My take on the Twins GM search

[Mr. Brooks]

Good point. Without Ryan leaving, Antony's chance of being the next full-time GM is even smaller.

 

But the point is ... Which of these scenarios is the real one: is this Antony's job to lose, is he already a shoo-in, or is he facing very long odds? Your suggestion is that it's Antony's job to lose. And that might be true. In fact, I would hope that is true. If this team continues on this .600 winning clip why not keep him around a bit longer? There is no rule about shedding an interim title after just a couple of months. Give him an extended look next year. Unfortunately keeping Antony on for a full year as an interim GM would be unconventional and the Twins are not unconventional types.

 

But I digress. I think your suggestion is closer to the mark than the other theories -- that either Antony has zero chance or he is guaranteed the job and this is all for show. Those are both pretty black and white options and Pohlad doesn't seem like a black and white thinker.

I'm not sure why you would give Antony any credit for the current hot streak. It's not the result of anything he's had time to do so far.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

What about Tyler Tumminia?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The more I think about an inside hire, the less I like it. Not to say there isn't someone qualified or everyone has to lose their jobs, I just think it needs to be shaken up. 

[Vanimal46]

I wouldn't rule out an internal hire, though. In fact, Antony is the only guy that the Twins haven't denied an interview for a job elsewhere recently, only because he didn't take it when asked if he would like the interview. Deron is the guy that I'm very, very intrigued by, in a sort of role where they hire someone more "big name" to be the Exec/VP and then hire Deron to the actual title of General Manager.

It's possible. Perhaps the Pohlad's see the value in paying Korn Ferry $40-50k up front to determine whether an internal hire is just as good as an external hire. For our sake, I hope Korn Ferry finds some rock stars so the answer becomes making an external hire.

[nicksaviking]

We would also have to assume the Pohlad's don't read the paper if somehow they failed to notice the excellent support and publicity the other three pro sports teams have garnered recently by going outside the organization to make hires.

[alarp33]

It's possible. Perhaps the Pohlad's see the value in paying Korn Ferry $40-50k up front to determine whether an internal hire is just as good as an external hire. For our sake, I hope Korn Ferry finds some rock stars so the answer becomes making an external hire.

They likely paid more like $200k...they aren't hiring Antony.

[biggentleben]

 

They likely paid more like $200k...they aren't hiring Antony.

 

But there are other internal options than Antony...some of whom will be climbing front office ladders elsewhere depending on how this opportunity plays out.

 

MLBTR brought out a name I hadn't heard (and I just talked with a couple Braves front office guys last week, so it surprised me) in Billy Ryan, the current Braves director of baseball operations - a guy who has held positions in MLB's headquarters and with the Rangers, Indians, and Diamondbacks, including 4 years as assistant GM in Arizona. He'd be one of those "no name" guys for many that is very probably more qualified than 90% of the names you've heard of.

[alarp33]

 

But there are other internal options than Antony...some of whom will be climbing front office ladders elsewhere depending on how this opportunity plays out.

 

MLBTR brought out a name I hadn't heard (and I just talked with a couple Braves front office guys last week, so it surprised me) in Billy Ryan, the current Braves director of baseball operations - a guy who has held positions in MLB's headquarters and with the Rangers, Indians, and Diamondbacks, including 4 years as assistant GM in Arizona. He'd be one of those "no name" guys for many that is very probably more qualified than 90% of the names you've heard of.

 

Because so many Terry Ryan disciples have climbed the ladder in other organizations already? 

 

Don't know much about Billy Ryan, but I'm all for names like that to be in the mix.  

[Everyday Eddy]

 

Because so many Terry Ryan disciples have climbed the ladder in other organizations already? 

 

Don't know much about Billy Ryan, but I'm all for names like that to be in the mix.  

One thing I've learned over the last 20 years... Never trust a GM with two first names

[biggentleben]

 

Because so many Terry Ryan disciples have climbed the ladder in other organizations already? 

 

Don't know much about Billy Ryan, but I'm all for names like that to be in the mix.  

 

In all seriousness, the Andy MacPhail tree does have a lot of branches in major league baseball, and Antony is the only guy who hasn't been requested for interview since Smith was hired on the list of internal guys that I mentioned in my article. Deron is one who's a big name in the game right now and likely is gone in the offseason if the GM hire goes a direction he's not a fan of, and that'd be a shame for the Twins.

[alarp33]

 

In all seriousness, the Andy MacPhail tree does have a lot of branches in major league baseball, and Antony is the only guy who hasn't been requested for interview since Smith was hired on the list of internal guys that I mentioned in my article. Deron is one who's a big name in the game right now and likely is gone in the offseason if the GM hire goes a direction he's not a fan of, and that'd be a shame for the Twins.

 

I believe you that Deron Johnson is well respected in baseball circles.  I'm sure he will find a job elsewhere if the new GM cleans house.  I highly doubt any team is considering him as a GM right now, though. 

[biggentleben]

 

I believe you that Deron Johnson is well respected in baseball circles.  I'm sure he will find a job elsewhere if the new GM cleans house.  I highly doubt any team is considering him as a GM right now, though. 

 

I have heard his name mentioned in a set up like I stated with him as the GM and another guy as the Exec/VP that has some experience/track record in a GM role. Basically the model that 70% of the league uses now. The Braves have John Hart as Exec/VP with Coppy as the GM, and it's not always Coppy at the forefront in trade/free agent discussions. Likewise the Cubs with Epstein and Hoyer.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I have heard his name mentioned in a set up like I stated with him as the GM and another guy as the Exec/VP that has some experience/track record in a GM role. Basically the model that 70% of the league uses now. The Braves have John Hart as Exec/VP with Coppy as the GM, and it's not always Coppy at the forefront in trade/free agent discussions. Likewise the Cubs with Epstein and Hoyer.

I'm not against seeing Johnson or even Radcliff get a legit shot at interviewing for the position.

 

But if that happens, I'd also like to see them split the presidency into business/baseball roles. At the end of the day, I'd like to see someone from outside the organization heading the franchise and if the organization continues to be littered with Twins organizational lifers below that external candidate, that's okay with me.

 

But that's more of a perception approach than an actual improvement approach. If someone from outside the organization looks at Mike Radcliff and says "you do a good job, you keep doing it", that instills faith in Radcliff's abilities.

 

But when it comes to actual "improvement", we're all basically firing shots in the dark. We see the end result and the failure that has come with it but we don't know enough about the process to form an education opinion.