Re: [新聞] 史上最年輕教練 Baldelli：欣喜若狂已刪文
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One trait the Twins knew they wanted in their new manager is someone who is
like-minded regarding the use of analytics. The front office desired a
candidate who would take the information presented, study it to determine its
validity and then ensure it reaches Twins players accordingly.
When chief baseball officer Derek Falvey stressed during Rocco Baldelli’s
introductory press conference on Thursday afternoon that the Twins sought a “
partner” in their new manager, the implementation of analytics is one area
that was high on the list.
Not that former manager Paul Molitor wasn’t on board with analytics.
Molitor found the information beneficial and could see it had merit. In the
wake of his Oct. 2 firing, some of Molitor’s close friends were surprised
with how much the veteran manager had embraced analytics, including increased
usage of defensive shifts, the four-man outfield and the “Opener” pitching
strategy.
But with an amplified research and development department pumping out more
and more information, the Twins wanted to take advantage of the managerial
change to ensure their process from paper to play is smooth and thorough.
They believe they’ve found that in Baldelli, who has spent the last eight
years working for the cutting-edge Tampa Bay Rays, including the last four
seasons coaching.
“Rocco’s somebody who, not only does he understand the information and how
it can impact players, but he champions it with players,” Falvey said. “He
is somebody who is leading the charge with his coaches to really get players
to understand why it’s impactful and how it can be helpful. If you have a
manager who believes that to his core and really can lead that charge and is
really familiar with it, it gives you an advantage.
“He was integral to what has transpired (in Tampa Bay).”
What took place earlier this month in the middle of the team’s managerial
search only strengthened the front office’s convictions.
During his team’s playoff run, ex-Twins pitcher Ryan Pressly credited the
Houston Astros’ analytical information for convincing him to throw his
curveball more. Encouraged to do so because of his ungodly spin rate, Pressly
increased usage of it from 24.3 percent with the Twins to 39 percent with the
Astros, according to BrooksBaseball.net. He excelled, allowing three earned
runs in 28 1/3 innings with Houston (playoffs included). His walks also
decreased from 3.6 per nine innings to 1.9.
The Twins tried to emphasize to Pressly they wanted him to throw his curve
more back in spring training. After arriving in Houston, Pressly applauded
Twins pitching coach Garvin Alston for helping him improve the pitch to the
point where he was far more comfortable throwing it in any count. Somewhere
along the way, however, the idea that he needed to throw the pitch more often
didn’t stick. It was only after the July 27 trade to the Astros that Pressly
evolved from a good reliever to an elite one.
“The changes he made were not entirely news to us,” said baseball
operations director Daniel Adler. “Houston, to their credit, they’ve been
doing it much longer than we have and they’ve built a really, really good
process for getting that information to players. It was a very hard lesson
and very discouraging for us. On the other hand, in some ways, it was a
really strong teachable moment for us. … In some ways I think it makes it
easier to go to the next player.”
That’s where Baldelli is expected to come in.
When it comes to implementation of analytics, there’s a long chain of
individuals involved in the process before information reaches a player. As
one staffer suggested, information is handed off from person to person and
everyone involved needs to be enthusiastic about the process. Even then, the
player also must be willing to make the changes.
In essence, it’s a much more complicated version of telephone.
In Pressly’s case, the Twins aren’t totally certain where the disconnect
was. Was this on the front office not impressing it upon the coaching staff?
Did coaches not emphasize it enough? Or is it simply a case where a change of
scenery was needed and hearing it from the world champions convinced Pressly?
The hope is that Baldelli’s experience in South Florida can make the process
less complex.
“Whether it’s R&D, whether it’s scouting, whether it’s player
development, I think his desire to respect everybody, and his open mind to
respecting everybody starts from a place of, ‘I believe you have value to
contribute to this,’” general manager Thad Levine said. “One thing that
was really impactful through the interview process was his listening skills.
He wasn’t quick to have a very hard and fast answer to everything, he really
processed the questions that were asked. I would expect he’s going to tap
into every resource similarly.”
