The Minnesota Twins completed one of the most epic collapses in Major League Baseball history on Thursday night. Despite spending the entirety of the season in postseason contention, a 13th inning loss to the Miami Marlins effectively ended their season .
Who’s fault is it? That’s the big debate. At least for now, though, Rocco Baldelli doesn’t look like their offseason fall guy. When the Minnesota Twins reflect on their 2024 season , they should have plenty of things to be frustrated by . Chief among them is an ownership group that is truly terrible .
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Minnesota Twins changes unlikely to include Rocco Baldelli
Beyond that, the front office needs to decide if it wants to stick around, and manager Rocco Baldelli will be examined as well. Don’t expect a change there though. Ken Rosenthal knows that Minnesota’s skipper will face scrutiny and may have to make changes in his management style, but he’s not expected to get the axe.
Baldelli is not solely responsible for the team’s collapse. The Twins seem unlikely to hold him responsible. But the team’s cohesion has eroded since it was swept in Kansas City in early September, amid a 12-23 freefall. And Baldelli, if he survives, might need to adjust his loose, laid-back style, which seemingly has backfired with his young team.
Baldelli, 43, has appeared more frustrated in the past six weeks than at any point during his six years as manager. His team’s lack of edge, though, would appear partly his own doing. Without the presence of an everyday force such as the Cleveland Guardians’ José Ramírez or the Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. , the Twins might need a greater push from its manager in 2025.
Ken Rosenthal on Rocco Baldelli’s job security (The Athletic)
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Maybe Baldelli, who has been consistently a player’s manager, needs to be more of a hard ass next season. There’s also the possibility that a plethora of rookies just need some seasoning . Every player would probably be in less of a stressful situation if ownership allowed an opportunity for depth to supplement the roster as well.
Regardless of where you want to place consternation, the reality is that Minnesota failed in 2024. Following the most successful playoff run in decades , the entire franchise became a laughing stock.
From immediate suggestions of payroll decrease , to unmet promise regarding broadcast availability , nothing got off to the right foot. There is an avenue for the farm system to make an impact next season , but distancing themselves from an attendance decline and fan disdain is something that will take work.
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At the end of the day, there are a lot of changes that will take place prior to the 2025 season. Derek Falvey and Rocco Baldelli are not chief among them, and both can provide answer to multiple questions . How quickly the Twins can remove this poor taste in their mouths remains to be seen. The franchise can’t afford for it to be long.
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