Offseason Handbook: An Attempt to Objectively Evaluate Rocco Baldelli

Rocco depends too much on analytics, especially with starters. No manager intuition required, just see what the computer algorithm says. A starter cruises through six innings, 80 pitches, 1 run, four hits, one walk…….take him out because the computer told him to. There are other befuddling examples. Analytics has its place, but a manager needs to believe in his players too. A good example is when he removed Ryan after two innings in the 2023 playoff game against Houston that they lost 3-2. Two innings, one run, then bullpen game that did pitch well. But Rocco showed he had no confidence in Ryan, instead deferring to analytics. Result was a 3-2 loss. Why would any starter want to pitch for Baldelli if Rocco doesn’t trust them? Sonny Gray is a good example.

A lot to digest. The numbers I looked closest at were 1 run games and extra innings where decisions are magnified. Slightly over .500 in 1 run games. Slightly under in extra innings. All the rest is pied piper. To me he's just an avg. manager at best. But then again, that could be said about most MLB managers. Hyde in Baltimore is a good example. He held things together when he had no players. Now he has good players but he will be judged on his playoff record if they don't advance in 25. 

I do not like the fact that he seemingly makes decisions based solely on numbers and probabilities rather than in game outcomes like momentum, player confidence etc. If our starting pitcher has just struck out the last four batters and is absolutely rolling with a low pitch count, but Rocco preemptively pulls him because he's about to face the lineup for a third time irritated me. I also don't like the constant platooning, pinch hitting and having most of our young players move all over the place defensively. Players have said it helps them tremendously when they get to play the same position and hit in the same spot ddy in and day out. With Rocco, our guys never know what to expect which has to be hard on our rookies and young guys trying to figure everything out at the MLB level. His use of relief arms is questionable at best also. 

How many other managers would PH a hitter like Margot who went 0-30+. He is a manager who has 0 feel for the game. He has a spread sheet that he refused to go away from. They talk about players being superstitious,but have a manager who moves them like chess pieces on the field and in the lineup.

(Not a fan of Rocco) but I will say he went from terrible to average the last few years, he has done less questionable things each year. With that said IMO he isn't the type of manager to lead a mid market team to a championship.

Rocco is not a major league manager or his coaches   , I will cut them no slack ...

Offense , He has players to his disposal and he can not get that talent to be complete professionals in the game of baseball  .. he doesn't teach them to bunt , steal bases , run the bases , hit behind the runners to advance runner into scoring position  , hit to opposite field ( the good hitters do ) , no adjustments are made with 2 strikes , no discipline at identifying a strike or a ball off the plate , they continue to swing away and fail miserably at driving runners in scoring position in ( runs do matter , its called rbi's ) , ( they don't have to take batting or infield practice  ,    his quote  not mine , the players need to come ready to play  but he doesn't emphasize  mentioned above )  , he continues to constructs poor lineups , the players don't know if they are batting lead off or number 9 in the order  ... 

Defense , poor  , lots of mistakes throwing to the wrong base or missing cutoff man  , a professional doesnt make mistakes , yes he may make an error but mistakes are lack of mental preparations that the game plan doesn't emphasize  ...

In ending , the plan that the FO  , manager and coaches has   , THEY HOLD NO ONE ACCOUNTABLE  and the manager has no strategy  ( if the manager continues to bundle things , the players will too ) ...

The people with the plan  are here for  another season  , if we can't afford to acquire good players because  of payroll  , then we need to take the talent  we have and teach that talent to be a better talent  ...

When I think of the type of baseball player that Baldelli was for the Tampa Bay Rays, it makes me wonder how much input he actually has as opposed to Falvey and I even attach that to in game decisions because they often seem extremely scripted. Ultimately, it is the players who have the greatest effect on the outcome to any game, by far.

7 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Rocco is not a major league manager or his coaches   , I will cut them no slack ...

Offense , He has players to his disposal and he can not get that talent to be complete professionals in the game of baseball  .. he doesn't teach them to bunt , steal bases , run the bases , hit behind the runners to advance runner into scoring position  , hit to opposite field ( the good hitters do ) , no adjustments are made with 2 strikes , no discipline at identifying a strike or a ball off the plate , they continue to swing away and fail miserably at driving runners in scoring position in ( runs do matter , its called rbi's ) , ( they don't have to take batting or infield practice  ,    his quote  not mine , the players need to come ready to play  but he doesn't emphasize  mentioned above )  , he continues to constructs poor lineups , the players don't know if they are batting lead off or number 9 in the order  ... 

Defense , poor  , lots of mistakes throwing to the wrong base or missing cutoff man  , a professional doesnt make mistakes , yes he may make an error but mistakes are lack of mental preparations that the game plan doesn't emphasize  ...

In ending , the plan that the FO  , manager and coaches has   , THEY HOLD NO ONE ACCOUNTABLE  and the manager has no strategy  ( if the manager continues to bundle things , the players will too ) ...

The people with the plan  are here for  another season  , if we can't afford to acquire good players because  of payroll  , then we need to take the talent  we have and teach that talent to be a better talent  ...

This hits it I believe.  Rocco needs to be accountable for the function of the on field personnel. Period.  His coaching staff left a lot to be desired, and too many runs into outs!  The Twins hitters  all have the same approach once in the box.  If I were an opponent I would relish the. Hance to face them...so easy to scout.  It made for boring baseball, and even more so when listening on the radio!! Gladden is worthless while Hattibury can't count balls and strikes.

I have said this before, and in my extremely humble opinion it bears repeating.

Let me count the ways a manager affects the day to day game:  he decides the starting pitcher; not only day by day, but the rotation as a whole.  He decides how long he stays in the game and the relief match ups if he takes him out.  He decides who plays that day and who comes off the bench.  He writes the lineup and decides the batting order.  He decides who pinch hits, when, and for whom; or decides not to pinch hit at all.  He decides whether to bring the infield all the way in, bring it half way in, put it at double play depth, or leave it back.  He also decides what shifts to put on, or whether to shift at all.  He decides whether or not to bring the outfield in to cut off a run, or put it back to cut off a potential double.  He decides whether to pitch to someone or go the IBB route..........oh, nuts, I have lost my count, so I will leave the rest to you all to take it from there.  

Bottom line is he has an impact on virtually every at bat in the game, whether it be in the field or at the plate.  Of course the players have to play the game, and, in the end, they come through or they don't, but it is the manager's job to put said players in positions where they are the most likely to succeed.  The concept that the manager, no matter what the "research" says, has little impact on day to day games is just bizarre to me.  And as Jane W so aptly pointed out, the decisions he makes each game can affect how he manages the next game, and the next, and the next.........

Rocco manages his statistics as well as anyone else in the game, I guess, and he is a very good clubhouse manager as I have said on this page before.  But between the lines, from the first out to the last, the statistics are only another tool in a manager's arsenal; he still has to have the instincts and the feel for how the game is going.  He has to go with his gut much of the time, and in that realm Rocco is at best, average, at worst mediocre.  I have also said this before here, when you keep the decision makers and let go the underlings who carry out the decisions, the decisions don't change, and maybe it is the decisions that matter more than who carries them out.