Boneheaded organizations, just like the Minnesota Twins, do boneheaded issues, resembling hiring managers with shedding data.
On Wednesday, MLB Community insider Jon Heyman reported the Twins are planning to call former Pittsburgh Pirates supervisor Derek Shelton as their subsequent skipper. He’ll exchange Rocco Baldelli, who was fired in September after going 70-92.
Shelton is a well-known face for the Twins. He served as their bench coach from 2018-19. Aside from that, there isn’t any different wise purpose for Minnesota to rent him.
Why Derek Shelton could also be a foul rent
The Pirates fired Shelton in Could, however they need to’ve made that change a lot earlier. He went 306-440 in six seasons with the membership and by no means received greater than 76 video games in a season.
Now, the Pirates aren’t a well-run group. Pittsburgh hasn’t made the postseason since 2015 and could possibly be wasting the prime of star pitcher Paul Skenes, the 2024 Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr
The Twins, nonetheless, aren’t a mannequin group, both. Minnesota has missed the playoffs 4 of the final 5 seasons and hasn’t superior previous the ALDS since 2002.
Extra importantly, Shelton could possibly be a transparent downgrade. Baldelli went 527-505 in seven seasons with Minnesota. This included the 2019 season, when the Twins went 101-61 and received the American League Central.
According to MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty was additionally within the operating for the Twins’ job. He may’ve been a better option.
For the previous two seasons, Flaherty has served on Chicago supervisor Craig Counsell’s workers. This previous season, the Cubs made the playoffs for the primary time since 2020. But, the Twins nonetheless picked Shelton as an alternative of him.
With the fitting supervisor, the Twins may rapidly rebound. In September, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter ranked their farm system No. 7 in baseball.
With Shelton on the helm, nonetheless, Minnesota might not have a supervisor who can maximize its up-and-coming expertise. That’ll make it even tougher to catch the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers within the AL Central.
