Twins players back Rocco Baldelli after late-season collapse - ESPN

Minnesota Twins players backed manager Rocco Baldelli on Saturday after weeks of fans chanting for his firing amid the team's late-season collapse.

The Twins, who had a five-game cushion in the American League wild-card race in mid-August, were eliminated from postseason contention with Friday's loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

Minnesota was 70-53 at its high-water mark of the season on Aug. 17 but has gone 12-26 since, prompting fans at Target Field to chant «Fire Rocco» throughout the Twins' September swoon.

«I don't think it's super fair to put everything on him,» pitcher Bailey Ober told reporters, according to The Athletic. «Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. If the players hear [the chants], I don't think anyone's agreeing with that. It's like, seriously, can't you see what's going on? He's not the one at fault for this mishap that happened.»

Baldelli acknowledged before Saturday's loss to the Orioles that he has heard the boos and «Fire Rocco» chants but said he respects Twins fans and added that they «have a right to feel almost any way they choose.»

«That's part of managing a Major League Baseball team,» Baldelli said. «And I respect the fans. The Minnesota Twins fans showed me last year when we were in the playoffs amazing things, things that can change the outcome of a game in favor of their team.… You can't have greater passion than what I saw. If I'm going to accept that and take that and enjoy that, then I'll also take the criticism when things don't go well.»

The Twins (82-79) will finish fourth in the AL Central after winning the division last season. Players cited several reasons for coming up short this season, including long-term injuries to key players such as shortstop Carlos Correa, outfielder