Ryan Named Scout for Phillies

[Seth Stohs]

According to Ken Rosenthal, former Twins GM Terry Ryan is going to his roots as a special assignment scout by the Phillies today. 

 

 

 

[gunnarthor]

Well good for him and the Phillies.  

[Brandon Warne]

Happy for him. Happy for them. My favorite guy in the game. He'll do good things for them.

[Vanimal46]

He needed a fresh start somewhere outside of Twins Territory. Good luck to him. 

[NIATwinsFan]

Good for him!! Nice guy, honest, good scout! Not the best GM, but best wishes Terry!

[Mike Sixel]

Good luck to him! 

[nicksaviking]

This probably makes it clear that Ryan had no plans on resigning as GM. Looks like he might be a baseball lifer, good for him.

 

 

[BK432]

I've always thought Ryan was actually a very good evaluator of talent, even if some of the rest of the vision of a modern day GM wasn't quite there.

 

Good get for the Phillies and I hope it all works well.

[Vanimal46]

 

This probably makes it clear that Ryan had no plans on resigning as GM. Looks like he might be a baseball lifer, good for him.

Yeah and why not? He clearly enjoys the sport. If people want to continue paying him for his services, keep cashing those checks! 

[Thrylos]

Good luck to him.  Glad to see him in a different organization.  Will be good for both him and the Twins.  As long as MacPhail keeps his paws away from TK, I am ok with that  

[gunnarthor]

 

I've always thought Ryan was actually a very good evaluator of talent, even if some of the rest of the vision of a modern day GM wasn't quite there.

 

Good get for the Phillies and I hope it all works well.

Several years ago when he was just a scout under Bill Smith, Klaw actually answered my question on what Ryan was like as a scout.  Klaw was very impressed.  Said something like Ryan didn't miss anything and looked at things that he (Klaw) wouldn't have thought of (how the third baseman acted between pitches).  He was very complementary toward Ryan's scouting abilities.  

[Seth Stohs]

 

Happy for him. Happy for them. My favorite guy in the game. He'll do good things for them.

 

Agreed on all counts.

[Rosterman]

It is a great loss to the Twins, albeit they may be heading in a different direction and may be looking at analytical more than on-the-ground looksees.

 

Ryan can also learn by going elsewhere. Although reteaming with MacPhail is kinda like bring a band back together.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Several years ago when he was just a scout under Bill Smith, Klaw actually answered my question on what Ryan was like as a scout.  Klaw was very impressed.  Said something like Ryan didn't miss anything and looked at things that he (Klaw) wouldn't have thought of (how the third baseman acted between pitches).  He was very complementary toward Ryan's scouting abilities.  

I've met and talked to Terry more times than I can count over the past couple of seasons in Spring Training, Extended Spring Training, GCL and Instructional ball, without question the man is a baseball lifer and an astute student of the game even at his age.  For those who have never met the man, you truly are missing out.  Say what you want to about him as a GM but the man can scout with the best of them and is nothing short of a classact.

 

One experience that will be forever etched in my mind is from this past spring training on the backfields watching the AA Twins take on the AA BoSox.  The star of the game thru the first couple innings was Daniel Palka who destroyed the Red Sox RH starter (think it was Teddy Stankiewicz) launching a double off the wall and crushing a homer into someone's back yard.  Before Palka's third at bat, I caught TR's attention and wanted to congratulate him on what looked to be a trade steal in Palka.  Ryan said thanks but there was still plenty to work on with Daniel, he then went on to dissect Palka's swing: from opening up his hips, hand placement, balance and drive of his stroke, etc.  The Red Sox replaced the hard throwing RHP Stanky for a soft tossing LHP (nonprospect).  The lefty subsequently went on to make Daniel look foolish with breaking balls outside and struck out on a fastball inside.  Ryan turned to me and said told you still had plenty to work on

 

[nicksaviking]

 

I've met and talked to Terry more times than I can count over the past couple of seasons in Spring Training, Extended Spring Training, GCL and Instructional ball, without question the man is a baseball lifer and an astute student of the game even at his age.  For those who have never met the man, you truly are missing out.  Say what you want to about him as a GM but the man can scout with the best of them and is nothing short of a classact.

