Doogie: Terry Ryan Interview

[John Bonnes]

Darren Wolfson has a long interview with Terry Ryan published yesterday on ESPN 1500's site. There is a lot of give and take in it and the topics are all over the board: Hicks, Gardy, the Yankees, Buxton....

 

Q & A with Terry Ryan: Struggling Twins 'going in the wrong direction' | 1500 ESPN Twin Cities ? Minnesota Sports News & Opinion (Twins, Vikings, Wolves, Wild, Gophers) | Sportswire: Minnesota Twins

 

Lots of food for thought here. Visit there, take your favorite snippet and bring it back with your thoughts. Here is mine:

 

How would you evaluate Gardy? The elephant in the room: he doesn't have a contract for next year. Heck, many managers don't.

 

Some do. Some don't. It's not unusual in today's profession.

Handling the media, community involvement, disciplining the clubhouse, respecting umpires, respecting the game, all that stuff -- I just now need to get him players he can succeed with.

 

 

So, it's more your fault?

 

Yeah. I take the responsibility. I put this roster together. I've told Gardy to do the best he can. I understand that I don't have a perfect roster here.

 

 

I expect to hear a lot of "Gardy is gone" talk over the next week or so if the Twins continue to drop games vs. the NL East. I'll point to this as evidence that Terry Ryan know exactly what he gave Gardy this offseason.

[TheLeviathan]

Terry was very glib. I didn't like this:

 

Think about (Josh) Willingham. People are mad you didn't trade him last offseason. Now he's out. If you had traded him, people would've questioned moving an affordable slugger with two years left on his contract.

You can do the same thing in many areas. If I had traded him, I would've been hammered. Not trading him, I'll get hammered. I've been around this long enough to know I'll get criticized no matter the way you go. There can be times when you're winning and people won't like the decisions. They get attached to players like (Denard) Span and (Ben) Revere. We made a bold move. We need pitching. People were comfortable with Benny and Denard. Moving two they weren't too happy. We've been through that. You're not going to win no matter what you do.

 

I hope it was the value offered and not concern about being criticized. I've long wondered if they were worried about public reaction to that move - part of the loyalty I speculated about earlier this week on that subject.

[Brad Swanson]

Terry was very glib. I didn't like this:

 

 

 

I hope it was the value offered and not concern about being criticized. I've long wondered if they were worried about public reaction to that move - part of the loyalty I speculated about earlier this week on that subject.[/font][/color][/font][/color]

 

I completely agree, although I wonder what percentage of fans would have been furious if Willingham had been traded last season. Based on comments on their Facebook page and talking with my own friends and family, I bet it would have been close to 90%.

 

Of course, that still is not a valid reason to not make a good baseball move, in my opinion.

[greengoblinrulz]

Talking about Vance Worley

 

What are the reports down there on him?

Fair. He pitched one real good game. He got the win yesterday (Tuesday). His line wasn't impressive, but he pitched better than the line. He did get the win, which I care about. We just have to get him to figure out how to get the ball down. His stuff is ok. He's a competitive guy. I haven't talked to him since he's gone down there.

 

So its more important to get a meaningless AAA win than to actually pitch well? This is the problem with Ryan as he hasnt adjusted to the new age style of baseball. Who cares if you get a AAA win....it should be about HOW you pitched.

Obviously wins are important but a pitcher cannot control getting the win, so Im in the crew that doesnt evaluate a pitcher by wins anymore.

[jorgenswest]

Talking about Vance Worley

 

What are the reports down there on him?

Fair. He pitched one real good game. He got the win yesterday (Tuesday). His line wasn't impressive, but he pitched better than the line. He did get the win, which I care about. We just have to get him to figure out how to get the ball down. His stuff is ok. He's a competitive guy. I haven't talked to him since he's gone down there.

 

So its more important to get a meaningless AAA win than to actually pitch well? This is the problem with Ryan as he hasnt adjusted to the new age style of baseball. Who cares if you get a AAA win....it should be about HOW you pitched.

Obviously wins are important but a pitcher cannot control getting the win, so Im in the crew that doesnt evaluate a pitcher by wins anymore.

 

His line in one game is also no more meaningful than the win. The eyes on how he pitched has value. I guess we can infer that his stuff is OK but not location.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Talking about Vance Worley

 

What are the reports down there on him?

