Terry Ryan Interview - Submit Your Questions

[John Bonnes]

For our Offseason Handbook, I'm conducting an interview with Terry Ryan on Friday, right after he gets back from the organizational meetings. I'm gathering a list of topics and questions to prepare. If you have something you would like to know, submit it below. I can't guaranteed I'll ask it, or any of them, but it'll be on my radar as we talk through things.

[Jim Crikket]

Since the organizatinal meetings are going on right now, one question on my mind this week is exactly what goes on during those meetings? We get the general "we discuss all the players in the system" response, but if he would be willing to provide a bit more detail than that, I'd find that interesting.

[Boom Boom]

I'm sure you're going to ask him questions about acquiring starting pitching, so I'd like to hear how he feels about the Twins middle infield situation going in to 2013.

[greengoblinrulz]

Innings in 2013 for kgibson and possibly scot baket & how theyll differ as well as how theyll come to those innings. Liriano was allowed 200 innings in 08

[sorney]

Does he agree with the perception that the Twins hold onto prospects too long and they either become *suspects* or completely stall out in the minors entirely?

[jharaldson]

Why does it appear that the coaching staff vacancies have been filled with just internal candidates? Do you see any value in new perspectives in the coaching staff?

[Fatt Crapps]

Why are the Twins racist?

[DaveW]

Why are the Twins racist?

 

slow clap

[Craig in MN]

Will the big new TV contracts in 2014 change payroll approach for the Twins in 2013. How will they affect the Twins and MLB long term?

 

e.g. Will that allow them to keep payroll somewhat higher in 2013 than it would have been otherwise. Does it change their payroll = 50% of income rule? Will they try to sign guys to extensions before that money causes inflation in contracts in a couple years?

[Twins Fan From Afar]

I'd like to get a better idea of Ryan's mindset regarding starting pitching in 2013 and beyond, because everything he has said publicly thus far has been essentially generalizations (as is expected). So here's my question:

 

The Twins will spend approximately $27 million on player payroll at the catching position next season and $14 milion at first base. The position players, Mauer and Morneau, are expected to be among the best in baseball. Why has there been a reluctance by the Twins to field similar caliber talent when it comes to starting pitching, even if it means that you have to pay on the open market for such talent? Certainly it cannot be simply because the pitchers are not homegrown, or are more injury-prone than our own star players.

 

Given the difficulty of developing top-level pitching talent, isn't paying market value for reliable starting pitching (meaning pitchers that are superior in talent to "league average" pitchers such as Carl Pavano and "innings-eaters" like Jason Marquis) just the way that it has to be done sometimes in order to field a team that can at least win half its games?

[108 Double Stitches]

I think it would be interesting if you can work in some questions if he has plans or preferences

regarding the expected logjam in the OF if the Twins best prospects start showing they are ML ready

while we still have the current group.

 

For instance: is the Muaer / AJ pattern to trade starters before the next player is ready preferable?

Or would he prefer to hold the current players until the new players are proven at the major league level?

[old nurse]

You are the metrics geek, ask him about what metrics they use in their analysis of players. You will either be very happy, or others will finally be justified in their comments.In past years when making trades Ryan has found a good number of capable pitchers in other organizations. What does he look for that they other people are missing.

[Willihammer]

How does he plan to fill out the rotation before Baker and Gibson are ready to go? What is the backup plan, if one or both of them isnt' ready in time, or suffers a setback?

 

edit: I'd also be curious to know whether he intends to be aggressive early this offseason, or take a wait and see what's left in January approach, to signing FAs

[JB_Iowa]

I'm still a little puzzled by his comments about Joe Mauer and 3rd base seeming like a "perfect fit". Could you figure out a way to artfully ask him if they have initiated (or will initiate this winter) discussions with Mauer about a move to 3rd (recognizing that it would probably be part-time for now).

[Winston Smith]

I'd like to know what qualifications Vavra has to be an infield coach?

