Terry Ryan last appearance on Inside Twins

[Brock Beauchamp]

Hughes – He has been up and down. His aggregate ERA over ERA over the past 4 years is 4.66. Pelfrey’s 4 years prior to TJ averaged 4.27.

 

This is an insane way to judge two pitchers. One pitched in the AL East in Yankee Stadium. The other pitched in the NL East in Citi Field.

[ThePuck]

Of course not, but he also admitted they'd do little in the near term to make significant improvement. So another very poor season is pretty likely given that pronouncement.

 

Do people actually expect those words to come out of his mouth?

[chopper0080]

Listening to interview on 1500ESPN now. To paraphrase this is what he just said:

"I've seen your ERA stat, but I think the pitching has been better than the stats have indicated."

 

 

Well if that is the case, I can always follow the Twins through this site and through the box score until they get as serious about winning as I am. Opens up some time and money that is probably better served being used on my family.

[Thegrin]

to listen to the full interview >>>HERE

[TheLeviathan]

to listen to the full interview >>>HERE

 

So the OP's paraphrasing was almost word-for-word accurate. So all the skepticism talk can just die right here, he dismissed the ERA stat in favor of saying he wasn't "as down" on the pitching as the stat indicates. Ugh.

 

Terry also said he thought before the season they could finish at or above .500.

 

What roster was he looking at?

[Alex]

If pitching is better than the ERA stat indicates, why did we carry 13 pitchers?

[ThePuck]

If pitching is better than the ERA stat indicates, why did we carry 13 pitchers?

 

Our starting pitching is by far the worst in baseball. There is no way around it.

[ThePuck]

So the OP's paraphrasing was almost word-for-word accurate. So all the skepticism talk can just die right here

 

It should...but it won't.

[howieramone1406390264]

So the OP's paraphrasing was almost word-for-word accurate. So all the skepticism talk can just die right here, he dismissed the ERA stat in favor of saying he wasn't "as down" on the pitching as the stat indicates. Ugh.

 

Terry also said he thought before the season they could finish at or above .500.

 

What roster was he looking at?

He didn't give an exact stat. They were talking in generic terms. Ryan said he is not as down on his pitching as the interviewer's statement. I can't say that I agree with him, but I certainly don't think this was the time or place to throw his entire pitching staff under the bus.

[chopper0080]

Our starting pitching is by far the worst in baseball. There is no way around it.

 

In a time where pitching is up around the rest of baseball.

[TheLeviathan]

He didn't give an exact stat. They were talking in generic terms. Ryan said he is not as down on his pitching as the interviewer's statement. I can't say that I agree with him, but I certainly don't think this was the time or place to throw his entire pitching staff under the bus.

 

But it was the right time to throw the offense and particularly Plouffe under the bus? Because he did that. Why not just throw both under the bus then, they were both a problem.

[Alex]

With each interview I get more and more disappointed about how this organization is being run.

 

In the last week, Mike Bernadino quoted Ryan as saying he's not a velocity guy and that he also held some disdain for win expectation. I actually don't mind the latter as the point was about the team outplayed the expectation by three, when that small of a number is really not indicative of anything, but tha wasn't how Ryan put it and it seemed to be another time the Twins scoffed at ideas outside of their traditional ones.

[jokin]

He didn't give an exact stat. They were talking in generic terms. Ryan said he is not as down on his pitching as the interviewer's statement. I can't say that I agree with him, but I certainly don't think this was the time or place to throw his entire pitching staff under the bus.

 

Soooo. would the right time or place be just after season ticket renewal season? And obfuscating on the obvious until then.....would be just fine for you....even though you don't agree with him? Cognitive Dissonance 101.

[jokin]

"Terry Ryan 'Last' Appearance on Inside Twins"

 

I must admit, I had my hopes up that upon perusing the title of this thread......that the headline contained an entirely different meaning than what the content actually revealed. So now after reading and hearing the interview, I'm even more deptressed.

[drivlikejehu]

Ryan isn't required to give interviews. So if he doesn't want to talk about the team, he can simply not talk about the team.

 

I think Twins fans need to seriously reconsider their willingness to financially support a team that is not just mismanaged, but also deeply dishonest. The team took hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars in exchange for a lie- that they would put the new revenue to use.

