The Twins are know for loyalty and stability in upper management, but needed to make a change after four dismal seasons sent the team to rock bottom in 2014.
Ron Gardenhire and his staff did a remarkable job throughout the 2000’s, lead by a group of scrappy coaches who never made major marks in the big leagues. Gardenhire was a marginal utility infielder in the big leagues, and preferred to hire journeymen coaches who paid their dues in the minor leagues. The philosophy seems to work for many years, although Gardenhire’s teams always seemed to collapse in the spotlight, with a 6-21 playoff record.
After Terry Ryan came back as General Manager, he realized the need for coaches who had success under major league lights. He first pushed to hire Tom Brunansky as hitting coach, and later Terry Steinback and Paul Molitor as coaches.
Molitor had been Gardenhire’s competition for the manger’s post when Tom Kelly retired in 2001, and the two had always been seen as opposites: Garenhire, the jovial underdog, and Molitor, the stoic Hall-of-Famer. It was curious that Molitor spent a decade as a roving minor league instructor, constantly being passed up for Garenhire’s staff.
Once Molitor was hired as bench coach in 2014, his presence vastly overshadowed Gardenhire. While he kept a quiet, low-profile, the 3000-hit-man simply could not help but look like a leader on the bench. He was overqualified for the role, and exuded respect, while Gardenhire was more of a player’s coach, who might not have always been comfortable pushing players with a stronger playing resume than he.
Rick Anderson also did a remarkable job as pitching coach, turning Johan Santana into a Cy Young pitcher, and resurrecting the career of Phil Hughes. However, he had trouble getting the most out of most veteran pitchers, and his philosophy was mostly geared towards marginal results, pitching to contact and letting the chips fall where they may. Professional teams like the Yankees pounded the Twins when it mattered most, knocking those strikes over the fence in key situations.
Anderson also lacked big league playing experience, and may not have been properly suited to guide a pitcher through a “big game,” or pulling a veteran out of the gutter when their command falters.
Garenhire, Anderson and company were good coaches but after four years of losing, had nothing left to give. The Twins needed to make changes, and insert proven winners who had been in key situations, and succeeded against the best.
Paul Molitor hit .368 in 132 playoff at-bats, including .418 in the World Series. He dealt with injuries and addiction during his career, but persevered and always rose to the occasion in the spotlight. He will not be intimidated by the Yankees, and is the perfect person to calmly guide a team through big games, while being able to effectively push veterans who falter or fail to produce.
The Twins also surprised many by hiring former Yankees closer, Neil Allen, who also dealt with addiction and turmoil during his career. Known for his positive energy and innovation, Allen thrived under pressure as a pitcher with unconventional savvy and heart on the mound. Combined with former Twins’ closer, Eddie Guardado, the Twins suddenly has piching leadership that has veteran, high-pressure experience and a flare for underdog tenacity.
To add depth to the bunch, the Twins’ added popular AAA manager, Gene Glenn, an experienced minor league manager and long-time Major League coach. Glenn knows most of the Twins young players, and can advise Molitor on how to handle the rigors of coaching.
Butch Davis was hired from the Orioles' organization, and is known for positive energy and heart as a player and low-level minor league coach. Like Allen, he had been constantly looked over for promotions, but kept coaching out of love and respect for the game.
Rudy Henandez was perhaps the most surprising addition to the safe as assistant hitting coach, having spend over a decade as a low-level hitting coach in the Twins system. He is known as a good baseball man who can relate to young Latin players.
Lastly, the Twins retained longtime coach, Joe Vavra, from the Garenhire regime, to bridge the gap on Molitor’s bench. Vavra knows day-to-day operations and knows how to play the supporting role on a manager’s bench.
Terry Ryan is known as a great evaluator of talent, and it seems he has put this skill to use in constructing an interesting staff, individually crafted to guide the current Twins’ roster.
