Rocco Baldelli was hired as a first-time manager at age 37 after the 2018 season. In his inaugural year, he guided the Bomba Squad to a remarkable 101 wins, marking the largest improvement in the American League and setting a new record for home runs at 307. For his efforts, he was named Manager of the Year, emphasizing the importance of relationships, clubhouse culture, rest, and communication.
These principles have largely paid off. Over his six seasons with the Twins, Baldelli has achieved a .526 winning percentage, the best of any Twins manager in the past 50 years. During this time, he led the team to three AL Central titles in 2019, 2020, and 2023. The 2023 team ended the Twins’ playoff drought by reaching the ALDS, where they were defeated by the Houston Astros.
After a disappointing end to the season, fans have speculated about who might take the blame, as it’s common for someone to be held accountable when expectations aren’t met. Typically, this starts with the coaching staff, followed by the manager, and eventually reaches the front office. The Twins have experienced this cycle during their “Total System Failure” years.
Rocco Baldelli was asked if he gets bothered by fans at Target Field booing the #MNTwins and chanting about him being fired.
"No. Because fans, I think, have a right to feel almost any way they choose."
Here's his full quote: pic.twitter.com/j7pxWKv0IV
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) September 28, 2024
The Twins usually keep contract details for non-player personnel private, leading to questions about potential changes in the front office, particularly regarding Derek Falvey and Thad Levine’s contracts beyond 2024. However, Baldelli is confirmed to be under contract through at least 2025, with indications that the team may have an option for him in 2026.
Several players, including Carlos Correa, Bailey Ober, Pablo Lopez, and Kyle Farmer, have taken responsibility for the team’s underperformance, indicating some veteran support for Baldelli in the clubhouse.
For now, it’s likely that we’ll see changes within the coaching staff, which may be necessary, but it probably won’t reach as high as some fans might expect.
“This will bother me forever; there’s no way around that,” Baldelli said after the team’s elimination on Friday. “I’ll think about it a lot and use it as motivation moving forward, because I never want to go through that again.”
With the latest updates, Baldelli will have at least one more opportunity to prove himself by leading the team back to the postseason. Meanwhile, his superiors will focus on improving the roster’s depth and durability.
Derek Falvey reiterated his faith in Rocco Baldelli as manager moving forward. Other potential coaching/staff considerations, he didn’t wish to speak on.
Falvey: “Rocco is my manager.”
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) September 29, 2024
Given the Twins’ payroll situation, it seemed unlikely the front office would opt to pay for two managers in one season. However, there are two reasons Baldelli might still be let go after the disappointing finish. First, the manager is the most visible scapegoat when a team struggles. He conducts postgame interviews, is seen as responsible for energizing the team, and makes lineup decisions. When a team consistently loses, the manager often bears the blame. The front office’s perspective on the reasons for the team’s collapse, and their overall view of Baldelli’s performance, remains unclear.
Second, some fans think Baldelli doesn’t understand the game and merely uses spreadsheets to manage. There has been conjecture over the last six weeks regarding Baldelli’s loss of the clubhouse and the team’s struggles. “Fire Rocco” has been chanted by supporters throughout recent games.
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