What Baldelli will discover is an R&D department that increased its personnel
by 5-10 people after Adler was hired last August. Included in that bunch is a
familiar face in pitching analyst Josh Kalk, who previously worked with
Baldelli in Tampa Bay.
While Adler said the team’s process could be improved, he’s also very
pleased by the progress the Twins made over the course of the last year. The
Twins think Baldelli is the right person to help them take the next step.
Asked about his takeaway after eight years working in the Rays’ front office
and with their coaching staff, Baldelli made it clear the experience has made
him open-minded.
“A lot of it is understanding that you don’t know everything and have it
figured out,” Baldelli said. “People and resources and having them around
you and just being curious. I don’t know the answers, but I’m interested in
learning more and trying to figure out more. And when you surround yourself
with people that are similar in that way — that’s an important quality, not
just in baseball, but anywhere. When you surround yourself with people that
are like that, you end up pushing each other and you expose each other to
different things and you end up maybe improving what you do, even if it’s
this much.”
Baldelli thinks his coaching staff will be critical to the implementation
process. He’s currently working with Falvey and Levine to put together his
staff and everything is up in the air. The Twins made it clear last week they
’d like to retain bench coach Derek Shelton and hitting coach James Rowson,
both of whom they like enough to have strongly considered them for the manager
’s job. Whether or not Shelton and Rowson will choose to return is undecided.
Beyond that, however, nothing is certain. While Alston was hired by Falvey
and Levine last year, which usually acts as a safety net because he’s one of
“their” guys, one source suggested Baldelli could be afforded the
flexibility to choose his own pitching guru because it’s a role the rookie
manager will heavily rely upon. (UPDATE: Alston will not return to the team,
sources said Tuesday.)
Multiple sources have also said it’s a possibility that coach Jeff Pickler
would be reassigned to a front-office role. And there’s been speculation
that the futures of third-base coach Gene Glynn and bullpen coach Eddie
Guardado are also up in the air. (UPDATE: A Star Tribune report Tuesday said
Guardado is out too.)
Asked how he plans to get his message across, Baldelli made sure it’s all
about having a diverse staff that connects with players.
“All you want is people who are both willing to listen and willing to
contribute,” Baldelli said. “As long as you have both of those things, I
think you are good.”
How Baldelli approaches analytics is something that immediately caught the
eye of the Twins as they conducted their search. Adler said the Twins
reminded themselves not to get too excited about Baldelli simply because he
was employed by the Rays, who have long been at the forefront of analytics.
Adler cited Levine’s advice as helpful to the process. In the end though,
Baldelli’s style stood out.
“’You have to remember, we’re hiring the person and not the organization,’
” Adler said of Levine’s instruction. “We tried really hard not to become
clouded by that because we weren’t bringing the entire Tampa Bay Rays’
system here. Rocco will be a piece and certainly he’ll bring some of the
best things from there, we hope. We’re hiring the guy and what we liked
about him was he’s open-minded. His first reaction was to say, ‘OK, how can
we make this work?’ If you bring a concept to him, ‘How can we make this
better?’ Not, ‘We’ve never done it like that. I hate it for these reasons.
’
“It doesn’t hurt that Rocco has seen how productive a relationship can be
between a front office and a research and development group.”
Levine likened the way Baldelli operates to Joe Mauer’s nightly postgame
award ceremonies. He thinks the first-year manager will enhance the process
by making sure everyone gets involved. If they can do that, the Twins think
they’ll improve the way they administer analytics and thus help their
players.
“He’s going to make the people that maybe feel like they’re on the
periphery of the major-league staff feel like they’re closer to the
epicenter of the major-league staff,” Levine said. “He’s going to make
everyone feel like they’re a little bit more a part of it, and I think with
that comes heightened expectations and accountability, that if you’re given
a forum to contribute, the expectation is that you’ll seize that opportunity.
”
“I think that’s going to be real special for this team going forward.”
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