitor trot Danny Santana out to SS over Eduardo Escobar? How many times did Gardy trot out a plucky, scrappy player he liked over a guy with actual talent? Memories tell me it sure seemed like a lot. 

[Jocko87]

8 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Including the WS.

Harsh!

But fair, sadly.

Adjustments are required. 

[karcherd]

In regards to a possible extension for the dynamic duo, remember they did not announce Baldelli's until almost a year later after they were asked about it.  For some reason this organization doesn't announce these types of moves, I am thinking they have received extensions.  And I hope I am wrong.

[nicksaviking]

10 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

That said, I don't think Baldelli is all that different from Gardy or Molitor when it comes to having favorites. How many times did Molitor trot Danny Santana out to SS over Eduardo Escobar? How many times did Gardy trot out a plucky, scrappy player he liked over a guy with actual talent? Memories tell me it sure seemed like a lot. 

I'd actually say Gardy was the different manager. Everyone's favorite manager Tom Kelly was more similar to Baldelli at least in terms of unabashedly deferring to the less talented veteran players. He didn't seem to trust or even like young players. Gardy took over when the team was at it's payroll nadir but prospect peak and did well both trusting the young guys and getting the most from them.

If this team is slashing payroll again, they're going to need another Ron Gardenhire, because someone is going to have to get the most out of these young players or else we'll be stuck praying that more bargain bin free agents are going to somehow save the day.

[Blyleven2011]

17 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Including the WS.

So true , so true  !!!

[Greggory Masterson]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Sorry, but I can't get behind the unconditional trust angle, because for every instance he trusts a player, he also distrusts another.

His trust in Margot to pinch hit is offset by his distrust in Wallner to stay in the lineup. His trust in Cole Irvin or Caleb Theilbar or Ronny Hernandez is offset by his distrust of the starting pitcher.

I referenced this in the article, but I'll go into it a bit more here.

The counter to this argument is probably something like: it seems more that Baldelli trusts people to fulfill their roles rather than to succeed no matter what. If your role is 4th outfielder who crushes lefties, you're going to get those PAs. You'll get them over other players whose role is everyday but platoon outfielder. If you're the fresh lefty in the bullpen, he's going to trust you to get lefties out. If my assumptions in this writeup are true (and I'm not so arrogant as to believe they have to be), the concern here isn't that he doesn't distrust his Wallners more than he trusts his Margots; it's that the roles he trusts them in are too limited, misguided, etc.

[mikelink45]

I consider essays like this to be fillers on days when there's no game to play or minor leagues to write about. It really doesn't mean anything. We all look at Rocco and shake our heads in different ways. 

[Greggory Masterson]

3 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

I consider essays like this to be fillers on days when there's no game to play or minor leagues to write about. It really doesn't mean anything. We all look at Rocco and shake our heads in different ways. 

I'll always take an opportunity to try to apply psychological principles to real-life teams when it presents itself. Working through them in writing, even if it's seen as filler, is a good exercise.

[DJL44]

4 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

I'm not so sure that is a fair complaint. Henriquez has pitched quite well this season, although almost never in a save situation. But what the hell, why not see what he can do?

It is really weird to go from "Let's give the kid a save chance" to "Let's dump him for Brent Headrick" in a week.

[Road trip]

29 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

That said, I don't think Baldelli is all that different from Gardy or Molitor when it comes to having favorites. How many times did Molitor trot Danny Santana out to SS over Eduardo Escobar? How many times did Gardy trot out a plucky, scrappy player he liked over a guy with actual talent? Memories tell me it sure seemed like a lot. 

Also know as, "The Nick Punto Era".   Punto couldn't hit a lick, but he did master the head first slide into first base.

To be fair to Gardenhire, quality middle infielders were pretty much absent from the roster in that era...

[TopTwinsFan]

Rocco Baldelli has ruined the Twins and the 2024 season for me.