Article: Diamond In The Dugout: Molitor Gets It

[Ted Schwerzler]

On Saturday night, the Minnesota Twins were throttling the New York Yankees. Thanks to a two-run home run in the first inning from Aaron Hicks, the home team was cruising. The bases were loaded and Hicks was up again. Then it happened, and Paul Molitor displayed exactly why he may be the front-runner for manager of the year.In an era with reviews and replays, managerial ejections have become somewhat a thing of the past. Ron Gardenhire tallied over 70 of them in his career as the Twins skipper, and while Molitor doesn't follow in those same footsteps, he absolutely gets what it means to be on the bench.

 

As Aaron Hicks check-swung through a strike three with the bases loaded, Molitor absolutely lost it, and he should have. Hicks may or may not have gone (being at the game it was hard to tell, but replays apparently indicated he broke the plane), but that wasn't the issue. Instead of checking with his crew chief and third base help (Hicks was batting left-handed), plate umpire Jeff Nelson made the call on his own and neglected to consult Laz Diaz at third.

 

In defending his player, and his team, Molitor made sure to have Nelson know exactly how and why he screwed up. there was no hat throwing or dirt kicking, but you can bet that Molitor conveyed his point prior to being given the heave-ho. In a season in which so much has been made about the leadership and dugout presence of veterans like Torii Hunter, it is in Molitor that the biggest difference may lie.

 

Minnesota has no doubt exceeded expectations this season and in large part it's due to Molitor's influence. In a sport that is generally criticized for the influence (or lack thereof) that a manager has, Molitor has redefined the expectations of Twins fans. Whether it's being willing to try something new and bat his pitcher eighth, or shuffle the lineup, or give Glen Perkins a four-out save, or have a short leash with failed expectations, Molitor has been a breath of fresh air.

 

Going forward, there's no doubt that if the Twins are going to make the playoffs, it will be in large part due to the leadership and stability that Molitor has provided the home nine. He's been a calming force when needed, and as witnessed on Saturday night, not afraid to stand up for his team when the situation demands it.

Looking around the big leagues, it's a relatively easy case to suggest that Molitor has gotten more out of less than any other skipper in the big leagues. He's gotten a team to buy in and in doing so has Minnesota in a position to make their first return to the playoffs since 2010. With an organization chocked full of youth and budding talent, there's probably no one more capable than the man at the helm.

Terry Ryan absolutely got the decision right this offseason, and Molitor has proven that every step of the way. Whether Aaron Hicks needs defending or chiding, you can bet Paul Molitor is the man to do so, and it will come at the proper time.

 

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[mickeymental]

interesting but i'm curious: did you miss the spicy twins daily debate on this exact topic?

[DaveW]

Molitor has done some good things this year, getting tossed in that situation was not one of them.

[jun]

I am really not sure if the Twins could make the playoff this year. The more games they play in the second half, the less likely it seems. Getting blown out more and more often. The Twins simply have no pitching and consistent hitting to dance with the wolves.

[jimbo92107]

Before the season I thought Paul Molitor was too introverted to become a good manager. Boy, was I wrong. He's not introverted, he's just totally unflappable. He's almost like a baseball version of Bud Grant. Not quite as stoic, but much less volatile than Gardenhire, more analytical in his approach. And innovative, something few people gave Grant credit for. Molitor is willing to try new things.

 

One thing's for sure, the players know he's on their side. Some people criticized him for stepping up to defend Aaron Hicks on that check swing, but you can bet Aaron Hicks knows who's got his back now, and that will bring the whole team closer together.

[spinowner]

Tom Kelly understood how to manage a game as well or better than just about any manager ever. My perception is that his biggest shortcoming was his sometimes standoffish personality because it made it hard for him to relate to some players with the result being that he may not have gotten the most out of them. Molitor seems to have close to the understanding of the game as Kelly had but I'd guess he's much better at managing the clubhouse. If he stays in the dugout for a few more years I think his game management skills will do nothing but improve, and I agree that he seems much more willing to incorporate new approaches (defensive shifts, for example) than Kelly would have.

[Winston Smith]

Once Nelson called it a strike there is no appeal, read the rule book.

[HitInAPinch]

 

I am really not sure if the Twins could make the playoff this year. The more games they play in the second half, the less likely it seems. Getting blown out more and more often. The Twins simply have no pitching and consistent hitting to dance with the wolves.

I don't believe the Twins will make the playoffs this year.  I believe what we saw in the first half was, sort of, a euphoria over a clean break from [ almost ] the entire coaching staff that lead them to 4 90 loss seasons.  I mean, who wouldn't be excited by that??

[HitInAPinch]

 

 

Before the season I thought Paul Molitor was too introverted to become a good manager. Boy, was I wrong. He's not introverted, he's just totally unflappable. He's almost like a baseball version of Bud Grant. Not quite as stoic, but much less volatile than Gardenhire, more analytical in his approach. And innovative, something few people gave Grant credit for. Molitor is willing to try new things.

 

One thing's for sure, the players know he's on their side. Some people criticized him for stepping up to defend Aaron Hicks on that check swing, but you can bet Aaron Hicks knows who's got his back now, and that will bring the whole team closer together.