 

At least Ryan is honest about the fact wins and losses don't matter to him, fans don't matter to him. Strutting around as an 'old school' GM is what matters to him.

[Major League Ready]

This is an insane way to judge two pitchers. One pitched in the AL East in Yankee Stadium. The other pitched in the NL East in Citi Field.

 

Wow! Did you entirely miss the point. I recognize the difference and actually started to point out the difference but it was already a long post an within the context of the point being made it did not warrant further explanation. I have written here in the past that Hughes is one of the few SPs I think is a realistic option. Obviously, Target field and the AL central will be benefit Hughes. I would consider it a good sign if we get him. However, it does not change the two points being made in the previous post. One, that there are very realistic options. The theorists here say just go do it. Two, Some of the names being thrown out as much better options are not necessarily better. (ie. Lincecum)

[Rosterman]

Well, remember, the Twins supposedly wanted Pelfry back in the Santana deal.

 

The big needs is a big line-up/bench bat...someone to DH other than Doumit. Also, at least three free agent starters. One could be Plefry, but the otehr two better shine (and would be expensive).

 

Offensively, the Twins did suck this year, strikeouts and advancing runners and all. But I look and think, this is not a bad battery for next season:

 

C - Pinto

1B - Mauer

2B - Dozier

SS - Florimon

3B - Plouffe

RF - Arcia

CF - Presley

LF - Willingham

DH - Doumit

 

Again, a significant bat in the lineup would be nice. Would hope that Presley is a palcesetter only. Florimon, I would want more offense. If Willingham is back, that is a big plus. Without Mauer at 1B you are still stuck with Colabello or Parmelee, neitehr longterm, but possible bench guys (Parmelee, Colabello, Escobar, Mastro or someone else). You have your three catchers.

 

If Mauer starts at catcher, I guess you add Herrmann back into the mix, but you have a dead spot at 1B.

 

The bullpen will patch together.

 

But with Correia being the only bonafide returneee, maybe Diamond, you can keep Gibson on the farm until you trade one of your free agent "signees" or Correia. Deduno is a question. Worley may never make it back. Meyer and May and Dean and Darnell are the up-and-comers.

 

The Twins can spend $20-25 million (maybe more with the MLB money) easily on just the rotation for each of the next three seasons.

 

Humm...four...Pelfry, Santana and two bonafides at $10-12 million a year for 2-3 years.

[raindog]

"Terry Ryan 'Last' Appearance on Inside Twins"

 

I must admit, I had my hopes up that upon perusing the title of this thread......that the headline contained an entirely different meaning than what the content actually revealed. So now after reading and hearing the interview, I'm even more deptressed.

 

Sorry.

 

To be fair, he did say he's fully accountable and takes all the blame. But at times he was pretty contradictory.

 

Early on he was talking about how the offense was a bigger problem than the pitching. Why does it matter? The offense and pitching were God awful.

[ThePuck]

Sorry.

 

To be fair, he did say he's fully accountable and takes all the blame. But at times he was pretty contradictory.

 

Early on he was talking about how the offense was a bigger problem than the pitching. Why does it matter? The offense and pitching were God awful.

 

It matters because last offseason he said he'd do everything he could to significantly improve the starting pitching. So, of course, he's going to focus more on the offense with his comments.

[big dog]

Haha--Correia, Pelfrey, Diamond, Gibson, Duensing . . . . your 2014 opening rotation. Ahahahahahaha! If 4/5 or 5/5 of this is correct, I am going to go insane next year. I know it.

 

Totally agree. If you take #3, #4, #5 from that pool, fine. If you don't have two starters better than that, why bother. You're shooting for 4th place at that point.

[big dog]

One has to be creative to assemble a major league (even a poor one) roster for ~$65MM when one guy gets $23MM. It can be done (witness Houston and Miami) but it takes total committment to payroll slashing. The Twins are headed in that direction--but, as in everything they try--they go slowly.

 

And if they spend $63 million next year, then they aren't even trying for 4th place.

[chopper0080]

Well, remember, the Twins supposedly wanted Pelfry back in the Santana deal.

 

The big needs is a big line-up/bench bat...someone to DH other than Doumit. Also, at least three free agent starters. One could be Plefry, but the otehr two better shine (and would be expensive).

