Comparing to a year ago

[jokin]

Macphail got a better job as a President/CEO for the Cubs in September of 1994, and I suspect that there were discussions about the Twins matching that, but did not happen. 

 

Macphail led the Twins to 2 World Championships.

 

'94 was a lost season because everyone knew that it was a strike year mid-season and there were no adjustments at the deadline.  Ryan did nothing. zip. zero. other than cutting payroll.   The 94 team was a .500 team with bad pitching.  Get a couple of decent free agents, replace Hrbek with someone else than 22 year old Stahoviak, bring back Shane Mack, get a DH bat to replace Winfield at DH and ...

 

Nope.  Ryan could not do that.

 

Terry's mindset and indication of his priorities surrounding his job, was revealed when he inexplicably reflected in an interview on his "proudest moment in a trade" as the Twins GM, which came the year after the 1994 commencement of the dismantlement. That move being, of course, Scott Erickson for Scott Klingenbeck and Kimera Bartee.

[Thrylos]

(1) Fact- Bill Smith was held accountable for his 99 loss season and Terry Ryan was brought back to right the sinking ship

 

(2) Fact- Andy Macphail has won 2 World Series and the same number as Ryan since 91

 

(3) Fact- Our offense has scored more runs and our run differential is better than past four years

 

(4) Fact- Our minors are stacked with prospects and many young players have already arrived. Many of those new arrivals and the vast majority in the minors were not in the system before Ryan's return

 

(1) Again, Smith has a higher winning percentage than Ryan and Ryan was never held accountable

 

(2) After 91, indeed Macphail won exactly the same number of World Champtionships as Ryan and as you (I assume) and me.

 

(3) so what?

 

(4) that is not a fact, it is an opinion.

[Thrylos]

Everyone take a step back, please. There is no need for this thread to degenerate.

 

No worries

 

just stating facts from this side

[Seth Stohs]

Everyone take a step back, please. There is no need for this thread to degenerate.

 

Usual culprit.

 

It's OK to feel that there are positives even in another bad season. 

[brvama]

It seems there is a great deal of pent-up anger and frustration with the Twins. I get that. However, it is getting tiring hearing the some negative points repeated. If there is no hope then why is anyone still interested in this team?

 

The premise of this thread is that improvement, however small, was noticed this year versus the last three. I did not read that the Twins have improved enough to be playoff contenders, just that there has been some improvement. That certainly makes me feel a lot better than last year at this time.

 

So yes, there is hope on the horizon. Some improvement in the pitching staff (long ways to go yet), younger players getting experience and showing their potential, an improved offense, players like Plouffe improving their play, top prospects closer to the ML, and finally a jettison of players who didn't figured to be part of the club going forward. If that isn't improvement then I must be in the Land of Oz. IIRC those were some of things many were calling to change. This year gives me hope that the Twins have made a step in the right direction IMHO.

 

When building a road it is the base and grade that takes the most time -the final road surface comes after a great deal of prep has taken place. We are still not ready to surface that road, but we are getting closer with much more prep left.

[gunnarthor]

Nah. Those are facts.

 

Trolling is sugarcoating the last 4 seasons (like you have been doing). And dismissing factual arguments. 

 

 

Fact: 1991 was the last time the Twins won a world series

 

Fact: Terry Ryan's record as a general manager is worse that that of Andy MacPhail and Bill Smith

 

Fact: The Twins have lost 99, 96, 96 and 91 (pending) games the last 4 seasons

 

Please dispute those things or argue why a Twins fan should be happy about that.

 

Period.

 

Otherwise, you are trolling.

 

Ryan's winning percentage by itself is less than useful in determining whether or not he is capable of the job at hand because it deliberately ignores the issues specific to the Twins during his tenure that no other GM dealt with.

 

Using similar logic, someone could "factually" argue that since the Pohlad family took over the Twins only the big market Yankees and Red Sox have won more World Series. 

[DaveW]

This season has been significantly more disappointing then last year because of the "hope" we had with Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Rosario, none of whom came close to the majors.

 

However at least we have a starting lineup that is pretty damn solid, go get a big hitting LF, a stop gap CF and we are somewhat set.

 

The SP has at least 3 pitchers I feel we can count on in 2015 in: Hughes, Gibson and Nolasco (who will turn it around) guys like may, Meyer, milone and others can hopefully fill out the rotation, though I still would like to see them take a run at a solid #2 Or a very good number 3 (think Matt Garza tier)

 

Much more dissapointing season, but the future is looking brighter then it has in 4 years. At least we are showing signs of life in Sept!

[Craig Arko]

Whenever one of my hobbies annoys me a bit, I see something like this and am reminded of what holds more significance.

 

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/09/28/mount_ontake_video_of_a_massive_eruption_by_hikers_on_the_ground.html

[Otto von Ballpark]

Still not sure what Hicks is, but he looks better this time around.  If he turns out to be useful, he could make a very intimidating OF.  He did have a 259/344/296 line in Sep. so he's not so atrocious this time around.

That's still pretty atrocious.  He was posting similar lines in his earlier stints, and people would say "I am fine with that OBP" but he's got to offer more AVG or SLG for that OBP to be sustainable, I think.

[USAFChief]

That's still pretty atrocious.  He was posting similar lines in his earlier stints, and people would say "I am fine with that OBP" but he's got to offer more AVG or SLG for that OBP to be sustainable, I think.

I'd say, even if the .344 OBP is sustainable, coupled with a .296 SLG, it's still atrocious.

 

You have to do more than draw a walk now and then.

[chopper0080]

Hell, I could be successful with this plan.  Be awful enough to acquire a bunch of top 10 picks, and wallow in losses under the premise that the ship will magically come in "next year".

 

This year was a trainwreck, just like the previous three.  Unless something changes, next year will be the same.  Players will get hurt.  Other will exceed expectations despite the circumstances. Some will fall short.  In the end, we will struggle with timely hitting, consistent pitching, and situational baseball.  We will lose a bunch of games with the promise that things will be better in 2016.  Rinse and repeat.

[chopper0080]

My honest question is this, and it is partially related to Hicks and Santana and Arcia.  Is this team in any way the place to foster and develop young talent?  Hicks has underachieved.  Santana doesn't have a position.  Arcia has decided to go with his own hitting approach.  Even if you buy the magic prospect beans, what has this team done with young prospects that makes you feel like they will be successful in developing them?

 

I just don't see it.

[Kwak]

My honest question is this, and it is partially related to Hicks and Santana and Arcia.  Is this team in any way the place to foster and develop young talent?  Hicks has underachieved.  Santana doesn't have a position.  Arcia has decided to go with his own hitting approach.  Even if you buy the magic prospect beans, what has this team done with young prospects that makes you feel like they will be successful in developing them?

 

I just don't see it.

You are forgetting all of the pitchers that have been developed.

[twinsnorth49]

Gibson, Arcia, Vargas, Santana, May, Hicks. All got significant experience this year at the major league level and with the exception of Hick's all showed the ability to make adjustments at this level and be effective players, at a pretty young age.

 

Dozier, Plouffe, Hughes, Escobar,

 

Sure they lost over 90 games again but based on the above and the players who will be joining the team at some point next season, this is nothing like a year ago.