What 2nd half record saves Terry Ryan's job?

[Rosterman]

If last year the Twins were giddy and thought they were contenders to the last day, and convinced themselves that they had a competitive division winner on their hands, they should equally realize that this year they put a group of the biggest non-performers on the field, not so much as a fault of the performers, but because there was no plan. No solid roles for members of the bullpen. A different lineup every game. A rotation that needed at least 5 runs to be in a game, if they lasted long enough to see any runs put up. A coaching staff that had all spring training to teach players NOT to strikeout. A manager who would get almost to mid-season before recognizing that his best player isn't just a utility guy.

 

The bigger question is the makeup of the front office...more Twins loyalists splitting up the different works. Or do we get a baseball guy in charge of ALL operations who also brings in his own general manager, and thus a new on-field staff, while working with the promise and talent that we are now seeing on the field.

 

An even bigger question has to be addressed about how prospects are coached and processed thru the system

 

Changes in staff should happen going into August, when you start accepting waiver claims on players and seriously move anyone that doesn't fit into a future, which will  need a modicum of rebuilding time by anyone put in charge.

 

Same old same old will not work. If the Twins start to win, they might put some butts in the seats unless people keep following the standings. If they win with youth, that may create some excitement about the future.

 

Glad to see the Twins as winners in MLBTRADERUMORS slush pile grabs...not that the players did anything to make the team competitive in a division that should have been tighter overall (how is Cleveland running away and what happened to the White Sox?). That's a plus...giving guys an opportunity to shine. But for what? An opportunity to shine that other teams can't take a chance because they have a totally winning lineup on the field with no room for these guys?

 

The Twins don't need to be the Kansas City Athletics of old, considered a farm team for major league clubs. We already have that locally with the Saints, who seem to be finding home for guys who can't even make it in the Twins organization!

[Platoon]

I would want Molitor gone but I will say in his defense, no matter your choice of spiritual being, that deity could not have had a winning record with the opening roster. That said, his odd moves and lack of control over things like bunting and base running drive me up a vertical surface. As for the topic, Ryan? I think the record is a moot point. He either retires or stays of his own volition. I don't even think Pohlad will ask him to retire. It's going to be his call. The other moot point! It doesn't matter. We aren't going to get someone to come in here and overhaul this outfit, and completely demolish and rebuild the FO. This ain't Ziggy! While I think the topic is interesting and appropriate, I would ask this! Why would the second half record make a difference. 17 (20) years of mediocrity should have been enough. If it isn't, three more months ain't gonna matter!

[jimmer]

 

(how is Cleveland running away and what happened to the White Sox?). 

White Sox have a bad roster and Cleveland has the pitching. It's why I picked Cleveland to win the division and the White Sox and Twins to battle for the basement.

[Boom Boom]

.500 in September will save his job.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I think this will be an interesting thing to monitor and I can see TR being assigned to reduce payroll because revenue was reduced, classic Carl Pohlad style of tail wagging the dog at least in a baseball sense of the mid-90s Twins.

 

Ironically if it meant trading Plouffe, Millone, Nolasco for anything, and Dozier and Santana also for the right returns I think we'd all be fine with it.

 

I would think if TR thought he's on the way out, we should see extensions soon for Suzuki, Nunez, Abad and another one for Hughes.

 

Well, if anything it would get the kids up and some of the dead weight off.

[Major League Ready]

The hierarchy of my complaints are different than most here.  Number one for me was extending Phil Hughes after year 1.  At a minimum, they should have waited until the end of year 2.  There was very little benefit to be gained.  That mistake will be a problem in terms of a roster spot and payroll for the next 2 years.

 

Next, extending and/or not trading Glen Perkins.  The team did not need a closer and once again there was no reason to extend.  Perkins wants to be here.  At the very least, they should have let him play out his contract and then approached an extension with current information. 

