Not that I'm against this idea, but if you have the #1 farm system your chances of winning a MiLB championship go up quite a bit.

Not that I'm against this idea, but if you have the #1 farm system your chances of winning a MiLB championship go up quite a bit.

Of course they do, but despite a roster that started with Berrios/Buxton/Sano, none of them were there at the end.

Nice article. Talent helps, but remember some managers cannot manage talent. They won't let the talent excel at their strengths, and try and make it fit the managers vision/agenda. The single biggest thing a manager can do to ensure success is put his players in positions they can succeed in. I have nothing against Molitor, I just had hoped Dougie would have came in and injected some energy and excitement into a staid and stale baseball operation. It will be a window into Molitors self confidence if he allows his heir apparent to sit next to him in the dugout. Gardy certainly didn't want that.

Nice article. Talent helps, but remember some managers cannot manage talent. They won't let the talent excel at their strengths, and try and make it fit the managers vision/agenda. The single biggest thing a manager can do to ensure success is put his players in positions they can succeed in. I have nothing against Molitor, I just had hoped Dougie would have came in and injected some energy and excitement into a staid and stale baseball operation. It will be a window into Molitors self confidence if he allows his heir apparent to sit next to him in the dugout. Gardy certainly didn't want that.

Thanks! I think the only difference between Molitor and Gardy's situation is that the former isn't at the end of his line. Sure, the Twins would probably love to have Doug manage the club at some point, but if that happens any time in the next 5 years, Molitor has failed (and they don't want that).

I think bringing Dougie up, they'd be hoping that sitting on a big league bench may get him to stay on the staff long enough to keep him around until the next change is deemed necessary.

Ultimately, I believe he's going to be managing in the big leagues somewhere else. I'm hoping it's not as soon as next year.

When I watch Molitor, I always wonder if he is enjoying himself. There were reports he wasn't sure if managing was for him, and I've wondered if he has resolved those qualms?

I think what will hurt Dougie the most is temperament.

Of course they do, but despite a roster that started with Berrios/Buxton/Sano, none of them were there at the end.

But at the end he had Kepler, ABW, Polanco - it's not like he had no elite prospects.

I think the main issue I have with this is not what you're saying (Dougie seems like a fine manager and the Twins should worry about losing him if Molitor blocks his way) but the proof you use. I'm not so sure that win loss record means anything for ML managers, let alone minor league managers with the constant roster changes and the focus on development over winning (e.g. Tim Hudson wan't allowed to throw his ML-ready splitter in the minors because they wanted him to work on his change up - it's not about winning really). A better argument for Dougie would center around players he had got better under him, that elite players moved up quickly and struggling prospects improved their trade and their stock.  Or that he is maximizing bullpen performance with smart moves and has clear strategies for who to play. Wins and losses mean nothing.  We also haven't seen Dougie manage the media, a big part of the ML job.

I also am not sure that the best solution is moving Dougie to the majors on the staff. If you want to keep other teams from noticing him, keep him in the minors. I can't remember another team raiding another's minor league system for a manager (I'm sure it happens but very rarely) but they go after ML coaches all the time.  Obviously you run the risk of Doug leaving the organization if he feels slighted but barring that, he seems more useful in the minors.  The Twins need to let Dougie know he is next in line and have a clear concept of what Molitor's long term outlook is.

I'm not sure it matters whether he's in the majors or not either, but not for the reason of hiding him. If another team offers him a managerial spot at the big league level, and he's ready, he's going to leave. He may resurface with the Twins at some point, but he's had success in each of his three seasons, at that should be expected to continue.

Any chance he gets brought into the fold as a base coach?

Any chance he gets brought into the fold as a base coach?

I'd say less likely than some sort of dugout/bench coach, but it's probably going to need to be something.

Maybe the best thing is for him to go manage elsewhere. If he winds up with the right kind of team (*cough Marlins cough Rays*) he could be looking for a new job right around the time Molitor is deciding to retire.

It's a crap shoot no matter what, but it's clear Doug wants a big-league job and other teams will know it. Maybe it's less important that the first one is here.