Twins Add To Coaching Staff

Happy to see Watkins move up to the big club!

Great choices. I'm liking what Rocco is doing.

  On 11/17/2018 at 12:33 AM, luckylager said:

Great choices. I'm liking what Rocco is doing.

What are the reports on the hiring process. Are these Rocco's picks, the FO's, or a mutual agreement kind of thing?

I'm only guessing that the field manager gets to pick his staff. But I'm sure the front office has some input too.

I feel good about this.

Had to pay up to get Johnson; Wes Johnson has a 6.13 MM contract with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Reading this and reflecting I'm feeling better and better about this staff.

I know the FO is obviously having some say here, but I'm getting the feeling they are simpotico with Rocco in building the new staff. Baldelli talked about a diverse staff, and it seems he has it. It's all gut reaction, of course.

I like having Shelton back on board, especially since be and Rocco have a connection. In 2017 Rowson was the belle of the ball and a fresh voice. 2018 was a cluster of crap in so many ways, and no way to fault him. I'm fine with him back again. I know nothing about Diaz, but 20 years experience and his writing shows me a guy who "gets" bridging the communication necessary for success for Latin players.

I think, like a lot of us, that Watkins may be a rising star. I just felt for certain the Twins would keep him in the minors for another year to learn and "train". I am very happy for his inclusion. He's a good baseball guy, a great communicator by all reports, knows the guys on the roster, and a majority of the guys coming up.

In retrospect, I'm seeing a rookie manager, some rookie coaches, and a couple guys with experience. And really, it's not a very old staff with Hernandez and Shelton 50yo-.

A little confused with Her her as "assistant" pitching coach. Is he the pen coach? If not, then does that spot have to be named yet? Or is that really his spot and a catching, defensive specialist, special advisor coach need to be named yet?

Yeah, the thing is, I truly have no idea. But it fits my script of what I want, getting the most talented guys regardless of experience, and looking to the college ranks. I'm cautiously optimistic. I really am loving what I'm reading about Wes. As with everything, however, we shall see.

I always wondered what coaches were paid, and amazed that they do make less than your beginning major league player. A professional where the average salary of the playing employees is bigger than that 90% of the people running the ship. Go figure.

  On 11/17/2018 at 1:47 AM, luckylager said:

I'm only guessing that the field manager gets to pick his staff. But I'm sure the front office has some input too.

I'm guessing too, but I think your hunch is probably accurate. But I also think the front office has more input and final say in these decisions than we would think, especially seeing as how Baldelli himself is a new hire with no previous managing experience.

I especially like the pick of Tony Diaz as third base coach. Very wise decision to get a Spanish-speaking coach involved at the MLB level. And the guy even wrote a book that gave English language advice to Latin players. Good move!

I cannot approve or disapprove.  I have no idea how good any of these picks are and will not know for at least a year.  I would really like to see the job description and expectations for each of them. 

So happy for Tommy! He's got to be beside himself thrilled.

  On 11/17/2018 at 3:48 PM, mikelink45 said:

I cannot approve or disapprove.  I have no idea how good any of these picks are and will not know for at least a year.  I would really like to see the job description and expectations for each of them. 

Totally agree it's going to take a year to see how this works. It's an interesting group. 

Falvey has his coaching staff. Falvey has a lot of flexibility with the budget. This is his team now and real progress must be evident this year.

  On 11/17/2018 at 6:09 AM, Rosterman said:

I always wondered what coaches were paid, and amazed that they do make less than your beginning major league player. A professional where the average salary of the playing employees is bigger than that 90% of the people running the ship. Go figure.

Coaching is all about accumulating service years to qualify for the MLB pension plan. Heard second hand straight from the mouth of a former Twins coaching staff member. The coaches are generally tied to the manager, so they hope that manager has a job somewhere for enough years to get them a full pension. 

Looks like a solid group. I'm not worried about their youth/lack of lengthy MLB coaching experience. It's not like this staff is filled up with people who have never coached before. There's some good diversity of experience and background that looks like a positive. Hopefully, they'll be able to work together effectively (probably the most underrated aspect of a coaching staff).

I believe it is time for the FO to start thinking about the players these men will coach.

I’m really interested to see how the pitching staff will be handled this year. With no veteran workhorse innings eater type and a number of guys pushing up from AAA. Free agent signings could be a big clue. If they go heavy on the bullpen I wouldn’t be surprised to see an opener, or maybe something even newer, going on this year.

Love this new staff - mainly for this: they aren't gonna drive old school @#$% down the throats of young players, but grow with them. 

I don't expects a lot of big name FA adds of veteran players(unless they are that Thome kind of teammate). This is a quiet rebuild IMO, with lots of emphasis on development, and maximizing existing assets.

Looked at the Twins website.  They have all these new guys listed, but still show Guardado as the bullpen coach.  I know it has been reported that he is gone.  But why hasn't he been removed like the others?  Could it be that Hefner is in fact an assistant pitching coach and Guardado has been retained as the bullpen guy?

Confusing!