Cost cutting in full

[Mike Sixel]

 

 

[SF Twins Fan]

I can't stand the Pohlad's and them not selling the team was a complete slap in the face but I feel like the article is severely lacking in context... How does this compare across the MLB? 

[jaimedude]

Why would you eliminate your pro scouting staff? Are they not the one's that do advanced scouting for analytics. Some things cannot be automated or AI generated from analytics software or video. Tendencies like batters eye, backdrops,  bats use of bench guys and in stadium viewing when each stadium has different dimensions, lighting, wind direction, some things just require human intelligence to catch minut and individual details and things that a pro scouting department does. This is just short sighted by the Pohlads to just dump their pto scouting staff.  Some things can be freelanced but not the same as having your own team gathering intelligence and information. Small details matter in pro sports,  things not so obvious can make  a difference to a manager or coach in preventing 1 run or gaining 1 run, like a timed pick off move, or time from a pitchers release to a catchers throw. Self scouting your own team and opponent matters. This isn't a great look by Joe Pohlad to just discard the pro scouting staff like they are not making contributions. It is more than cheap it is impetueous, even with changes to the game.  They even gather data on minor league call ups, and scout potential talent ads like Cody Clemmons off waivers, that is part of a pro and advanced scouts job. Joe Pohlads craps on everything he does with the Twins. This is beyond being cheap and saving money, it is arrogance. Way to go Discount Joe. This is like not offering condiments with your food offerings level cheap. 

[tony&rodney]

They certainly don't save money from this move, when one considers the overall expenditures. I decided to save money on my food budget by no longer purchasing salt. 

[thelanges5]

So depressing and how much does this actually save? The Pohlads are terrible at business. WTF did we do to deserve this?

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, jaimedude said:

Why would you eliminate your pro scouting staff? Are they not the one's that do advanced scouting for analytics. Some things cannot be automated or AI generated from analytics software or video. Tendencies like batters eye, backdrops,  bats use of bench guys and in stadium viewing when each stadium has different dimensions, lighting, wind direction, some things just require human intelligence to catch minut and individual details and things that a pro scouting department does. This is just short sighted by the Pohlads to just dump their pto scouting staff.  Some things can be freelanced but not the same as having your own team gathering intelligence and information. Small details matter in pro sports,  things not so obvious can make  a difference to a manager or coach in preventing 1 run or gaining 1 run, like a timed pick off move, or time from a pitchers release to a catchers throw. Self scouting your own team and opponent matters. This isn't a great look by Joe Pohlad to just discard the pro scouting staff like they are not making contributions. It is more than cheap it is impetueous, even with changes to the game.  They even gather data on minor league call ups, and scout potential talent ads like Cody Clemmons off waivers, that is part of a pro and advanced scouts job. Joe Pohlads craps on everything he does with the Twins. This is beyond being cheap and saving money, it is arrogance. Way to go Discount Joe. This is like not offering condiments with your food offerings level cheap. 

Right now Joe is telling some flunky, "get me the numbers on how much we've spent to date on ketchup and mustard."

[Chembry]

The article also states that this is becoming a trend in MLB.  They used the Cubs as an example, saying the Cubs drastically reduced their pro scouting department in 2024.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

So all of those 'investors' we heard about...

[jctwins]

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

So all of those 'investors' we heard about...

Came here to say this.

[Irishman]

Joe Pohlad is tightwad.   He is another Scrooge.  I’m done with him.   I refuse to come to Target Field.  
 

A while ago my wife asked me if I wanted to come to Target Field with her.  I said “Hell no!  I Minnesota Twins were not worth to watch and root for”.   

[DocBauer]

To be fair, I read the article by Dan Hayes, though I don't have a link to share.

The Twins had a 5 man team for advanced scouting and kept 1 of the 5. It was also stated that this is becoming more common place in MLB as teams are using video scouting more and more.

Not saying it's good, bad, or otherwise. Just saying the Twins aren't the only teams cutting back in this particular department.

[jorgenswest]

What are the main responsibilities of the pro scouting department?

Scouting teams in advance of an upcoming series? Advising on potential acquisitions in deadline or off season deals? Advising on free agent pick ups including minor league and rule 5 acquisitions?

Where will those responsibilities be assigned now?

I read both the Twins article as well as the Cubs from a year ago and it isn’t clear to me what holes will be created. Certainly the dismissing of four talented and experienced voices in the room will be a loss.

[The Great Hambino]

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

To be fair, I read the article by Dan Hayes, though I don't have a link to share.

The Twins had a 5 man team for advanced scouting and kept 1 of the 5. It was also stated that this is becoming more common place in MLB as teams are using video scouting more and more.

Not saying it's good, bad, or otherwise. Just saying the Twins aren't the only teams cutting back in this particular department.

The original article said they were cutting their entire department of 4 and had no context regarding other teams.  Softens it at least a little bit for me from my original reaction. 

Still moving in the wrong direction

[Dave Borton]

7 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

...

Where will those responsibilities be assigned now?

....

JP has it. Added it to his portfolio.

[Riverbrian]

I have no reference point that is necessary to produce applause or anger toward this move. 

I don't know how big the scouting department is in total. I don't know how big it should be. I don't know the responsibilities of each scout and what they cover. I don't know what is done with the information gathered and how it is filtered down to the dugout for utilization. 

