Article: How "Different" Is Paul Molitor?

[Nick Nelson]

In many ways, Paul Molitor is an easy sell as the next manager of the Minnesota Twins. He is a Hall of Famer who has been involved in pro baseball for nearly four decades. His knowledge of the game is lauded by individuals around the league. He is a St. Paul native with plenty of local ties.

 

That last part might actually be the team's biggest hurdle in trying to generate excitement around Molitor, if he is the ultimate choice. But it seems like the Twins are already trying to get out in front of that potentially negative reaction.Whether you're reading the tea leaves or lending credence to a report from KFAN's Paul Lambert (aka Meatsauce), who has been conspicuously accurate with his breaking news tidbits pertaining to the Twins, Molitor's chances of landing the job are looking good.

 

And while his résumé is exemplary, many fans who have grown tired of the insularity and continuity that permeate the Twins organization may have a hard time seeing his hiring as a real changing of the guard. After all, Molitor has been an instructor and coach in this system for the past nine years, and in 2014 he was a member of Gardenhire's staff, working closely with the regime that is now being cleared out.

 

But for what it's worth, Twins officials have always been noticeably up-front about characterizing Molitor as a very different type of of baseball mind.

 

When he chatted with us a year ago for the previous Offseason Handbook (which you can now download for free here, if you're interested), Terry Ryan spoke about the recent decision to add Molitor as a seventh coach on the staff:

 

"He's a very smart guy. He looks at the game different than a lot of people. He and Tom Kelly watch games different than I do. I've always respected that."

 

This is a viewpoint that the general manager has expressed frequently regarding Molitor, and it's a sentiment that doesn't stop with Ryan. During an appearance on SiriusXM radio on Thursday, Ron Gardenhire shared similar thoughts:

 

“If Paulie ends up getting this manager’s job, he’s not going to be your traditional manager,” Gardenhire said. “He can go out there and he’ll try things, which is really entertaining because we talked about it all the time. He’s into a lot of different things on finding different ways to beat you, just like he did as a player.

 

“It’s not going to be straight-up baseball. He’ll work in a lot of things up there as far as baserunning and all those things. I don’t think there’s anybody better in that as far as figuring things out, watching pitchers and so forth. He brings a lot to the table. I do know that about Paulie.”

 

In the same article where he relayed these quotes from the radio interview, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press also dropped this nugget: "Molitor’s addition to the staff caused Gardenhire to chafe at times behind the scenes, especially early on, considering their shared expertise when it comes to infield play."

 

Sure, this friction may have been partially attributable to the belief that Molitor was brought onto the staff to audition as Gardy's successor. But when you put it all together, it also seems fair to surmise that the two have some fundamental differences of opinion on certain aspects of strategy and running a team.

 

Since the idea in parting with Gardenhire is to bring in a fresh perspective and some different managerial philosophies, isn't that exactly what you're looking for?

 

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[Steven Buhr]

I think you're wasting your breath, Nick. For some people, anyone who can accurately spell "Twins" would be considered too much of an insider and should not be considered for the manager position.

[Senior Softball Guy]

There seems to be a cadre of Twins fans who are "Twins Oganization Phobic". I would be totally comfortable with Paul, Dougie, or Gene Glynn. Also, the outside names sound intriging. With the talent this system has, whoever gets the job will look like a genious.  Talent always rules! Can you say Ned Yost?

[Shane Wahl]

I have come around to Molitor over Dougie, and I think the Twins are headed that way. Promoting Dougie to AA might be enough for him to accept staying in the org for a couple years as a backup plan if Molitor doesn't work out for 2 years. I really like the idea that Molitor is really an outsider on the inside.

[zchrz]

I will be happy with any of the 3 finalists but Molitor is the 3rd on that list for me.  He has all the playing achievments and stat head inclinations that are appealing and would certainly be a welcome change from the way Gardy ran things.  But he doesn't strike me as someone who is going to be a very good players manager or a very long term solution.