Fair. He pitched one real good game. He got the win yesterday (Tuesday). His line wasn't impressive, but he pitched better than the line. He did get the win, which I care about. We just have to get him to figure out how to get the ball down. His stuff is ok. He's a competitive guy. I haven't talked to him since he's gone down there.

 

So its more important to get a meaningless AAA win than to actually pitch well? This is the problem with Ryan as he hasnt adjusted to the new age style of baseball. Who cares if you get a AAA win....it should be about HOW you pitched.

Obviously wins are important but a pitcher cannot control getting the win, so Im in the crew that doesnt evaluate a pitcher by wins anymore.

 

Would you have been happier if he publicly trashed Vance after a win?

 

I don't put much stock in wins and losses but toughing it out and getting the victory when things aren't working for you counts for something. It shouldn't be completely ignored.

[bird]

You're really reaching on that one greegoblin. He didn't say he ONLY cares about wins, and you know there are some statheads who think the mere mention of wins is satanic.

[Brandon]

I put a little stock in wins because sometimes the starting pitcher has to dig a little deeper to get out of a situation where the game can be lost. some pitchers will coast if the game is won and not worry so much about runs as opposed to getting innings.

[Guest USAFChief]

Will what you do at the trade deadline be dictated by how you do on this 10-game trip?

This will be a good indicator whether we're a team that will be competitive.

 

Huh?

[The Wise One]

Terry was very glib. I didn't like this:

 

 

 

I hope it was the value offered and not concern about being criticized. I've long wondered if they were worried about public reaction to that move - part of the loyalty I speculated about earlier this week on that subject.[/font][/color][/font][/color]

 

Think for a minute. Ryan traded Span and Reveere for what he thought was good value. If there was a good offer Willingham would have been traded. The fans will never know because Ryan rarely leaks what he wanted in trade. I think the Span for Storen was to set the value for future trades.

[TheLeviathan]

Think for a minute. Ryan traded Span and Reveere for what he thought was good value. If there was a good offer Willingham would have been traded. The fans will never know because Ryan rarely leaks what he wanted in trade. I think the Span for Storen was to set the value for future trades.

 

Maybe but that's not what he said. I just pointed out that I hope fan reaction didnt sway that decision. I would contend Revere and Span were moved with Hicks in mind. Willy was kept because, at the time, there was no clear replacement. I could certainly be wrong but this answer hardly made things clear.

[Kwak]

The whole point is to win the game--so yes wins count! Pitchers need to show that they can deal with success.

[drjim]

Maybe but that's not what he said. I just pointed out that I hope fan reaction didnt sway that decision. I would contend Revere and Span were moved with Hicks in mind. Willy was kept because, at the time, there was no clear replacement. I could certainly be wrong but this answer hardly made things clear.

 

I could be wrong but I can't imagine fan reaction would be worse after a Willingham trade than it was after trading Span and Revere.

 

I think it had much more to do with return, production of the player, and what was available to replace them.

[TheLeviathan]

I could be wrong but I can't imagine fan reaction would be worse after a Willingham trade than it was after trading Span and Revere.

 

I think it had much more to do with return, production of the player, and what was available to replace them.

 

I don't know....we are slugger starved. In general I agree, but a definitive answer would've been nice.

[drjim]

I don't know....we are slugger starved. In general I agree, but a definitive answer would've been nice.

 

Definitive answer on what? If fan reaction played a role in not trading Willingham?

[The Wise One]

Maybe but that's not what he said. I just pointed out that I hope fan reaction didnt sway that decision. I would contend Revere and Span were moved with Hicks in mind. Willy was kept because, at the time, there was no clear replacement. I could certainly be wrong but this answer hardly made things clear.

There would have been someone like Gomes available if an outfielder was needed. Ryan gave a non answer to the question. It is a skill that he has. It is almost like why bother with an interview because he won't explain much.

[nicksaviking]

I could be wrong but I can't imagine fan reaction would be worse after a Willingham trade than it was after trading Span and Revere.

 

I think it had much more to do with return, production of the player, and what was available to replace them.

 

It's debatable but I'm in the camp that the average fan was much more in love with power Willingham provided last year than they were with the singles Span and Revere gave. The average fan may not realize how much a good table setter is worth but everyone knows 35 HR is awesome.

 

Though I don't know that fan reaction was the biggest bugaboo, I'm not sure that Ryan didn't feel the same way. Willingham was a more valuable player last year though what good did his superior value do for the team? It still was a +90 loss season.

