Article: The Widening Search For a New Twins Manager

[Steven Buhr]

If he had named a new manager quickly after dismissing Gardenhire, this place would have been filled with, "he didn't even take the time to conduct a thorough search," comments. Now, given a lengthy, broad search, the criticism is that he's dragging out the process and wasn't prepared before letting the last guy go.

 

Honestly, sometimes I really don't care that the Twins act as though they don't give a damn what the fans think, since everything they do is going to be criticized anyway. Not saying I feel sorry for the Twins, though. They dug this hole by allowing the losing to continue for 4 years and that will breed excessive criticism of everything they do and don't do.

 

I have no idea who they'll hire, at this point. I'm far more certain, however, that the loudest reaction will be that it was the wrong choice, regardless of who gets the gig.

[jokin]

If he had named a new manager quickly after dismissing Gardenhire, this place would have been filled with, "he didn't even take the time to conduct a thorough search," comments. Now, given a lengthy, broad search, the criticism is that he's dragging out the process and wasn't prepared before letting the last guy go.

 

Honestly, sometimes I really don't care that the Twins act as though they don't give a damn what the fans think, since everything they do is going to be criticized anyway. Not saying I feel sorry for the Twins, though. They dug this hole by allowing the losing to continue for 4 years and that will breed excessive criticism of everything they do and don't do.

 

I have no idea who they'll hire, at this point. I'm far more certain, however, that the loudest reaction will be that it was the wrong choice, regardless of who gets the gig.

 

After reading this comment, I'm not sure which "side" in the current managerial-successor debate is the more cynical of the two at this key turning-point in Twins history.  By contrast, I think there's a large contingent of Twins devotees who, like me, are pleased that our last-offseason prediction of Molitor as- the "inevitable-manager-in-waiting" and faithful-and-oh-so-safe-pick keeper of the "Twins Way" Flame- was not quickly whisked into fruition on the heels of Gardy's dismissal.  

 

While there's always going to be a fair share of grousing and second-guessing, I think I speak for many when I write that I appreciate Ryan's apparent recognition that a more public and thorough talent-hunt is exactly what this team needs-  both as a palate-cleanser for the last 4 futile years, and for the apparent new-found self-awareness that some serious corporate soul-searching is in order.  Even if the choice ends up being Molitor, the more candidates that are interviewed and more thought put into the process, the higher the yield on more fact-finding and self-due-diligence on making positive and necessary change from the current stale culture.

[jokin]

I like that they are being methodical about this, taking there time to research and discuss the job with a lot of candidates and get both inside and outside perspectives on the Twins major league roster. Seems to me they are doing a good job of listening to people and not just conducting interviews with people that are telling them what they want to hear, but a little bit of what they need to hear and some reflection and perspective at least on what can be done to win more games. The longer scope and breadth of this interview process gives me hope that TR and his staff are doing a thorough and extensive background of finalist candidates and that they are trying to make sure that this important hire is not just an emotional one but one that will have some substance behind it, and ultimately be the right choice to lead the Minnesota Twins back to the playoffs.

 

As we know Terry Ryan likes to keep things close to the vest we will not likely get a lot of detail on the interview process, I like a lot of other Twins fas just hope he finds the right guy to motivate the players to put a stop to all of this losing. Just because there has been four years of losing should not paint the 2015 Twins in to a corner of automatically being a bad team, or that the franchise will continue to struggle. Hopefully the new manager and coaching staff can breath some new enthusiasm in to the 2015 Twins team and that they will turn the corner sooner rather than later. That and that management will take the most talented team North, if the guys can help us win and even if they are young and there are service time concerns if the players can help the Twins win than they need to be in Minnesota.

 

I give the Twins credit they realize they have not done enough winning and put a good product on the field the last couple of years, at least they know enough that change finally had to be done. Like another poster said the Twins will likely get criticized at the announcement of the new managers press conference, that seems to be a popular thing to do these days. I look forward to the day when we can all complain less and get excited about the team winning and playing good baseball again.

 

I was writing as you posted, I echo some of your thoughts.

Edited October 20, 2014 by jokin

[JB_Iowa]

Mike Berardino ‏@MikeBerardino  · 3h3 hours ago 
Major announcements may be made on World Series off days (Thursday, next Monday), but MLB must grant special permission. #MNTwins

 

 

Darren Wolfson ‏@DarrenWolfson  · 9m9 minutes ago 
Source: Twins GM Terry Ryan will meet with Paul Molitor again tomorrow. Word is owner Jim Pohlad will not be there. #mntwins

 

 

 

Feel free to interpret.

[chopper0080]

Meh, MLB managers are overrated.  All they really need to do is get the players all going in the same direction.  The defensive shifts, bullpen management, and lineup setting are all kinda overblown.  You obviously have to have a high baseball accumen, but in terms of affecting the game, baseball managers do very little.  It is an execution based sport which does not allow for many unique systems or schemes which result in a competitive advantage.

 

Make sure you interview all the candidates, and pick the one who you believe can best motivate your team thru the grind that is the baseball season.