Paul Molitor wants Twins to turn down music, limit phone use
A modern MLB clubhouse isn’t like what new Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor was used to during his playing days. Nowadays, players are glued to their smart phones and tablets. They use loud music to get pumped for games and celebrate wins. Heck, there have even been DJs and smoke machines in team clubhouses.
Paul Molitor don’t play that.
On Wednesday, during Torii Hunter’s introductory press conference, Molitor didn’t go full “back in my day on us,” but he did say that he’s working on a plan to tone down and unplug. Specifically: the wants to limit smartphone use and make sure there are standards for the music that is played.
Here’s what Molitor, 58, told Mike Bernadino of the Pioneer Press about phone usage:
“I won’t ban them,” Molitor said. “I’ll probably have to figure out some restrictions and times and things like that. I’d be a fool to (ban phones). I don’t want them all to turn on me before we even get started. Like all managers, I’m going to have to make sure that they know that I know that they can be a distraction from what they’re trying to accomplish, and we’re going to have to figure that out.”
Molitor’s not just being a fuddy-duddy here. He was a coach with the Twins before getting the manager gig, so he knows the tone of the clubhouse. Remember that the Kansas City Royals had a problem this season with players being addicted to the game “Clash of Clans.” Snapping out of that helped them focus down the stretch.
As for music, that’s another matter entirely. Bobby Cox banned loud music in the Atlanta Braves clubhouse when he was in charge, so there’s precedent. Since tastes are diverse, players often listen to their music of choice before games through headphones. As Bernadino writes, this is more about after games, when the Twins celebrate wins with loud rap and rock music.
“I will tell you I’m not a proponent of some of the music that’s played,” Molitor said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for various people that walk through that clubhouse and I plan to make sure that I have a standard there as well. I’m not against music.”
The Twins have finished last in the AL Central in three of the past four seasons, so the celebrations haven’t been what they used to be. If Molitor can turn the Twins around, if the celebrations get more frequent, he can play whatever music he wants. Winning is the No. 1 DJ.
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Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