[beckmt]

I would like to know:

1. Does he have plans to bring in middle infield starters or competition for the current crop we have now.

2. Does he expect to be active in the FA market?

3. Does he think he can get enough starting pitching talent to make a fair assessment of Gardy and Rick Anderson at the end of next season?

[108 Double Stitches]

I know all the immediate needs questions are going to dominate your in-box, but I think it would be

interestng to query Ryan on how he uses the bottom of the 40 man roster while the Twins have such high

waiver picks (again).

 

How much or how little an advantage (in his opinion) is it to have high waiver priority for 40 man rosters

moves (like Rule V and in-season waiver claims, not so much the draft which is more self evident)?

 

Was Mr. Ryan prepared or surprised by how high the waiver claim priority the Twins had for the 2nd entire

season? Did he feel he fully exploited the opportunities that came up?

 

Do any advantages from high waiver priorities decline as you have them for longer period of times, (like 2 straight

years)?

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'd like to know what qualifications Vavra has to be an infield coach?

 

I believe he was an infielder in the minors.

[Badsmerf]

How has the game changed since he started as the GM? How has it changed in the last 10 years to where we are at now?

*JR will love this question

[Parker Hageman]

Why joe mauer doesn't heet mor homruns?@?!

[nicksaviking]

Why exactly isn't Paul Molitor a fit for the coaching staff? He was shot down as a candidate about two seconds after he said he was interested.

[ThePuck]

I'd like to know what qualifications Vavra has to be an infield coach?

 

I believe he was an infielder in the minors.

 

Yup, a utility IF...just the guy you want instructing our guys...since those are the kind of IFs we have and those seem to be the kind the team covets. Wouldn't want to decide who is best at each position and then PLAY them there as much as possible. Gardy has to move them all around to try and make himself look like a genius. It does the opposite. Gardy even said, before Hardy was traded, that even if Hardy was still on the team, Casilla would compete for the starting job at shortstop with him AND others..

[Teflon]

Q: Why do the Twins insist on playing Ben Revere in the outfield position that takes the least advantage of his elite range and puts the most emphasis on his weak arm?

[notoriousgod71]

I'd be happy to get any non-generic answers out of JR.

[Bark's Lounge]

Question: Mr. Ryan, let's go back to 1987. That was a great year for all of us because the motion picture "Three Men and a Baby" hit the theaters. If you were a woman, which of the 3 stars appearing in that film would you like to have a romantic tryst with - Ted Danson, Tom Selleck, or Steve Guttenberg? I know it's a difficult question because all three of them are super appealing in different ways. What else happened in 1987? I feel like I am missing something.

[PseudoSABR]

I'd like to ask you about accountability. Many of us worry that the recent dismissals and reshuffling of the front office and major league staff represent a form of (and pardon the phrase) scapegoating. Perhaps you can ease our worries by walking us through the thinking of the front office; what were the coaching problems that can be remedied as a result of the moves, how can we improve in that area? How has the front office changed in the past year with you back at the healm, how does it differ from your first tenure with the team? Lastly, in what ways are the Twins medical and training staffs improving?

[ThePuck]

Two words: Anthony Slama

[Musk21]

Two words: Anthony Slama

 

Three words: Anthony Slama Petition

 

Why has there been zero response?

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'd like to ask you about accountability. Many of us worry that the recent dismissals and reshuffling of the front office and major league staff represent a form of (and pardon the phrase) scapegoating. Perhaps you can easy our worries by walking us through the thinking of the front office; what were the coaching problems that can be remedied as a result of the moves, how can we improve in that area? How has the front office changed in the past year with you back at the healm, how does it differ from your first tenure with the team? Lastly, in what ways are the Twins medical and training staffs improving?

 

Excellent question. This gets my vote.

[killer520]

Any chance the opening day line up includes Mauer @ 3rd and Plouffe @ 2nd?