Souhan: Chat saved Perkins' Twins career

[Parker Hageman]

Glen Perkins’ Twins career has been well-documented as quite the roller-coaster ride. Once a top prospect then an after-thought followed by a transformation to one of the team’s top pitchers and clubhouse pillar.

 

At the Star Tribune, columnist Jim Souhan visited the closer’s up-and-down background. In spring camp, the Twins brought him along to a road game but never used him, angering Perkins. Later, instead of answering a call from the manager, he went fishing. Still, he made the team.

 

Prior to that, Perkins made some waves at the University of Minnesota as well:

 

Perkins had a similar experience with the Gophers. The Stillwater High School product made lousy grades during his first semester in college. The Gophers redshirted him, and he spent his second semester “figuring out how to be a college student.” One day, Gophers pitching coach Todd Oakes called him about a rumor that Perkins wanted to transfer.

 

Perkins said that if he was going to leave, he already would be gone.

 

“I think that was the moment for Todd where he said, ‘OK, he’s committed, he just needs to figure out how to do it.’ I never had any more trouble.”

 

Why so much conflict? “I guess it’s a character flaw of mine,” Perkins said.

 

It is a remarkable 180 that has happened to Perkins’ career and the Twins should be fortunate to have not pulled the trigger on any potential trades.

[stringer bell]

I have to say that I was among those that thought the "whiny baby with less than elite talent" should have been released. I am totally wrong about Perkins. In addition he seems like a good guy and a good teammate. And the cherry on top is that he is a little bit interesting as compared to most of the guys on the roster.

[jharaldson]

I like that perkins is here and that things have turned positive for his situation on this team but this article seems to imply that all the "conflict" issues were on his side and that he is some sort of head case. The Twins were not classy in some of the things they did to him early, specifically calling a minor league rehab assignment a demotion so they could pay him less money on service time.

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/289102-glen-perkins-grievance-is-settled-but-his-future-in-minnesota-is-not

[nicksaviking]

Even if he still thinks he was right about the service time dispute, it's awesome that he acknowledges that he should have reacted better. That's a rare turnabout in today's culture it seems, particularly for a young man, which he still was at the time of his reversal of attitude.

[jharaldson]

Even if he still thinks he was right about the service time dispute, it's awesome that he acknowledges that he should have reacted better.

 

What should he have done differantly? Not filed a grievance and just accepted it?

 

As a result of the grievance, Perkins burned many bridges and now finds himself in the doghouse with a lot of people in the organization.

[JB_Iowa]

So refreshing to read something blunt instead of "media speak". Bravo, Mr. Perkins.

[DaveW]

Kevin Slowey probably should have taken a page out of Glen Perkins playbook if he wanted to stay a major leaguer.

 

Bravo to Glen though for showing some awesome humility, he has been one of my favorite twins now for a couple years, and even though the closer position and saves are a bit over rated IMO, I frankly would love to see him stick around as a twin for life, even if they overpay a bit for "saves"

 

I think this is a positive for the org as well, the Twins come off of "letting bygones be bygones" when a player is open/honest with them. Personally I think the media overblows a lot of this stuff anyways re: conflict, I mean Garza was even seriously considering resigning with Minnesota and Santana looks to be willing to come back as well!

[TheLeviathan]

Even if he still thinks he was right about the service time dispute, it's awesome that he acknowledges that he should have reacted better. That's a rare turnabout in today's culture it seems, particularly for a young man, which he still was at the time of his reversal of attitude.

 

It's a very mature take to be sure. That said, I wish the Twins wouldn't back guys into corners like that. That whole "our way/twins way or the highway" element to the old school style is just such a useless way to manage personnel issues.