 

I am still holding out hope for Mientkiewicz, I think he is going to be a very good manager and probably not available for hire the next time the Twins are in the market.

[Kwak]

I'm thinking that not hiring a manager to serve 10+ years is a good thing.  Molitor's age and background strongly imply that he wouldn't be around 10 years fom now in any circumstance.  If breaking the "job for life" system is a consequence of selecting Molitor--I'm for that.  Fresh is good:  A fresh set of eyes, opinions, evaluations, philosophies, strategies,etc., keeps everyone on their toes.

[TheLeviathan]

Good article, further reinforces where I stand as Molitor being the best choice.

[USAFChief]

I think you're wasting your breath, Nick. For some people, anyone who can accurately spell "Twins" would be considered too much of an insider and should not be considered for the manager position.

 

Please try not to disparage the honestly held opinions of other posters in order to make your opinion seem more worthy.

[Craig Arko]

I'm guessing if you gene-sequenced Molitor and Gardy they'd be pretty much the same guy. Of course, if you gene-sequenced Chief and I, we'd also be pretty much the same guy.

 

Having said that, I bet all four of us would manage the Twins differently. And that we all would most likely have lost 90+ games the last four years, all other things being equal.

[USAFChief]

It seems pretty clear Gardy knew why Molitor was added to his staff, and that certainly adds some validity to the idea Ryan knew who he was going to hire a year ago.

[Old Twins Cap]

Am I the only one who recalls some lurid revelations about Molitor's off-field life?  Haven't seen anything about that in these last months, but at the time it came out, I thought it was pretty damning and pretty much a disqualifier.  But, maybe I'm wrong.  The more tabloidy stuff all runs together at a certain point.

[brvama]

I think you're wasting your breath, Nick. For some people, anyone who can accurately spell "Twins" would be considered too much of an insider and should not be considered for the manager position.

Thanks SD Buhr.  That was the best chuckle I've had in a month.  

[gunnarthor]

I'm thinking that not hiring a manager to serve 10+ years is a good thing.  Molitor's age and background strongly imply that he wouldn't be around 10 years fom now in any circumstance.  If breaking the "job for life" system is a consequence of selecting Molitor--I'm for that.  Fresh is good:  A fresh set of eyes, opinions, evaluations, philosophies, strategies,etc., keeps everyone on their toes.

A lot of very good managers have stayed at one place for over 10 years with great results - La Russa, Cox, Torre all just went into the HOF.  Weaver. Sparky.  Whitey. Both TK and Gardy had good runs. Sciocia in LA. Bochy is on his 8th year in SF and Baker had a good 10 year run prior to that.  

 

Longterm stability in the manager isn't a bad thing.  That said, I think Molitor gets the job, hangs around for a few years and then it goes to Dougie Baseball.

[Seth Stohs]

Am I the only one who recalls some lurid revelations about Molitor's off-field life?  Haven't seen anything about that in these last months, but at the time it came out, I thought it was pretty damning and pretty much a disqualifier.  But, maybe I'm wrong.  The more tabloidy stuff all runs together at a certain point.

 

It came up a day or two ago in another thread. I don't think any of that would be a disqualifier. His drug usage was 30-35 years ago. his family stuff is personal and seems to be managed. That's not to say that it's not part of Terry Ryan's decision-making, but it shouldn't be a disqualifier.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm thinking that not hiring a manager to serve 10+ years is a good thing.  Molitor's age and background strongly imply that he wouldn't be around 10 years fom now in any circumstance.  If breaking the "job for life" system is a consequence of selecting Molitor--I'm for that.  Fresh is good:  A fresh set of eyes, opinions, evaluations, philosophies, strategies,etc., keeps everyone on their toes.

 

I agree with this. I think he'd be a good 2-4 year guy. Maybe Mientkiewicz goes to AA in 2015 and becomes a bench coach in 2016 and takes over as manager in 2017-2018. Might be a nice progression. 

