The Widening Search For a New Twins Manager

Does the continually deepining pool of managerial candidates indicate that the Twins are not or have not been wowed by any of the guys who have already interviewed? Or are the Twins simply trying to do their due dilligence?

Should we imply that the Twins internal candidates, especially Molitor or Doggie Fresh are no longer the leaders in the club house?

Go read the Pioneer Press article on this. Ryan says something about getting a perspective on your club from the outside. He might be gathering such useful information that he might interview the bench or 3b coach from every team. He said the candidates come well prepared to discuss the Twins. If a manager has sucess with the Twins they can look forward to a Gardy type paycheck.  Of course they are going to give a good effort.

Its not like this team has lots of experience hiring major league managers.  They need to take their time and do it right.  Maybe this search can go into next year and they can bring back Gardenhire on an interim basis.

Hope not, Brandon. I'm ready for everyone calling for a different guy's head.

 

and he (Alomar) would satisfy calls for a Latin infusion on the Twins' coaching staff.

This seems a bit condescending.  He is a guy born into baseball had a 19 year career and has been a coach at the big league level for 5 years.  He is way more qualified then a guy like Moliter who has been on again off again

The search for a manager dragging out as it is...... leaves me feeling that Terry Ryan is certainly not the man for the job - the job of selecting a new manager.   It feels like he has a total lack of vision for the task at hand, and is treading water.  By keeping Gardenhire when Buck Showalter and Terry Francona became available left the Twins out of the game when veteran managers with impressive track records were available, and facing the changing game, Terry Ryan is flailing in an undertow.  Still, I am pleased that at least it will not be Ron Gardenhire.

Hiring a new manager is not a simple and quick process - much more than going to Best Buy for the new latest phone.  Several factors come into play. 

 

1.)  The SEARCH Phase.  Most companies of any size hire a search agency to identify potential candidates to target.  I don't know for sure, but I would guess the MLB assists the clubs in that regard.  With all the coaches and managers, in and out of baseball, where do you start?  That's where that assistance comes in to play.   

1a.)  Within the search process, an agency or the organization itself will develop a criteria of the type of manager they would desire.  It might identify experience as a manager, for example, or experience with different clubs or in different positions.  There are usually several characteristics that are identified - sometimes are prioritized.

2.)  DUE DILIGENCE Phase.  This is where resumes are evaluated, backgrounds are checked, and individuals are identified as worthy (acceptable) candidates for the organization. 

3.)  The INTERVIEW Phase.  This is the phase the Twins are in now.  Their list of candidates has been established and now they are being interviewed.  Some will garner additional contacts, some won't.  The problem the Twins may have had is that a candidate was still in post-season play

4.)  The SELECTION Phase.  Usually from the list of interviews, candidates are discussed and ranked to preference, with their strengths and weaknesses.  If there is not an individual that rises to the top, they may conduct additional interviews of the finalists or start the process over until one is selected.

 

To do a proper and effective job, these steps cannot be rushed.  This is an important hire and you need to take care in doing it right.  Patience is important and usually is rewarded.

So both teams that hired managers did it wrong?

Pretty much all teams do it wrong as with very few exceptions, the person ends up fired.

I did not intend to derail this thread or insult the intelligence of many of you. But my response was to H2Oface's contention that the process is dragging on. It sounded as though there was a lack of understanding how the process works. In the end Old Nurse probably has it right.

You don't insult peoples' intelligence. Political ads insult peoples' intelligence.

Charlie in the Sunday St. Paul paper said Jake Mauer is now being interviewed, too.

It doesn't hurt to get a perspective on what your club is like from those outside the organization.

Any candidate could also be considered for the second in command coaching position, too.

You do need to interview a variety of people. Also, if it truly looked like the Twins weren't open to an outsider, it would quickly spread that it isn't worth your time to interview.

There is a deadline of sorts, hopefully by the end of the World Series. I think there might be a blackout on transactions and manager hiring while the series is on, to not take away from that spotlight. So expect an announcement once the series ends.

You want the manager on board heading into winter meetings and such. You probably want the manager on board sooner rather than later so you can sort out your minor league assignments, like who could work with the new manager on the major league level. That is part of the interview process for Glynn, Mauer and Mientkiewicz, at least. Would they consider being a major league coach.

I see the Twins strongly wanting to keep Bruno, Vavra, Steinbach in the organization, and I'm sure Cuellar is someone they don't want getting away, either.

Vision.  The vision to have a plan before you fire someone.  All year (and years before) it has been apparent that Gardenhire (and Ryan) need replaced. I don't need a synopsis of what someone feels is a step by step plan, or the assumption that I don't understand how it can be done, but I welcome that and am happy to read it.  I just express my personal feelings on the matter.  That feeling is that there was no plan or vision developed throughout the year(s) to get the job done expeditiously when one finally had the guts to do what was clearly needed.  Other than interviewing and making the selection, all other steps could have been done throughout the year, and would have been prudent.

A team doesn't need to hire a manager for 10 years.  It could be a transition manager for 2 years.  I am sure even a transition manager can probably come in at between 90 and 100 loses, and might even do better.

I'm not surprised Gardy isn't going to be a manager in 2015. I think he'll take a one year break and then attempt to land a coaching spot in 2016.

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.