farmerguychris

I think they were giving Joe the chance to do something - when they saw his efforts were not producing enough money to the bottom line - they went a different direction.

Agreed he was responsible. Problem with that is - he didn't even get to pick the coaches he would be responsible for. Those were people picked by the F.O.

A manager can help develop players. BUT - that responsibility falls primarily to the position coaches in 2025. However, Rocco never got to pick his own position coaches.

You think Rocco is in the bullpen teaching pitchers a new pitch? You think he's in the batting cage, going over film on how to help Julien get out of his slump? Maybe Kelly did 35 years ago - but in today's baseball world - thats what assistant coaches are for. Today - the managers are like the GM of a business. They are ultimately responsible for the efforts of the team, and IMO, get too much credit, and too much blame when things to great or poorly. But it is the assistant and position coaches who are responsible for player development. In Rocco's case - he didn't even get to select who his position coaches were. In fact - I don't even believe the coaches the FO selected were given the ability to coach the way they thought was best for the team. Instead - I really think the FO selected the coaches, and then told them how to coach. Just look at the success of Popkins before and after leaving the Twins. So sure - back in the day, Kelly was out there in his Zubas teaching the fundamentals to the 3rd baseman - I just don't think thats how it works in 2025. The Manager.... manages (what this FO will let him manage). The hitting coaches develop (or don't develop) the hitters, and the pitching coaches develop (or don't develop) the pitchers. If we have poor player development (we do) I believe this is on the FO because they are the ones selecting who develops the players. I feel very confident saying that nothing will change with a new manager - as long as the FO is selecting the position coaches, and possibly telling them how to coach - nothing will change.

Definition of a Scapegoat. Baldelli didn't select the players he had on the roster to put on the field. Baldelli isn't responsible for player development, nor did he select the assistant coaches who were responsible for said development. But facts are - the FO isn't going to fire itself. Additionally, we haven't figured out how to fire the owners yet - the true root of the problem. I sincerely do not believe any manager could have won with this team, and this ownership group any more than Rocco did. I expect he'll be on another team's dugout, or Front Office in 2026.

I think the Pohlads would consider this their absolute dream scenario. Yes.

Based on my opinion of ownership spending as little as possible on anything baseball team related this upcoming off season - I fully expect our closer to be someone like Kody Clemons. Since we can't hit even with a decent payroll, and likely will have a pitching staff with Ober as our ace, I expect we'll be behind by 8 runs frequently - thus Clemons will not only close, but also lead the team in appearances on the mount.

Only if you don't want to win.

I'm pretty sure you shouldn't give this idea to ownership. Can't lose money when you don't have any players either.

Does anybody know if they are actually required to fill all 26 spots on the active roster? I would expect to save a buck they'll try to play with Buxton and a bunch of no-names. This year they sent people down before calling up others to save a buck - next year they might just forget to call people up? I predict a payroll closer to $75M than $100M+

IF (and its a big if that I don't believe will happen) - the Twins even try to compete in 2026 - I'd love to bring Bader back.

I disagree. They certainly have proven their plan - Anything it takes to MAKE MONEY. That's it. Now a plan to improve the team on the field - no such plan because it doesn't matter to them.

I'm glad he's holding the owners accountable. I'm afraid they won't care what he thinks, but I respect that he stood up to say what he's thinking.

I look at someone like Miranda, and I really wonder if the Twins have any psychologists on the team to help players work thru any mental blocks they are having. I doubt any of his physical skills have diminished so quickly as a young man that he can't make things work, so I believe it must be something mental that could hopefully be worked thru if he had access to the proper resources to get him back on track?

I believe most casual fans have a very short memory. People who take the time to follow and post comments on sites like this -less so. With that said - I think there are only 2 ways they can win back the fans. 1 - Sell the team. 2- Prove to us that winning is at least as important as making money. To do that - they are going to need to overspend this coming off season. If they were to extend Ryan, keep Lopez, and sign enough free agents (plus possible trades) to get our payroll back in the 12-16 range of all teams, then maybe we can try to believe the trading of our bullpen wasn't just about saving money. I give both of these options nearly a zero percent chance of happening. Its too late, but they don't even seem to care.

Great question for who we could have gotten back had we been open to eating some salaries.

I think this is exactly who they should call up. Who to send down? I'm not sure since they've been hard to watch since we gave up on the season - but I'm sure they can find someone who won't be part of our future.

I'm not sure either has a long term future with the team. Larnach is easy to predict - I don't expect we'll tender him this off season simply because he's an average player and we have younger people who will possibly also be average for less money. Wallner on the other hand is currently more valuable - both because of his hitting, and his arm in the OF (which is why would be a waste to put at 1st). But - while he's cheap now, when will he start making millions with us? I wouldn't be surprised if they try to trade him while his value is high, and before he gets expensive. If we're trading Varland for future prospects - how is this much different when we have players like Rodriguez, Gonzalez, and Jenkins waiting in the wings?

Sounds great - will he be playing for us for free?

After what ownership pulled the past 2 years - I really doubt we'll ever see post season success again as long as this family owns the team. It feels obvious that winning is 2nd to profits - Period. Hard Stop. In 2023, we finally were on the right path after 20 years. Then, when all conventional thoughts tell us to spend a little more to get over the top - we pull back spending. If that doesn't show where their priorities are - what does? (who believes that $400M in debt was accrued by the Twins instead of other businesses they own?) People point to the 87 and 91 championship teams. Baseball was different back then. In 1987 the Yankees (shocking!) led MLB with a $21.5M payroll. The Twins were 11th (out of 26) at $13M between the Houston and Philly. (I also found it reported we only spent $6M in total team payroll that year - not important I guess to know which is correct for this) Obviously now that individual players make more than the entire team payroll of even the highest spending teams - from the last era we won a championship - things have changed. Until this ownership realizes you have to accept a few million less a year in profits (by spending it on the field) - we will not win. Sure, most of us will show up for games (including myself) - at least a few times a year. Yes, we'll buy our hats, beers and jerseys - because we're more loyal to the Twins than the owners are. To them - its just an investment like RiverRoad Entertainment, PAR Systems, and United Properties. It, to me, feels helpless. I can't quit them, but I see no logical reason to care about them, other than I simply love baseball - and naturally feel the need to root for a favorite team. PS - I'm too old to find a new favorite team. I'll probably just watch them like I always have, but I have to keep my expectations in check, because the Pohlad family has different goals than I do.

I sincerely don't believe the owners would even care if they played in empty stadiums all year long - they're still getting their millions from national tv contacts before the season even begins.

When I see an article such as this - my thoughts go to the possible idea that the Twins found this young hitting coach who they feel had talent. Then, the brought them on-board and wanted him to coach players in a certain style of hitting. That 'Twins Style' conflicted with the style the coach had used in the past to get their attention in the first place. Then when the Twins Style didn't work - the coach was let go. Once in Toronto, the coach was allowed to return to his own style that worked - thus he is successful again?

I think they want to - but the player's union won't let them. Salary floor + salary cap = anyone can win, any given year. Makes it exciting for the fans which leads to a successful league. Somehow they need to get the players to understand that perhaps a cap may lead to a few lower superstar salaries - overall they will get more money in the players pockets by implementing a floor as well.

Far under is my guess.

I'm pretty confident that no matter how much extra they charge us and in turn - pass onto the teams in new tv revenues - none of that will be used (by the Pohlads) to improve the team on the field. They don't care.