Article: Examining Twins Managerial Candidates

[Cody Christie]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2358-Examining-Twins-Managerial-Candidates

[John Bonnes]

I wonder if Mientkiewicz's actions in High-A - specifically, getting into a fight with another manager - might cost him any realistic consideration.

[pierre75275]

I was just going to say...what about dougie baseball or mayb a charlie manuel...he also has ties to the twins organization

[John Bonnes]

Or Mike Scioscia, if he's available. Or Ozzie. :-)

 

This might be a good place of people to list some of their favorite candidates. I'd love to hear some additional names besides the most common ones.

[ThePuck]

The guy I was hoping we'd get after canning Gardy last offseason (which didn't happen) was Francona. Then I wanted Ryne Sandberg. Francona could be going to the playoffs with a not extremely talented Indians team and Ryno just had interim taken off his manager title.

 

So now my choice is Dave Martinez, TB bench coach.

[pierre75275]

Soscia would be my favorite I think. Then dougie baseball and charlie manuel. It would be awesome if there was another coaching overhaul and all three were coaching at the big league level next yr

[Guest USAFChief]

My choice would be Dave Martinez. Comes from another organization (a forward thinking one), youngish, and seems to be a smart guy.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I would be up for hiring Ray Searage, and here's why:

 

He has done a great job as the pitching coach for the Pirates. Neither AJ Burnett nor Liriano could have been projected to do as well as they're doing since going to the Pirates and hanging out with Searage. For that matter, I don't know if Locke was projected to be as effective as he has been.

 

I don't really know if Searage has ever managed. I'd just offer him any title he wanted.

I feel pretty much the same about Mike Maddux, the Rangers pitching coach.

(I wonder if Greg Maddux comes along with Mike and retains the title of Special Assistant?)

 

Basically, I'd look for someone who seems to have some recent success developing pitchers.

[Winston Smith]

I've been thinking about Mike Maddox for a while. The pitching has to be fixed system wide and he has a good record. Of course, will he be a good manager? Likely he would be good with good players just like gardy has been and not so good with bad players.

[gunnarthor]

I had thought that Dougie Baseball would eventually be the new manager. But one year of managing in the minors? Maybe. I think Ryan would like to stay within the org or get someone who would fit in with org thinking - Ozzie, for instance. My guess is Ryan wants to bring back Gardy but might not be able to for a variety of reasons. If Sciosia or Ron Washington were fired, they'd both be considered but I don't think we'd hire either of them.

 

 

I guess I don't really have a guess. I don't think the final pick will be that exciting - Ryan picked Gardy over more noticeable names like Molitor before and that worked out. Ryan strikes me as the type of guy who follows his plan and doesn't overly worry about outside pressure and the Pohlads seem to give him all the time/respect he needs. (I don'[t think Molitor will be manager but I have to admit that Ryan seemed to have gone out of his way to mention Molitor publicly several times this year. So maybe he has more of a shot than I think).

[gunnarthor]

I would be up for hiring Ray Searage, and here's why:

 

He has done a great job as the pitching coach for the Pirates. Neither AJ Burnett nor Liriano could have been projected to do as well as they're doing since going to the Pirates and hanging out with Searage. For that matter, I don't know if Locke was projected to be as effective as he has been.

 

I don't really know if Searage has ever managed. I'd just offer him any title he wanted.

I feel pretty much the same about Mike Maddux, the Rangers pitching coach.

(I wonder if Greg Maddux comes along with Mike and retains the title of Special Assistant?)

 

Basically, I'd look for someone who seems to have some recent success developing pitchers.

 

I don't think either are bad ideas but, for whatever reason, pitching coaches rarely become managers. There seems to be some industry bias against it.

 

BP had an article about it a few years ago: Baseball Prospectus | Overthinking It: Ex-Pitching Coach Managers

[JB_Iowa]

I also have questions about a pitching coach managing. Plus, so many of the concerns that many of us have discussed about pitching have been organization-wide not just a question at the major league level. Perhaps what is needed on that front is a new position -- one with more prestige than either manager or pitching coach -- to take on the entire pitching mess system-wide.

