An exchange of ideas with Michael Rand

Earlier today, Kurt Rambis was fired by the Timberwolves, which obviously caught the attention of local sports writers. Michael Rand, writer of Randball at the Star Tribune was kind enough to exchange a few tweets with me, but it all started with this fun fact from the Strib’s Judd Zulgad
(@JuddZulgad) Leslie Frazier now has 2nd-longest tenure of 4 pro men’s coaches in Minnesota. Frazier has yet to coach a game without interim tag.
Rand replied to Zulgad: (@RandBall) @JuddZulgad if Twins had played for past 35 games like they did their first 54, might Frazier be No. 1 on that list?
I then jumped in, and Rand and I fleshed out our ideas at 140 characters or less. Keep in mind, Tweets that start @whomever are actually from the other person.

@RandBall @JuddZulgad The Twins haven’t fired a manager in 25 years, I don’t know why they would this season

@Victoriawxtimes you’re probably right, but what if they were still losing 2 of every 3 games?

@RandBall You and I could call for Gardy’s head, but if Tom Kelly survived the mid/late 90s…

@Victoriawxtimes those teams TK had were brutal, bargain-basement bunches. This team is a high-payroll squad w/expectations

@RandBall Totally agree, but low rent teams have blamed managers in the past. The Twins were loyal to TK, will be loyal to Gardy.

@Victoriawxtimes Agreed. Just thinking back to other recent MN bosses who have been fired quickly after success (Chilly, Denny, Flip).

@RandBall The Twins have always been the exception, not just in MN but all sports, I think. W/ Gardy’s track record, still employed in NYC?

@Victoriawxtimes no way.

@RandBall Exactly. Being the Twins manager might be the best job in sports, Timberwolves coach the worst

And there you have it, Michael Rand and Ryan Henning’s symposium on coaching, specifically managing in the Twin Cities.

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An exchange of ideas with Michael Rand

Alan Draper

Alan Draper

Alan Draper