Gardy more likely to be let go or move on?

[IdahoPilgrim]

This is exactly what I think will happen. Gardy will be given a role as a special instructor during ST, he will fill in on some broadcasts, and probably travel around the minors dooing some special instructs with some of the young kids.

 

He won't get fired and he won't quit. He'll just have a different role in the organization.

 

I think this is very likely, and I would have no problem with this. I think there is value to change for the sake of change, particularly after 12 years. Even with the best managers a franchise and a clubhouse can get stale over time. That said, he still has a wealth of baseball experience and in the right role he could really help the franchise going forward.

[ThePuck]

What has he done that makes you think he'd be a good manager? No snark. Real question. I have no opinion on whether Molitor or Sandberg or anyone else without real experience should/could be a good manager.

 

He's did amazing as a minor league manager, he isn't going to be hampered by doing things the Twins way so he'll bring a fresh perspective, and he's got the pedigree as a player too.

[IdahoPilgrim]

What has he done that makes you think he'd be a good manager? No snark. Real question. I have no opinion on whether Molitor or Sandberg or anyone else without real experience should/could be a good manager.

 

This raises a valid question, I think. Has anybody seen actually stats on manager effectiveness sorted by background experience, i.e. minor league managerial experience, major league coach experience, player only, etc? How valuable is it to have field managers work their way up the ladder in the minors, like players do?

[jorgenswest]

They went young several times in Gardy's run.

 

Good point. They went young in 2008 turning around some position players. This is Gardy's oldest team and oldest since 1998. The Twins haven't had many years where both the average pitcher age and batter age was over 28.

[ThePuck]

This raises a valid question, I think. Has anybody seen actually stats on manager effectiveness sorted by background experience, i.e. minor league managerial experience, major league coach experience, player only, etc? How valuable is it to have field managers work their way up the ladder in the minors, like players do?

 

I gave my reasons above.

[BabyJesusBuxton]

Gardy will manage the Twins long as possible. If he is not retained I am pretty sure he would have a job with a different club within a few weeks if he still wants to manage. If he is ready to head off into the sunset then the TK route is very likely.

 

I would really like to see Molitor get a chance if he wants to manage. I thought TR may have hinted at this possibility when they were changing up the coaching staff and he explained that this wasn't the right time for Molitor to join the Twins ML staff.

 

What is the % that the Twins stay within the organization if Gardy is gone? 90%?

[ThePuck]

Gardy will manage the Twins long as possible. If he is not retained I am pretty sure he would have a job with a different club within a few weeks if he still wants to manage. If he is ready to head off into the sunset then the TK route is very likely.

 

I would really like to see Molitor get a chance if he wants to manage. I thought TR may have hinted at this possibility when they were changing up the coaching staff and he explained that this wasn't the right time for Molitor to join the Twins ML staff.

 

What is the % that the Twins stay within the organization if Gardy is gone? 90%?

 

100%, unfortunately.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I gave my reasons above.

 

First, we posted at about the same time, so I didn't see your answer about Ryne's MiLB experience.

 

Second, I was interested in whether there had been any system-wide studies of this. I wasn't interested in Sandberg's case particularly, and looking at one person's background doesn't provide enough on which to judge my question. I'm guessing it wouldn't be too hard to find a counterexample of someone who had good MiLB managerial results and then flopped at the MLB level. My question is, is there a good correlation between the two?

[ThePuck]

First, we posted at about the same time, so I didn't see your answer about Ryne's MiLB experience.

 

Second, I was interested in whether there had been any system-wide studies of this. I wasn't interested in Sandberg's case particularly, and looking at one person's background doesn't provide enough on which to judge my question. I'm guessing it wouldn't be too hard to find a counterexample of someone who had good MiLB managerial results and then flopped at the MLB level. My question is, is there a good correlation between the two?

 

Fair enough.

[PseudoSABR]

That Molitor has been working closely and publicly with our major prospects shouldn't be ignored. Molitor, at least in my view, has a far more prominent profile, in terms of interviews given and reports of who he is working with and when, than previous years. Maybe I'm reading too much into what is normal behavior for a roving instructor, but I think there's something to it, and if Gardy can indeed stay with the organization in a TK role, so much the better.

[jun]

I want Tom Kelly back.

[jctwins]

Gardy's eligibility for the full pension is a big factor in this. Rick Anderson told a friend of mine that himself. Management will talk to Gardy at some point and do what they feel is in everyone's best interest. If they fire him, he can get another job as others have said. He plans to work until he's eligible for the pension and no longer. I think he needs one more year to get there.

 

If they don't think there's a job for him (they know), they'll keep him for another year and then make him an alumni. I doubt he is eligible for the pension if he isn't on the field as a coach or manager, but I don't know the answer to that.

[TheLeviathan]

That Molitor has been working closely and publicly with our major prospects shouldn't be ignored. Molitor, at least in my view, has a far more prominent profile, in terms of interviews given and reports of who he is working with and when, than previous years. Maybe I'm reading too much into what is normal behavior for a roving instructor, but I think there's something to it, and if Gardy can indeed stay with the organization in a TK role, so much the better.

 

i definitely had this all in mind with my speculation. I really hope it's true too.

[gunnarthor]

That Molitor has been working closely and publicly with our major prospects shouldn't be ignored. Molitor, at least in my view, has a far more prominent profile, in terms of interviews given and reports of who he is working with and when, than previous years. Maybe I'm reading too much into what is normal behavior for a roving instructor, but I think there's something to it, and if Gardy can indeed stay with the organization in a TK role, so much the better.