[jokin]

There would have been someone like Gomes available if an outfielder was needed. Ryan gave a non answer to the question. It is a skill that he has. It is almost like why bother with an interview because he won't explain much.

 

The only personnel discussed for whom Ryan broke the wall of non-answer answers on- for his personal and public "votes of confidence"- were Perkins ("good") and Hicks, Arcia and Parmelee. Everyone else- in Ryan codespeak, was just "ok", worse than that, or a victim of circumstance.

[beckmt]

I doubt Ryan had an offer that made sense for Willingham. That is why he was not traded. We had outfielders coming and needed pitching help. That is why Span and Revere were traded. In the mind of Ryan they were easiler to replace.

[jokin]

I doubt Ryan had an offer that made sense for Willingham. That is why he was not traded. We had outfielders coming and needed pitching help. That is why Span and Revere were traded. In the mind of Ryan they were easiler to replace.

 

If true (certainly possible) that no sensical offers came in for Willingham, it was kind-of incumbent upon Ryan to make creative counter-offers that made more sense.

[PseudoSABR]

Terry was very glib. I didn't like this:

 

 

 

I hope it was the value offered and not concern about being criticized. I've long wondered if they were worried about public reaction to that move - part of the loyalty I speculated about earlier this week on that subject.

The reason you don't trade Willingham is he was built for Target Field (well, given last year, er), he's cheap, and he could be your future DH. TR is responding to a direct question about media response to his moves, I seriously doubt he'd trade fan response for future value.

[PseudoSABR]

Will what you do at the trade deadline be dictated by how you do on this 10-game trip?

This will be a good indicator whether we're a team that will be competitive.

 

Huh?

GM Speak: We're gonna suck, and I hope to get good value on some assets, but we'll see.

[Brock Beauchamp]

GM Speak: We're gonna suck, and I hope to get good value on some assets, but we'll see.

 

Yep. Some people tend to forget that the GM position involves a lot of public positioning.

 

JR is a pretty straight speaker. Listen to the posturing by other GMs before throwing too many bricks.

[IdahoPilgrim]

All in all I thought it was a good interview. Did he answer everything? No. No GM would.

 

Three thoughts: First, I don't see him being that concerned about fan reaction to moves he would make. That's a good thing. He's paid to make the moves that he thinks are best, not do what a mass of others, most of whom are not schooled in the game (and I include myself in that category), think is best. And at the end of the day he'll be evaluated on how those moves work out. Some will. Some won't. He's right that no matter what he does, in any situation, there will be critique from some. I've learned in my own career that you can't make decisions on what you think will be popular; you have to do what you think is right and then live with the consequences.

 

Second, I like that he is not happy with where we are. Not a lot of positive spin here, comparatively. I would have been concerned if he was feeling good about where we are in comparison to last year as opposed to recognizing how far we have yet to go.

 

Third, it still feels like to me that Ryan and Gardenhire aren't quite on the same page, and I'm not just talking about the normal give and take that happens between a general manager and a field manager. Ryan was very careful not to criticize some tactical decisions Gardenhire has made, but he didn't go out of his way to defend him either. He recognizes that he didn't give Gardenhire much to work with; but I suspect (and this is just me reading in between the lines) that Ryan has some questions about whether the players he has given Gardenhire are being utilized fully and correctly. If his contract is not renewed, I suspect it will be that and not the W-L that made the decision.

[ThePuck]

Yep. Some people tend to forget that the GM position involves a lot of public positioning.

 

JR is a pretty straight speaker. Listen to the posturing by other GMs before throwing too many bricks.

 

He may sound like a straight speaker, but his actions have to back up his words. When he says I'm going to do everything possible to significantly improve our starting rotation and then we end up with what we have, does that mean he wasn't a straight speaker or just incompetent?

[howieramone1406390264]

He may sound like a straight speaker, but his actions have to back up his words. When he says I'm going to do everything possible to significantly improve our starting rotation and then we end up with what we have, does that mean he wasn't a straight speaker or just incompetent?

Hands down the first one.

[diehardtwinsfan]

He came across very blunt and to the point... yes, there's lots of GM speak, but he was still very blunt. If you notice, he doesn't bash anyone in public. Even when someone didn't play well, he usually couches it with a compliment in some way. He also defends the decisions of those below him and takes responsibility. I gleaned a few things from this:

 

1) Gardy will not be in a Twins uni next year.

2) Young players need to step up, but the roller coaster rides with them is to be expected.

3) He is not afraid to pull the trigger on controversial items.