Hicks' BA is now up to .278, Rosario back up to .288.  This is the kind of stuff that happens when the big guy who makes the decisions on who gets to play has your back.

[DaveW]

Hicks' BA is now up to .278, Rosario back up to .288. This is the kind of stuff that happens when the big guy who makes the decisions on who gets to play has your back.

or maybe they are just good talented ball players?

 

Molly hasn't really had Hicks back TBH, he just was the last one standing and took advantage thankfully.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I give Molitor a lot of credit for firing up this team, making a lot of smart analytical decisions, and stewarding the Twins to a winning record at the end of July.

 

I also give Molitor a lot of non-credit for sticking with Danny Santana for far too long, using the bullpen in nonsensical ways at times, and not pressing Ryan to get him new players on the roster.

[USMCTwin]

 

I give Molitor a lot of credit for firing up this team, making a lot of smart analytical decisions, and stewarding the Twins to a winning record at the end of July.

 

I also give Molitor a lot of non-credit for sticking with Danny Santana for far too long, using the bullpen in nonsensical ways at times, and not pressing Ryan to get him new players on the roster.

 

I agree, but I think/hope a lot of the non-credit decisions will change as he spends more time on the job and gets used to being a manager.

[Shane Wahl]

I do not get, at all, the love for managers who get tossed. It's almost always completely stupid. There are maybe 2 or 3 instances in any season that could warrant the LEADER of the team getting tossed from a game. This was nowhere near one of them.

[HitInAPinch]

 

or maybe they are just good talented ball players?

Molly hasn't really had Hicks back TBH, he just was the last one standing and took advantage thankfully.

I'll dispute that, somewhat.  This is Hicks 3rd try at the MLB and it didn't start off all that well.  If memory servers, Rosario had a pretty good slump, too.  Many TD'ers were screaming for them to be sent down.  Molitor was calm and said they just needed to tune some things. 

 

Talent is one thing.  Being able to perform in front of a big stage, is another thing.  That's where managers and coaches come in. 

[Loosey]

His argument actually may have saved the Twins a strike call later on.  A few innings later (I can't remember who was batting) Nelson was about to ring someone up, but then deferred to the base umpire who called the check swing a ball.  So, even though his original argument did nothing to help Hicks it did help later on.

 

Also, Nelson almost seemed like he wanted to boot Molitor once he questioned why he didn't ask for help.

[clone52]

 

Once Nelson called it a strike there is no appeal, read the rule book.

 

Molitor wasn't looking for the play to be overturned.  He was saying that the ump should have asked the 3rd base up before calling it a strike.  Later in the game, the ump nearly rung up Sano, but before he did, asked for help from the 1st base ump who correctly said it was a check swing and Sano got a walk.  They still lost, but had Molitor not argued the first call, Sano would have been called out later in the game.

[REPETE]

 

I do not get, at all, the love for managers who get tossed. It's almost always completely stupid. There are maybe 2 or 3 instances in any season that could warrant the LEADER of the team getting tossed from a game. This was nowhere near one of them.

I couldn't agree more.  Gardy got tossed FAR too often, and was usually on the wrong side of every argument.  However, this case seemed to be different, as I believe Molitor was attempting to make the point the Home Plate Ump should NOT make that call unless it's 100% obvious.

Also, he was apparently told by the ump that he couldn't hear him three times, basically making Moli come out of the dugout, which is the automatic toss.  To me, it's just another example of umpires abusing power, which drives me insane.  These guys should NOT be part of the show.  The best umpires are the ones you never hear of. 

[ashbury]

My perception is that his biggest shortcoming was his sometimes standoffish personality because it made it hard for him to relate to some players with the result being that he may not have gotten the most out of them.

Come to Spring Training sometime, if you haven't. Watching Kelly work with the young'uns is one of the highlights, either during drills or when he's managing one of the minor league games. (Jeff Smith comes to mind as being more "all business" around his charges.) Kelly might be a bit reserved in matters relating to the general public, but he's a different guy when in his element. That's probably true of a lot of us.

[Willihammer]

re: Molitor ejection

There's also the possibility, maybe a small one, that Hicks goes all Hunter and gets himself tossed. Then you're out a CF instead of a manager (or both a CF and a manager).

 

It was a big spot and a critical call and one Molitor should have been all over IMO.

Edited July 29, 2015 by Willihammer

[TheLeviathan]

Plus, unlike Gardy, I don't think Molitor planned to get tossed. Gardy would frequently do exactly that and I've seen nothing like that from Molitor.

[Mike Sixel]

Is this a Molly thread, or just a Molly ejection thread......'cause his use of May and Graham is criminal. And if he called for Dozier to bunt today.......ugh.

[DaveW]

3-3 game, 5th inning, wind blowing out, runner on 2nd, 0 outs, Dozier your team MVP at the plate, Liriano had given up 8 hits so far, including a double earlier to Dozier that missed being a HR by two inches.

 

And you call for a bunt? What exactly is that "getting"?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Dozier bunted the first two strikes! The team's home run leader!