farmerguychris

As far as the pen goes - I envision him as 'just a guy'. Not sure we don't have someone else already in the system that would fill this same role for less. If we didn't care about payroll- sure sign him. But since money seems to be the only thing that really matters, I expect they'll let him walk.

I think Suzuki would be worth talking to. But - I expect these will be the qualifications Falvey is seeking from his next manager. 1 - Willing to work cheap 2 - Willing to be a 'yes man'. I believe the FO feels they know what is best for the team and expects the on-field group to do what they say - no questions asked. This applies to how the lineup is constructed, and how the position coaches - coach. I think that's about it.

Good article and thanks for putting on paper what many fans don't want to hear. He didn't pick his team- but he did the best he could with who he was handed. I don't believe any living manager could have done any better when it comes to end of season records than Baldelli did.

Do you think our Front Office is telling our coaches how to coach? Example - Popkins. With the Dodgers - Success With the Twins - Failure With the Blue Jays - Success I hope this isn't the case, but I see this F.O. micromanaging so much, I expect they have a certain way they feel the players should be taught to hit - regardless of what the hitting coaches feel. If so, it doesn't appear to be working.

I think there's a reasonable chance the Athletics have a higher payroll next year.

Ownership and the F.O. is lucky there are only 30 of these types of jobs. If there were a 'normal' employer, I expect filling this job would be much more like real life and have trouble even finding applicants that would want to work for them?

Whoever will accept the smallest contract would be my guess. I would like Gardenhire, but thats the old school in me.

The board comprised of 7 people with the last name Pohlad and soon 2 new minority investors.

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.