The Minnesota Twins have overcome a significant amount of adversity this season. Rocco Baldelli has his team shaping up to be among the best in baseball. There are still some fans that don’t see it that way.
Rocco Baldelli continues to impress for Minnesota Twins
In 2019 Rocco Baldelli took over for the Minnesota Twins. He was at the helm when Major League Baseball tinkered with the primary implement, and his team became the ‘Bomba Squad’. Baldelli even picked up a Manager of the Year award, that season.
What he’s done in 2024, though, may be his most impressive showing of managerial acumen, yet. That won’t stop the Rocco haters, though. They made up their minds on the Twins’ skipper years ago, and their views won’t change, no matter how good this team continues to play, with him as their manager. The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman came to his defense this morning.
I’m of the opinion that Baldelli is a solidly above-average manager and, at just 42 years old, he could have a decades-long managing career ahead of him if that’s the path he wants to take. That’s subjective, of course, but I’ve covered the team for nearly his entire tenure, and have gotten ample opportunities to discuss his in-game tactics, lineup construction, bullpen strategy and behind-the-scenes approach with Baldelli and his players. He’s generally well respected by managerial peers, non-Minnesota media members and current and former players.
And all of that is backed up by his results. In six seasons under Baldelli, the Twins rank eighth out of 30 teams in wins despite ranking in the bottom third of the league in payroll. They’re on track for a fourth playoff berth in his six years, he managed their first winning playoff series in two decades and his career .535 winning percentage is the second-best in team history. If the Twins were to ever let Baldelli go, I have little doubt he could quickly get another managing gig.
Aaron Gleeman on Rocco Baldelli as a manager
Without fail you can find hand-wringing on a game-by-game basis, when it comes to Baldelli. On Sunday, the Twins gave up a big lead when Jorge Alcala had possibly the worst relief inning in recent memory. Up 4-0, Alcala gave up five hits, two home runs and FIVE runs in the 8th inning, before he was finally pulled with the Twins down 5-4.
Alcala had been really good, leading up to yesterday’s debacle. And in a tweener four-run game, it’s tough to know who should be up getting ready for the next inning. When Alcala gave up his first run of the inning, Griffen Jax started warming up as fast as possible, but it wasn’t fast enough. Manager’s fault? You know it…
Rocco’s Bullpen and lineup handling is horrendous.
— Jakez (@Jakezball) August 18, 2024
I don’t think he’s a manager
Classic Rocco loss. Any other manager would have this be a 100 win team.
— Dave (@PlaymakerDavid) August 18, 2024
Sad.
There is a perceived blindness to the results at play. Baldelli, and the Minnesota Twins front office, are deeply defined by the masses as analytical by nature. That notion often supersedes what actually takes place between the lines.
Should the Twins ever move on from Baldelli, history tells us that the next manager in line would see a diminished level of success. Aaron had the numbers. The Minnesota Twins have been a better team under Rocco Baldelli than any other manager in team history not to win a World Series. And they are at a 90+ win pace again this season.
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This Minnesota Twins season may be Rocco Baldelli’s best yet
This Minnesota Twins team did very little during the offseason, and even less at the trade deadline. Rocco Baldelli has dealt with multiple crushing blows on the injury front.
All of that is true and yet the club is within striking distance of repeating as American League Central Division champions. No doubt, that is a reflection and testament to the man pulling the strings.
Baldelli has been able to write the names of his big three offensive stars in the same lineup just 17 times this season. Although Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Royce Lewis have all missed considerable time, the wins keep coming. Baldelli has positioned his pitchers to remain competitive even though arms like Joe Ryan and Chris Paddack have been put on ice.
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It would be hard to argue against the merits of Baldelli and the results for the Minnesota Twins this season. There’s no guarantee that Baldelli wins his second Manager of the Year award. Even if he doesn’t the voting should reflect a strong showing in 2024.