You are correct in that there seemed to be some uncertainty last offseason. And Falvey didn't leave until right before spring training which at that the initial direction for the season had been set. They did have some money to spend, they did sign Bell and Caratini and I would have preferred go towards the bullpen.
To me Joe Pohlad was not in charge of baseball operations, he was basically CEO over everything and Falvey was supposed to be leading the baseball operations on a day to day basis and I think he was. Yes he got the rug pulled out from under him on the payroll but I am still not sure he allocated the resources given to him wisely, this offseason being one example.
My concern is Zoll has worked for 10 years under Falvey and it sounds like he has basically been his #2 for at least the last 5 years. There was chatter when Levine left as GM, that he had been kept out of the loop for his final 2 to 3 years and Falvey had been leaning on Zoll.
While Zoll might be his own person, I don't want to take that chance. I feel like he is going to operate like Falvey 2.0 and there have been plenty examples of that this year, To be fair he has done a couple of things that feel different.
I want an experienced baseball executive to lead baseball operations something Zoll has never done. I would hope that they would have a fresh set of eyes and say this is working and this isn't and set a direction for the organization based on their experience.
I have mentioned this before, the Timberwolves did it the right way when they hired Tim Connelly, he is not afraid to make moves to better the team and take some chances, but he also has a plan. That is what I am hoping Tom Pohlad will come to the realization to do and stay out of the way of the professionals,