 

You bring up a good point. I'm not sure how much of his prominence is media driven since we have so many more sources/stories then even a few years ago. I do remember Rick Knapp used to get coverage for his work as a roving pitching guru (one article even mentioned how he pushed the draft guys to draft taller pitchers). So it may not be much more than that. On the other hand, Molitor has been praised in the media by both Ryan and TK who aren't always effusive with praise. And on the third hand, we know Ryan didn't hire Molitor before. So I'm not sure what to make of it. My guess is that Gardy sticks around but if he doesn't ....

[chopper0080]

I think if you are going to preach accountability to your players then you have to hold your managers to the same level. His recent record dictates that he should go. That being said, the Twins aren't an organization that embraces change and new faces very well. They have their guys and their ways of doing things. People who buck that seem to be sent on their way. However, baseball managers really aren't that big of a deal. They do the least of any coaches in professional sports.

[LaBombo]

What do you base that on? He's finished Top 3 in Manager of the Year voting seven times. Yes, his teams have been lousy the past few years but I think most recognize that he hasn't had a whole lot to work with.

 

Dusty 'base-cloggers' Baker has won the MoY award three times and finished second three times, albeit in twice as many seasons as Gardy. And Dusty Baker's words (not Dusty Baker, due to board policy) are chock full of absolute blithering idiocy.

 

Not saying Baker is a bad manager, or Gardy for that matter, but their only exceptional skill is keeping players happy. That obviously has considerable value, but by itself it doesn't make either guy a top-tier manager.

[drjim]

I want Tom Kelly back.

 

I had the thought Molitor would be manager and Kelly serves as bench coach a year or two to help break him in.

[jctwins]

I had the thought Molitor would be manager and Kelly serves as bench coach a year or two to help break him in.

 

That would be really great, but I think the trip to Florida once a year for a month is about all the travel TK wants to do anymore.

[ThePuck]

In most businesses, promoting from within is a great idea. It rewards quality work. It tells your employees if you do really well, you'll move up the ladder.

 

If you need to change up the culture, change philosophies, bring in a new perspective, well, in that case, promoting from within is rarely a good idea. Those promoted are very likely going to continue to do the stuff which made them considered good by their bosses and follow the teachings of their bosses when they move up. You end up with status quo.

 

Bringing in new people hurts the people waiting to come up the line, unfortunately, but it helps the organization overall if a real change is needed.

[Pius Jefferson]

I don't think TK would want Paul Molitor to have the added pressure of a two time W.S. winning manager sitting next to him.

 

I think it will tougher for Gardenhire to find a new job than some seem to believe. There's enough thin skinned behavior ala TK that I don't think Gardy would want to manage in a large market.

[ThePuck]

I don't think TK would want Paul Molitor to have the added pressure of a two time W.S. winning manager sitting next to him.

 

I think it will tougher for Gardenhire to find a new job than some seem to believe. There's enough thin skinned behavior ala TK that I don't think Gardy would want to manage in a large market.

 

Gardy has a good rep in the game. I think PART, not all, of that comes from people who consistently underestimated our team in preseason and after the season was over and we had done much better, instead of saying they were obviously wrong about the talent the Twins had, they said, WOW must have been the manager.

[Kwak]

Gardy has a good rep in the game. I think PART, not all, of that comes from people who consistently underestimated our team in preseason and after the season was over and we had done much better, instead of saying they were obviously wrong about the talent the Twins had, they said, WOW must have been the manager.

 

Given the number of ex-Twins on the All-Star roster, I don't think people believe it was Gardy, magic and mirrors anymore!

[Jerr]

Gardy will go, only if, he decides to do that; he has been a good manager and is valued by others. He would have no problem being hired elsewhere in a short time. I would love to see what he can do, with the future stars coming up soon.

Twins, need to get some starting pitchers asap and if they don't, then Gardy as manager or who ever else, ain't gonna matter.

[Thrylos]

TR and the Twins will stick with Gardy. After all, TK had 6-7 brutal years in the mid to late 90s and he didn't go anywhere.

 

The Twins stuck with TK because Pohlad (and TR) were working to contract the team so it made no sense to change the manager of a franchise that was going away. Once contraction did not happen, and Pohlad (and TR) needed a plan B, TK went away...

[Thrylos]

In most businesses, promoting from within is a great idea.

 

In any SUCCESSFUL business, it is a great idea. When a business is ailing big time and needs redirection, it is a horrible idea no matter the business type...

[cmb0252]

Molitor doesn't have enough coaching experience for my fancy. If, which I highly doubt they will, let Gardy go put my vote down for Mike Maddux. Played in the bigs, good history as being a pitching coach in the bigs, and has worked wonders with the rangers pitching staff. Once again, it doesn't really matter because I doubt the Twins get rid of Gardy.

[Roaddog]

Honestly, if Gardenhire leaves, quits, whatever one person keeps popping in my head. Terry Steinbach. Just a hunch.

[Roaddog]

And yes, i know he has no coaching experience to speak of, like Molitor.

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Twins stuck with TK because Pohlad (and TR) were working to contract the team so it made no sense to change the manager of a franchise that was going away. Once contraction did not happen, and Pohlad (and TR) needed a plan B, TK went away...

 

So now Terry Ryan actively tried to contract himself out of a friggin job?

 

Un (expletive deleted) believable.

[Thrylos]

So now Terry Ryan actively tried to contract himself out of a friggin job?

 

Un (expletive deleted) believable.

 

Pohlad wanted to contract the club (for cash). This is common knowledge. Ryan went along with the scheme; he did not resign/retire, did he? And as the head of baseball operations for the Twins, he was working to contract the club as his boss asked him to do. Maybe there was a bonus for him from the contraction cash to make up for the lack of a job, who knows? Actively or passively, he was there.