Twins Video
Because so many people, on and off the field, contributed to the rise and fall of these 2024 Twins, I wanted to expand the scope of this review beyond just players, grading out the performances of coaches and executives as well. Needless to say, much of this analysis is unscientific and in some cases mainly vibes-based. (For more objective, evidence-based grading of players, check out the hitters and pitchers installments.)
Rocco Baldelli: D
For the most part I felt criticism of Baldelli's decision-making was overblown, often coming in hindsight and misdirected from player failure. But it's hard to let a manager off the hook for getting bitten as many times as he did, while adhering too tightly to stubborn tendencies. Team morale also went into the tank under Baldelli's watch in September, for which he bears some blame. At the same time, he does get a measure of credit for overseeing a great deal of winning up until the bottom fell out.
Derek Falvey: C-
Falvey serves as figurehead for the front office as a whole in this exercise. I'm a little split on how to grade them. On the one hand, they built a team that was capable of being one of the best in the league, and was for a prolonged period. Falvey's pitching pipeline, in particular, paid off nicely with arrivals from David Festa and Zebby Matthews, who threw some decent innings at times. On the other hand, the front office's abject failures in the bullpen, both during the offseason and at the trade deadline, played a pivotal role in kneecapping the team. Given the ownership-imposed payroll constraints Falvey and front office had pressed upon them, I'll land at "below average."
Pete Maki: D
The pitching coach wasn't given much to work with in a season where the front office did nothing to offset their losses in the rotation or bullpen. The solid work from some young starting pitchers, as well as a relief breakthrough from Cole Sands, were among his accomplishments. But overall, Twins pitching was not good, and the offseason acquisitions – who Maki presumably had a role in picking – all flopped. The number of absolute blow-up meltdowns that took place from both starters and relievers doesn't reflect well on coaching or planning.
Joe Pohlad: F
Front man for the most maligned ownership group this side of Oakland. Show up or sell the team.
David Popkins: D
Much like with Maki, you don't have to look too hard to find positives within the work done by Minnesota's hitting instructor group, led by Popkins. This was one of the most potent offenses in the league for a good stretch of the season, ranking third in wRC+ from May through July. But the entire lineup felt into a collective, inescapable slump for the final six weeks and no one on the coaching staff could seem to do a thing to help any of them solve it. The Twins announced on Tuesday that Popkins won't return as hitting coach in 2025.
Dave St. Peter: F
As team president, St. Peter is the head man in charge of the Minnesota Twins brand, and their relationship with their customers. Hard to imagine how the brand could have been mangled worse over the course of the year, from tone-deaf messaging to a monumentally botched TV situation.
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