 

As for the manager, I would prefer someone from outside the organization. I like what I know about Dave Martinez but I'm sure there are others out there who might also be forward-thinking and who offer a new perspective and style of leadership.

[Willihammer]

Nice writeup. I think this is a very realistic list. Many of us would like outside blood but those guys, esp. if they aren't currently managing, might end up with Twins staff coaching around them anyway so pitching and hitting probably wouldn't be affected much.

 

That said, there is plenty I believe a manager can control in-game. The drum that I have banged for a while is defensive shifting, and one of the more innovative guys I've seen this year is the Pirates' Jeff banister (who is actually the Bench coach). Manager and Coaches | pirates.com: Team

 

edit: COnflicting reports who is in charge of the shifting on the Pirates. According to this article, 3rd Base coach Nick Leyva is the man arranging infield shifts.

 

http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/4689239-74/pirates-defensive-season#axzz2fpJAslD9

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Gladden would do great, he can outmanage the current manager any night he wishes.

[Shane Wahl]

I thought I posted this already. I think the list starts and stops: 1. Terry Steinbach. 2. Gene Glynn

 

One of those two will be the next manager.

[Rosterman]

The manager is either as good as the coaches he surrounds himself with, and you now have up to six or more coaches on your staff, or he is totally take-charge and runs everything on the field and the coaches do things totally his way.

 

The Twins, going forth, need people who work well with youngsters, especially some of the out-of-country youth. It is a big step that the minor league process has to battle -- new towns, more money, a nomad lifestyle, responsibility off and on the field, working well with others.

 

It's also have a player or two who step forward as captains and speak to or for the group.

 

It also needs a front office in sync with what is happening to the baseball world in general.

 

It is also nice to have someone who can and will interact with the media, with fans (season ticket holders) and who offers a shoulder and good advice when necessary.

 

It will be an interesting off-season.

 

I could see Terry Steinbach getting the job, and adding Jake Mauer and Gene Glynn to the coaching staff (amongst others) at this time. I do see Jake being groomed, so maybe he does need another year at Rochester or New Brit (or even Cedar Rapids)...but who knows.

 

But, better yet, who can general manage the Twins into the next decade!

[Winston Smith]

Based on uninformed speculation, Steinbach or Moliter will be named. The old gaurd coaches will be gone, Cuellar will be pitching coach, Bruno likely stays and a few new names.

I don't see them going out of the org. not the Twins Way.

 

If they were going to bring Gardy back why wouldn't they have already done it? Why would he want to comeback? 4-5 good jobs likely open, Angels, Rangers, Yankees (that would be fun) Nationals and maybe another couple. Better jobs imo.

[nicksaviking]

Let's go outside the organization with a former hispanic catcher. Sandy Alomar Jr. or Pudge Rodriguez. Let's get some Latin leaders with the current group of young international players coming up.

[Jim Crikket]

Despite the general wailing and gnashing of teeth it will cause, Gardy will be getting a new 2-year contract, but Jake Mauer will be added to the Major League coaching staff, probably as a base coach, and will be the odds-on favorite to be the next Twins manager.

 

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Molitor managing a Twins affiliate next year.

 

The combination will make for an interesting dynamic to watch as the Twins likely go through another tough year in 2014. Gardy could be Dead Man Walking by mid summer, with the Twins being willing to eat a year of his pay to replace him if the team tanks again.

 

There's absolutely no way Terry Ryan goes outside the Twins organization for his next manager. Simply can't see that happening.

 

Also can't see him replacing Gardy with someone even older, to lead a youthful rebuild. That leaves Glynn out.

 

Dougie is, as I recall, in Florida because that's where he wants to be due to family issues. Unless those have been resolved, I don't see him being anywhere but with the Miracle in 2014. Of course, by 2015 or 2016, if Gardy survives that long, he could be a consideration if he keeps the number of meltdowns in check and the family issues aren't still a factor.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Dougie said he wants Pierzynski as his bench coach (when he retires). I'm not sure a lot of us would be ok with that.

