The Minnesota Twins have been formally eradicated from postseason competition Friday night time with a 7-2 loss to the Orioles. It was the fruits of what can solely be described as an epic collapse. On Aug. 17, the Twins have been 70-53 and 5 video games up on a wild-card spot. They then fell right into a 12-25 skid that eradicated them from postseason competition.
Evidently, Twins followers usually are not glad, and sporadic chants of “Hearth Rocco!” may very well be heard at Goal Discipline through the group’s remaining homestand, referring to supervisor Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli is beneath contract by way of 2025 and stated the followers have each proper to be upset. From the Minnesota Star Tribune:
“The followers, I believe, have a proper to really feel virtually any approach they select,” Baldelli stated. “I consider that. Frankly, any time we’ve not had success right here, I’ve heard them within the stadium, and that is a part of managing a Main League Baseball group.
“I respect the followers. The Minnesota Twins followers confirmed me final yr after we have been within the playoffs superb issues, issues that may change the end result of a recreation in favor of their group. You possibly can’t have higher ardour than what I noticed. If I will settle for that, take that and luxuriate in that, then I am going to additionally take the criticism when issues do not go nicely.”
Baldelli added he’s “by no means stressed” about his job safety, solely the group’s efficiency. A number of gamers, together with starter Bailey Ober, stated the gamers are in charge for the group’s collapse, not the supervisor. “I really feel like a lot of the blame must be on the gamers,” Ober instructed the Minnesota Star Tribune.
On Sunday, Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey confirmed Baldelli will stay the group’s supervisor in 2025.
Twins chairman Joe Pohlad added Falvey will stay the group’s head baseball operations government. “I do not choose staff off of six crummy weeks. He is obtained eight years of a resume and I speak with Derek every day, so I do know what he is doing. He is the fitting man,” Pohlad stated (by way of the Minnesota Star Tribune).
Whereas everybody deserves a share of the blame for a collapse like this, together with the supervisor, the actual fact of the matter is the Twins got here into 2024 with insufficient rotation depth, and an offense with centerpieces (Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, and many others.) who’re identified to spend time on the injured checklist. Ultimately, Minnesota was quick on arms and their key hitters missed time.
That is the second time in three years the Twins light badly down the stretch. In 2022, they have been a half-game behind the third wild-card spot on Aug. 19, then went 16-29 the remainder of the way in which to fall out of the race. Minnesota gained the AL Central and the Wild Card Collection in 2023. They snapped their North American professional sports activities report 18-game postseason dropping streak.
Baldelli is wrapping up his sixth season as Twins supervisor. The group is 457-412 (.526) throughout his tenure and has gained three division titles (2019, 2020, 2023). He was named AL Supervisor of the 12 months in 2019, his first season.