Advance scouting at the major league level? All the ballparks are fully equipped with camera's from multiple angles. Data is pouring out of every game. Launch angle, spin rates, pop times, you name it. 

Parker Hageman could do it from his living room.  

 

 

 

[Original_JB]

MN Twins Axe Scouting Department https://share.google/n41KpgL04lNVTLYjo

[Original_JB]

If I had to fathom a guess it would be that someone, realizing the Pohlads aren't exactly the sharpest tools on the shed, sold them a bill of goods on some sort of AI 'system' that could do all that scouting work just making use of "big data" (think bigger, faster, broader reaching, computerized version of 'Moneyball' type statistics).

[Riverbrian]

On 9/16/2025 at 10:08 PM, tony&rodney said:

They certainly don't save money from this move, when one considers the overall expenditures. I decided to save money on my food budget by no longer purchasing salt. 

4 Scouts at what? 60K? Travel Expenses? 

It really doesn't seem like it fits into the on going ever lasting cheap Pohlad discussion. 

Yet it will get dragged into that. 

 

[TheLeviathan]

Article from the future:

"Twins cut chair backs from seats, say concrete will suffice for fans"

[GCTF]

11 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Article from the future:

"Twins cut chair backs from seats, say concrete will suffice for fans"

Twins to remove numbers from jerseys citing that Ty Cobb didn't need no damn number and he's in the hall of fame.

[Original_JB]

Clubhouse supplies guy issued new stamp for any balls he finds laying around or at garage sales (as long as they are priced under $1):  https://www.zazzle.com/pd/spp/pt-hamptontech_woodartstamp?handle=nohandle&inkpadcolor=none&orientation=horizontal&size=ht1530&dz=2201147b-6c65-4c3f-85a0-5cde37719a14

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

4 Scouts at what? 60K?

60K? Really? Full-time employees, some of whom were recruited from other jobs where they were quite successful, would work for the Twins for 60K? I would have to hear that from the individuals involved.

More to the post .... What can we even say at this point? My response was, save by not buying salt. In other words the Pohlads are who they are and who cares. I'm watching Cleveland and Detroit because I enjoy baseball.

[Riverbrian]

35 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

60K? Really? Full-time employees, some of whom were recruited from other jobs where they were quite successful, would work for the Twins for 60K? I would have to hear that from the individuals involved.

More to the post .... What can we even say at this point? My response was, save by not buying salt. In other words the Pohlads are who they are and who cares. I'm watching Cleveland and Detroit because I enjoy baseball.

I have no idea. AI answered my inquiry with a pay range of $40 to $100K which is in line with stuff I've read before. 

But again... I have no idea and therefore the question mark afterwards. 

I may have missed on the interpretation of your comment. I took your "Save on Salt" as in line of what I was thinking. It's a drop in the bucket and therefore not an example of Pohlad cheapness. You now seem to be saying... it is Pohlad cheapness but with basically no significant savings. 

[jorgenswest]

Seems like this group would have been key advisors on the players they acquired or opted against acquiring when they traded 11 players at the deadline. Could performance at their main responsibility of scouting professional players factored into the decision? Do the Twins have some buyer’s remorse on any of them? Maybe they voiced opposition to some of the deals. We won’t know but I don’t think it is dollars. The money just isn’t enough in the context of the budget.

To bring value this group needs to identify players with a future value greater than perceived by their team as well as greater than the varied public services rank of the player. Have they been bringing that value? 

Somehow the Twins found Joe Ryan and Willi Castro. Did the push for either of them come from one of the 4 guys they let go? If so, they will missed.

[Patzky]

2 hours ago, GCTF said:

Twins to remove numbers from jerseys citing that Ty Cobb didn't need no damn number and he's in the hall of fame.

Sue Nelson won't be playing the organ in 2026. Instead, the Pohlads said she can play the __(blank)__.. 

(Insert funky music)

[nicksaviking]

I can understand cutting number crunching jobs that can be consolidated.

But is that all the scouts do? Isn't there SOME in depth analysis, insight and anticipation that comes from experience and intuition? I'm not sure it would benefit the Twins to have less of that.

[Obsvr]

Its really easy at this point to play the "woe is us card" but...do they REALLY need scouts to go watch other MLB teams in person?  The article on the athletic says that most teams are doing away with this and just using video.  

With all the data that is out there for these guys, it really does seem pointless to send somebody in person to scout games.

 

[ashbury]

Or, an alternative POV for what happened to the guys still working in major league scouting until a few days ago:

"Y'see, what we're trying to do here, we're just trying to get a feel for how people spend their day. So, if you would, would you just walk us through a typical day for you?"

[Mike Sixel]

I think every team is doing this over money.......even the big spenders don't want to spend where they don't have to. These are businesses, after all. 

[ashbury]

4 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Article from the future:

"Twins cut chair backs from seats, say concrete will suffice for fans"

 

15 minutes ago, Obsvr said:

Its really easy at this point to play the "woe is us card" but...do they REALLY need scouts to go watch other MLB teams in person?  The article on the athletic says that most teams are doing away with this and just using video.  

With all the data that is out there for these guys, it really does seem pointless to send somebody in person to scout games.

Article from the past:

"Henry Ford says he's done with producing buggy whips, will concentrate on automobile manufacture."

Do I have an independent opinion on the value of in person scouting of MLB games?  No I do not.  But I'm willing to give the benefit of doubt that it's harder than ever these days for an employee to justify their job doing it, by the benefits it brings to the team.