 

Third was moving Sano to RF.  At the time, I was not sure it was not a product of them believing Sano could not cut it at 3B and it did appear that there was a plan for Sano to lose weight.  I still think a really fit version of Sano is more than athletic enough to play the OF and he has a cannon for an arm.  While we still don’t know how the decision was made, it sure looks like they just did not want to trade away Plouffe.  If this is true, they opted for a plan that was likely to produce mediocrity but more importantly failed to take the actions necessary to rebuild. 

 

The area that is most difficult to get a grip on is drafting and development.  We just don’t know nearly enough about how or if they have adapted.  The farm system had hit a low point but our farm system is now very deep.  They have drafted power arms and the organization has never had this kind of pitching in the minor league system. 

 

The guys that just graduated look very promising too.  I am skeptical like others on Buxton but I can’t fault the pick, perhaps the development decisions.  Kepler looks like the real deal.  Berrios should be very good.  Rosario is going to be very good if he can maintain and hopefully slightly improve the approach he has been demonstrating since being recalled.  Vargas looks like a different player.  His minor league career make me a bit skeptical but his approach has improved immensely and that is something that can sustain improved performance.  Drafting and development is still the most important aspect for any team and that is magnified for mid and small market teams.  The point being it does not make sense to universally dismiss the management team and run them all out of town if a refined approach has resulted in the farm system getting so much better.  Is change need?  Of course, but I would not be so quick to suggest a massive overhaul, at least not without access to a whole lot more information.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I've got to think the FO is gone after this year (and I think Molitor goes too).  To stay, maybe a  .667 winning percentage...  I just don't see the team doing that though.   It's nice that they've been decent for the last 20 games, but they need to get more of the kids in, but that likely leads to less wins, not more. 

[spinowner]

I think the team will be around .500 from here out but unless the team experiences a disaster I don't think the second half record will have much bearing on the decision whether TR and/or PM are here next spring. I think JP will stay with Ryan until Ryan retires and I think Ryan will stay with Molitor at least until next season.

Now, if you're asking what I would do about TR if I were the owner the second half record would not be what I would look at. I want to see what roster moves he makes or at least attempts to make during the next seven weeks. He has got to make big moves by August 31. If that does not meet my assessment of what needs to be done the search for TR's replacement begins on Sept. 1 and TR does not receive a new contract. PM's status would be the new GM's call.

[Craig Arko]

I think improving the record matters only to the extent that it puts butts in the seats. To that extent having exciting young players will matter more than the actual record.

 

But it's probably too late either way.

 

Where I differ from others is I think Mr. Ryan will still have a role in the organization; just not the GM.

[twinsnorth49]

I don't think it matters, the team is still very flawed and Ryan is responsible for putting it on the field this season. I don't see how Pohlad gives Ryan another go this off season,unless he somehow pulls multiple rabbits out of his hat by the trade deadline, which isn't happening imo.

 

Molitor only stays if TR stays, I would guess a new management team would like to choose their own field general. I doubt that's Molly.

[Thrylos]

 

I guess I would say I'm more looking to discover if Twins Daily members can be swayed by a good 2nd half

 

I thought that he should be gone in '98 (when he was in the middle of being the henchman in Pohlad's grand plans of grand suckage = lack of interest by fans =  no ticket sales = move or contraction = $ in Pohlad's pockets, and in the second of 4 straight 92+ L seasons; does history repeat itself?) rejoiced when he retired in '07 and have been waiting for him to go (one way or another) since '11.

 

No way to sway me, unless the Twins go to the World Series this season, and then,  maybe, I might change my mind.

[Kwak]

Ryan will stay as long as he and Pohlad come to agreement on total payroll, staffing, and roster. Pohlad doesn't want conflict in the organization. A new GM would guarantee conflict--andRyan knows it!

[sorney]

I would hope the Pohlads would take a look at what the Twolves did this year and say *Hey, maybe we should consider a franchise altering change as well.*