[Shane Wahl]

Is that other guy, Jeff Smith (NB), just there . . . I mean he isn't talked about at any level here. Long-term plans for him?

 

I don't think that the Twins are simply going to promote Jake Mauer to anything with the Twins right now. I do wonder if he could skip over to the aforementioned New Britain (with Molitor in Cedar Rapids).

 

It seems as though they would have signed Gardenhire to a new deal by now, doesn't it? I am not sure what to make of Gene Glynn, but if he or Steinbach are managing, yes, I would like the bench coach to be of Latin American descent. Even if it is just to add to that guy's managerial resume for a couple of years right now. How about a guy with over 4,000 professional hits who also played in a Mexican League, a Japanese league, and a South Korean league? Someone who took and takes RIDICULOUSLY good care of his body?

 

 

don't look it up. Think fast and answer who this person is . . .

[gunnarthor]

Julio Franco? Is he managing somewhere?

 

I agree that the Twins could use some Spanish speaking coaches/or manager. Not sure Franco is the answer.

[Shane Wahl]

Julio Franco? Is he managing somewhere?

 

I agree that the Twins could use some Spanish speaking coaches/or manager. Not sure Franco is the answer.

 

I believe he is managing the Mets GCL team now.

 

I just pulled his name out of any number of capable guys for a few reasons: he has played all over the world (esp. if the Twins go into that Asian market again . . . . . ), played baseball forever, and is severely disciplined about taking care of his body--I think there is added value in having a coach around like that.

[strumdatjag]

Ozzie!!!

[Jim Crikket]

Is that other guy, Jeff Smith (NB), just there . . . I mean he isn't talked about at any level here. Long-term plans for him?

 

I don't think that the Twins are simply going to promote Jake Mauer to anything with the Twins right now. I do wonder if he could skip over to the aforementioned New Britain (with Molitor in Cedar Rapids).

 

It seems as though they would have signed Gardenhire to a new deal by now, doesn't it?

 

I had thought about Smith and I wouldn't totally rule him out. He has a reputation of not being all that popular with the players, so it seems like the only reason you would give him the Big League job would be because you wanted to hire "not Gardy." That is, a manager who isn't too concerned about being well-liked in the clubhouse. I wouldn't rule that out, but I think he's more likely to be added as a coach than a manager. I could also see him moving up to Rochester if Glynn moves up/on, but I'm not sure he'd be real popular there with fans/media, either.

 

Jake Mauer has spent several years working with young players, including most of those who are likely to be the core of the next wave of MLB talent. The only thing his resume lacks is Big League experience and, knowing how high the front office is on him, I'll be very surprised if they don't give him an opportunity to fill that gap on his resume.

 

I'm not at all surprised no announcement has been made re Gardy. Everyone knows it won't be an altogether popular decision, so I can see them announcing it after the season is over when he won't have to hear that displeasure vocalized every time he steps out of the dugout.

[cmb0252]

Mike Maddox. Please go outside the organization for once. We need some new blood with some new ideas.

[Winston Smith]

"..... and is severely disciplined about taking care of his body--I think there is added value in having a coach around like that."

 

If you look at Gardy you can see he at least feeds his body really well. Exercise not so much.

[Yossarian]

Dougie Baseball's aggressiveness doesn't look (to me) any worse than Gardy's, particularly with umpires.

 

They'll ask Gardy to come back for a one-year deal. Question is, will he take it? I think Gardy hasn't any other alternatives if he wants to manage.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Basically, I'd look for someone who seems to have some recent success developing pitchers.

I like Old Goat's train of thought. If our weakness is pitching, lets make it a point of emphasis. My vote is Jim Hickey

[powrwrap]

My ideal candidate would be:

 

1. Someone, anyone, that has never played for, coached for, or scouted for the Twins or their minor league teams. In other words, someone that has NEVER been attached to this organization.

 

2. Someone not named Ozzie Guillen.

 

3. Someone not named Bobby Valentine.

 

4. Someone not named Jim Leyland.