[gunnarthor]

Am I the only one who recalls some lurid revelations about Molitor's off-field life?  Haven't seen anything about that in these last months, but at the time it came out, I thought it was pretty damning and pretty much a disqualifier.  But, maybe I'm wrong.  The more tabloidy stuff all runs together at a certain point.

La Russa drank and drove and had it covered up.  Cox beat up his wife.  Weaver was an ****** of the highest order.  Billy Martin was worse.  Most managers have been unfaithful to their wives. Molitor's off the field stuff doesn't matter to me at all so long as it doesn't affect his on the field managing.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Am I the only one who recalls some lurid revelations about Molitor's off-field life?  Haven't seen anything about that in these last months, but at the time it came out, I thought it was pretty damning and pretty much a disqualifier.  But, maybe I'm wrong.  The more tabloidy stuff all runs together at a certain point.

You are not the only one. I brought this up on another thread. Molitar was in trouble in the 1980s for cocaine use. He also had an illegitimate kid and went thru a lurid divorce. The cocaine for me is a disqualification--along with the rumors of steroids.

[Brock Beauchamp]

You are not the only one. I brought this up on another thread. Molitar was in trouble in the 1980s for cocaine use. He also had an illegitimate kid and went thru a lurid divorce. The cocaine for me is a disqualification--along with the rumors of steroids.

Molitor has kept his nose clean for at least a decade.

 

At some point, we need to stop holding things against people, particularly things that only involved their private life. It doesn't mean we need to forget those things happened but after a time, a guy deserves to be judged by his recent behavior and not bad behavior three decades old.

[nicksaviking]

You are not the only one. I brought this up on another thread. Molitar was in trouble in the 1980s for cocaine use. He also had an illegitimate kid and went thru a lurid divorce. The cocaine for me is a disqualification--along with the rumors of steroids.

 

You need to start adding links if you're going to keep implying Molitor used steroids  A Google search finds me nothing other than message boards with people guessing who Jose Canseco was talking about when he said a current HOFer was a steroid user (duh, teammate Ricky Henderson).  Molitor is a HUGE oppnenet of A-Rod getting into the HOF for what it's worth.

 

My horse in this race is Lovullo, but I could care less about Molitor's past.  I want a guy who knows how to manage a baseball team, not a boy scout troop.  I don't think you understand how many men would be disqualified from managing a baseball team had cocaine use in the 70's and 80's been a determining factor. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 I want a guy who knows how to manage a baseball team, not a boy scout troop.  I don't think you understand how many men would be disqualified from managing a baseball team had cocaine use in the 70's and 80's been a determining factor. 

Not to mention the fact that it's really none of our business, doubly so because Molitor has owned his substance abuse and moved on from it. It's not as if the guy got drunk, hopped in his car, and killed a family.

[nicksaviking]

Not to mention the fact that it's really none of our business, doubly so because Molitor has owned his substance abuse and moved on from it. It's not as if the guy got drunk, hopped in his car, and killed a family.

 

Drugs are bad, we get it.  We didn't always get it though.  People either don't remember or weren't around, but Cocaine abuse in the 1980's was more common than alcohol abuse. 

http://www.medscreensinc.com/usdrugtrends/

 

People didn't think or know that it was highly addictive and it was offered at social events of every class of people, particularly the young and wealthy.

 

The message got out, people undestood the addiction and the dangers (aided by deaths of celebrities like Jon Belushi and Len Bias) and it's usage plummeted in only about a half decade.

Edited October 24, 2014 by nicksaviking

[Mike Sixel]

I don't think we know how different any of these guys are, really. I also don't know he needs to be opposite of Gardy, just different in a few ways, I think.

[TNTwinsFan]

Cocain...nose clean...bwwwwaaaaahhhhaaaaahhaaa

[Trov]

I would be okay with Molitor, but still think Doug would be the better choice.  The only reason why I think that he has worked day to day with many of the new top guys over the last couple of years and knows them better than anyone.  Also, he will be a blast to watch, when he fights the other manager, or will find that rights spot to sit on the floor of the dugout because it is lucky. 

