Why Torii Hunter is the Perfect Manager for the Minnesota Twins

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, BillyBallLives said:

Hunter later clarified his comments, stating that he was not opposed to gay players in baseball but was expressing his personal feelings about the situation.

Torii Hunter spoke honestly about his personal feelings, the last time I checked, freedom of speech means he gets to do that. Feeling uncomfortable doesn’t make someone a bigot, and Hunter made it clear he’s not opposed to gay players.

I'm not saying he should be a the Twins next manage either.

That wasn't the quote I provided.

Torii has a tendency to talk first, think later after people point that what he said was dumb. That's a really bad trait for a manager of people. I want a manager who thinks deliberately before acting.

[David Maro]

This is what happens when you tear a team down to the studs. You end up throwing things against the wall to see what sticks. It will be hard to bring someone from the outside because there are 5-6 better jobs out there. At this time no one knows who will be left on this roster.

Hunter was a good player,but does that make him a good manager. He may just become another yes man for Falvey. And when you look back at Molitor that was high on Falvey's reason to dismiss him. Molitor was not the yes man Falvey wanted. And watching a organization full of yes people you see a unwatchable team. 

[Teflon]

I don't envision Torii having the patience to deal with the media after a loss, do you? Considering there will likely be 90 losses again next season, that seems like a challenge for both Torii and the media. Maybe the Twins can just forego the post-game interview and have the Front Office's A.I. press release generator put out their typical boilerplate statements. 

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, BillyBallLives said:

Hunter later clarified his comments, stating that he was not opposed to gay players in baseball but was expressing his personal feelings about the situation.

Torii Hunter spoke honestly about his personal feelings, the last time I checked, freedom of speech means he gets to do that. Feeling uncomfortable doesn’t make someone a bigot, and Hunter made it clear he’s not opposed to gay players.

I'm not saying he should be a the Twins next manage either.

I trust then that, if a ton of people are "uncomfortable" with Torii as manager because of what he said, it should be given weight too.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, BillyBallLives said:

 

Ding dang it.  The TD user interface when replies go to a new page got me again.

[BillyBallLives]

5 hours ago, DJL44 said:

That wasn't the quote I provided.

This is the quote you provided: 

"Torii Hunter, Detroit Tigers Right Fielder, Says Gay Teammate Would Make Him ‘Uncomfortable’". www.huffingtonpost.com.

 

[DJL44]

2 minutes ago, BillyBallLives said:

This is the quote you provided: 

"Torii Hunter, Detroit Tigers Right Fielder, Says Gay Teammate Would Make Him ‘Uncomfortable’". www.huffingtonpost.com.

 

No, that is the name of the article. This is the quote:

""People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they're African-American. They're not us. They're impostors."

That quote is probably more disqualifying for the job. There are very few gay major leaguers but there are a LOT of Latino players with dark skin color.

What would the over/under be on insensitive Torii Hunter quotes if he had to do a post-game interview 162 times a year?

[DocBauer]

So the new fad is a recent former player sliding in to a manager role. Isn't it interesting how old becomes new again? 

WHY I DON'T LIKE HUNTER?

He's coming from a couple years of work in the FO of one of the worst run organizations in MLB.

His 4yrs with the Twins in a similar role as a special advisor. But he still hasn't actually been an actual on the field coach or instructor, as far as I know, other than some ST games.

There's just zero or limited experience as a coach or instructor. 

WHY I COULD ACTUALLY LIKE THIS HIRE?

While he's been removed from playing time for a few seasons, he understands injuries and struggles and has the charisma to SPEAK to young players.

He's part of the Puckett pipeline of prospects, embracing young players and paying it forward. Puckett...for all the bad stuff in his personal life...always paid his professional life forward. You need advice? Come to me. You need a few $? Come to me. This was carried down from Puck to include Hunter, Span, Revere, and Hicks along the way. He is young enough to understand and relate to today's players.

He's damn smart and understands the game.

If you give him a solid, experienced bench coach like Shelton, who can help reign in too aggressive instincts, and help with all the subtleties of being a manager,  you might have something. 

He's strong enough emotionally and intellectually to actually CHALLENGE the FO for roster decisions and how he wants to build his staff, and how he wants to run his game.

WHY IT MIGHT HAPPEN? 

Everything I previously stated.

WHY IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN?

No real experience coaching.

The FO and ownership might not want someone who actually challenges decisions they make.

 

 

[dxpavelka]

11 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

Why are we overlooking OTHER guys with no experience as a coach and / or minor league manager?  Kent Hrbek checks the fan favorite box.  How about Nick Punto?  Sure, Kirby's dead but, hey, why not?  

Maybe my Punto mention has aged well.

[Doctor Wu]

Torii was/is a well-loved former player for the Twins, but the perfect manager? Ugh, maybe not. I hate to sound so negative, but I don't see him being the manager that can help to resurrect this team. 

[dxpavelka]

13 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

Torii was/is a well-loved former player for the Twins, but the perfect manager? Ugh, maybe not. I hate to sound so negative, but I don't see him being the manager that can help to resurrect this team. 

Totally agree.  The fact that he's been retired for 11 years and hasn't taken a coaching or minor league managing job just says he wants this handed to him.  Sorry.  Not interested.