 

 

Clearwater is where the Phillies hold spring training so they are common ST foes, you Florida baseball guys should still get a shot to see him if his job includes spring training duties. Perhaps Special Assignment Scouts are off watching college games at that time though, I'm not sure.

[Halsey Hall]

 

Happy for him. Happy for them. My favorite guy in the game. He'll do good things for them.

For sure.  He's a great guy.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Clearwater is where the Phillies hold spring training so they are common ST foes, you Florida baseball guys should still get a shot to see him if his job includes spring training duties. Perhaps Special Assignment Scouts are off watching college games at that time though, I'm not sure.

I actually don't recall the Twins playing the Phils too much, the usual ST/EXST/GCL foes (esp MiLB) are the closer teams:  Boston Red Sox (Ft. Myers), Baltimore Orioles (Sarasota), and Tampa Rays (Port Charlotte).  While the Phillies (Clearwater), Pirates (Bradenton), Blue Jays (Dunedin), Tigers (Lakeland) and Yankees (Tampa) play each other more often.  And the other side of FL plays each other Braves (Kissemee), Astros (Kissemee), Marlins (Jupiter), Cardinals (Jupiter), Mets (Port St Lucie), and Nationals (Viera).

 

Regardless, I'll be shocked if I don't see Ryan down in Ft. Myers at the CenturyLink Complex at some point in Spring.

[jimmer]

Good for Ryan.

[Mr. Brooks]

It always blows my mind when people who don't need the money decide to basically work for life.

I mean, obviously they love the work or are addicted to it, but man, I'd be living out my days on the beach if I were in Terry's shoes.

[TheLeviathan]

I imagine this is what Ryan loves most anyway.  Good for him.

[Riverbrian]

This kind of brings home my point... when I stated that I wished the front office would have hired a POBO as soon as possible so Terry Ryan could be part of the evaluation. 

 

I have been disappointed with the results produced by Terry Ryan the GM and wanted the change... but his scouting background certainly must have value and that value could be serving the Twins right now instead. 

 

It's possible he was mis-cast and the POBO could have corrected that. 

 

I wish him nothing but the best. 

 

[ashbury]

It's possible he was mis-cast

That's my conclusion too.

 

It's the age-old Peter Principle, where you don't learn you've promoted a talented guy one rung too far until after you do it, and then you have to fire him if you don't want to suffer further consequences.

[DaveW]

Significant demotion, I think this helps show us that letting him go was obviously the right move.

[Linus]

Significant demotion, I think this helps show us that letting him go was obviously the right move.

Wasn't Ryan voted Executive of the Year multiple times by his peers? I'm guessing where he ended up was his choice.

[DaveW]

Wasn't Ryan voted Executive of the Year multiple times by his peers? I'm guessing where he ended up was his choice.

2002 and 2006 by the sporting news.

 

Times change in the decade(s) that follow.

[notoriousgod71]

 

2002 and 2006 by the sporting news.

Times change in the decade(s) that follow.

 

 

He did a fine job in 2002 by bringing in Mike Jackson as that final piece and 2006 he basically tried all he could to sabotage the team before it began with Castro, Batista, and RonDL.

 

[Linus]

2002 and 2006 by the sporting news.

 

Times change in the decade(s) that follow.

Yep and I'm sure he ended up doing what he wanted. It's not like he's scrounging around looking for any old job.

[Doomtints]

I'm glad Ryan is back doing what he does best.  This is the job he is great at and he will do good, if not great, things for the Phillies.

 

Though of course you know I'm going to say something negative. 

 

Ryan made a big deal about retiring ten years ago.  The narrative was that he was reluctantly pried out of retirement due to his replacement's incompetence.  Logic would dictate that he would now simply go back to his retirement since the job he was begged to come back to do is gone.  Taking another job is evidence that he decided to come back to the GM role because he did not like retirement and not because the Twins pleaded with him to come back. 

 

Ryan pulled a Jay Leno on the Twins. 

[Doomtints]

 

Significant demotion, I think this helps show us that letting him go was obviously the right move.

 

I said a few times over the past couple of years that Ryan's strength is scouting the minors. I don't think this is a demotion at all.  I think this is Ryan going back to what he does best.  It's a smart move.

And, sure, no one in their right minds is giving Terry Ryan a GM job.