 

If Molitor does get it over Doug I hope they bring Doug in to be a bench coach or base coach for the team.  I think Molitor will be a nice change.  From what I have heard it was him who started to get the 1980's style manager of Gardy to wake up and learn it was 2014.  I think Molitor will use all the new stats and be much more of a Joe Madden type manager who can get the most out of players and not just follow the old rules of baseball, like always need opposite handed hitters for best match ups. 

 

I think Molitor will get the job though, but I will expect much more platooning and a lot more running as well. 

[dxpavelka]

I don't care if they hire from outside the organization or inside the organization.  I would not have cared if they had been the first team to fill their managerial opening and I won't care if they are the last.  The only thing I care about is that the choice they make is the right one as validated by sustained success on the field.  If the choice is Molitor, I'm OK with that.  But if it is Molitor, please don't rationalize the choice with any statements that includes the phrase "He's a Hall of Famer."  The entire list guys who have won a World Series ring as a manager AFTER being enshrined in Cooperstown as a player includes-NOBODY.  It's never been done.  So please don't use it as a selling point.

[Paul Pleiss]

He's a Paul. I'm a Paul. Hire him, Hire me. I don't care, just hire somebody already! jeesh!

[Rosterman]

The Twins don't want to hire a manager for just a season or two, yet they might, and that might be the reason to have Molitor.

 

Almost like looking at the major league roster, the Twins don't have a lot of immediate spur-of-the-moment contingencies for replacements is something happens to someone. They tend to play safe grooming people for jobs. That is one reason they fill their minor league rosters with free agents, who can step into the majors if the call came, instead of pushing forward a prospect, more often than not.

 

Who would the Twins bring in if they needed a new president. Would they pay $35 million to bring in someone from outside? Are they totally grooming Anthony to be the next GM, or is Krivinsky the man to go to for short-term? If they bring in someone from outside, what happens to the field staff.

 

I found it interesting that Ryan wants a say in coaches. How do you hire a coach? Which ones are the msot valuable to be on the same track as the manager? Molitor was a coach under Gardy, but he was an add-on to offer a different perspective than the majority of the other guys, some just doing their jobs like Cuellar, Steinbach, holdovers Ullger and Vavra) and some bring new insight, Bruno.

 

Would I want to be Moltitor and told we want Mienkiewicz up, kinda a manager in training, as it seems you may not want this job for a decade? No more so than hiring Dougie and having Jake Mauer on staff as a manager in training. 

 

Both Molitor, and especially Mientkiewicz, have worked with more than enough players, even had passing professional relationships with many, that they should be able to cull together a wonderful team...an extension of themselves, not just an extension of management of the organization.

 

Man, if the Twins went outside and had 6 coaches that have never been a Twins uniform. They would panic. If the team loses again next season, they would never ever do that again (that we suspect). Better to play it safe.

 

But still, what happens if we get a new general manager.

 

What happens if we get a new president.

 

What happens if the Saints outdraw the Twins in real people in the stands?

[Willihammer]

It seems pretty clear Gardy knew why Molitor was added to his staff, and that certainly adds some validity to the idea Ryan knew who he was going to hire a year ago.

Yeah. And if they wind up hiring internally then really, what's the rush? Molitor already knows the system, the major leaguers and personnel.. Any rush would be so an outside hire could field a staff and get acquainted with the Twins, no? The prospect of that must be diminishing by the day.

[Rosterman]

I agree with this. I think he'd be a good 2-4 year guy. Maybe Mientkiewicz goes to AA in 2015 and becomes a bench coach in 2016 and takes over as manager in 2017-2018. Might be a nice progression. 

But you also run the risk of someone else gabbing Dougie for a spot if you wait too long, too. But, we also have the Jake Mauer factor to consider down the road, too.

[Steven Buhr]

I like Mientkiewicz but I don't see him as some kind of "top prospect" as a manager that you worry about "blocking" him and risk losing him to another organization. Not based on 2 Class A seasons in which he had rosters that were flat out loaded.