 

Offensively, the Twins did suck this year, strikeouts and advancing runners and all. But I look and think, this is not a bad battery for next season:

 

C - Pinto

1B - Mauer

2B - Dozier

SS - Florimon

3B - Plouffe

RF - Arcia

CF - Presley

LF - Willingham

DH - Doumit

 

Again, a significant bat in the lineup would be nice. Would hope that Presley is a palcesetter only. Florimon, I would want more offense. If Willingham is back, that is a big plus. Without Mauer at 1B you are still stuck with Colabello or Parmelee, neitehr longterm, but possible bench guys (Parmelee, Colabello, Escobar, Mastro or someone else). You have your three catchers.

 

If Mauer starts at catcher, I guess you add Herrmann back into the mix, but you have a dead spot at 1B.

 

The bullpen will patch together.

 

But with Correia being the only bonafide returneee, maybe Diamond, you can keep Gibson on the farm until you trade one of your free agent "signees" or Correia. Deduno is a question. Worley may never make it back. Meyer and May and Dean and Darnell are the up-and-comers.

 

The Twins can spend $20-25 million (maybe more with the MLB money) easily on just the rotation for each of the next three seasons.

 

Humm...four...Pelfry, Santana and two bonafides at $10-12 million a year for 2-3 years.

 

That lineup sucks and leads to another 90 loss season.

[Badsmerf]

Just listened to the interview.

 

Disturbing TR quotes:

 

Pitching better than hitting.

Thought there was a good chance to finish over coming into the year .500 (are you ****ing kidding me!!)

Difficult time with run support (insisting pitching was fine).

"Sprinkle in FA." When talking about A's and Indians. He is so out of touch.

Chasing FA route setting yourself up for failure (they are the devil apparently).

Pelfrey is going to be here for sure. - If you have the money, why not get someone with upside?

[Shane Wahl]

How many times will Pelfrey implode in the 5th or 6th inning next year?

[cmathewson]

Just listened to the interview.

 

Disturbing TR quotes:

 

Pitching better than hitting.

Thought there was a good chance to finish over coming into the year .500 (are you ****ing kidding me!!)

Difficult time with run support (insisting pitching was fine).

"Sprinkle in FA." When talking about A's and Indians. He is so out of touch.

Chasing FA route setting yourself up for failure (they are the devil apparently).

Pelfrey is going to be here for sure. - If you have the money, why not get someone with upside?

 

I have long been an apologist for TR. But that stance is becoming untenable. I think he's not only out of touch with his team, he's out of touch with the game. The game has changed to the point where you can't grind out wins with mediocre talent. My confidence in the Twins future is at a new low.

[Shane Wahl]

I have long been an apologist for TR. But that stance is becoming untenable. I think he's not only out of touch with his team, he's out of touch with the game. The game has changed to the point where you can't grind out wins with mediocre talent. My confidence in the Twins future is at a new low.

 

Exact same for me. I mark my 3,000th post with merely a "ditto" here.

[drivlikejehu]

Not that it lets him off the hook for his ineptitude, but Ryan is probably taking heat on purpose to shield ownership. That's probably why Ryan was put back in the GM role to begin with - slash payroll, while using the credibility he built up back in the day to cover for the Pohlads' sucking tens or hundreds of millions out of the organization.

 

This fits neatly with Pohlad's bizarre statement recently about being willing to spend in the short-term, which of course was meaningless because top free agents rarely agree to one-year deals. And even that was probably not true, given what Ryan is publicly saying.

 

Every actual indication we have is that the Twins will try to rebuild on the cheap, and if that doesn't work, they will just accept losing, whether its for 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, etc. The Marlins have shown how the revenue sharing system makes a strategy like that viable despite the reduction in ticket sales, merchandise, etc.

[old nurse]

So the OP's paraphrasing was almost word-for-word accurate. So all the skepticism talk can just die right here, he dismissed the ERA stat in favor of saying he wasn't "as down" on the pitching as the stat indicates. Ugh.

 

Terry also said he thought before the season they could finish at or above .500.

 

What roster was he looking at?

 

A season of IFS. IF Plouffe plays nearer to the player he was last June and July. If Diamond, Willingham and Doumit perform like last year. If Hicks is league average at hitting. If Worley was the pitcher he was in Philli. If the middle infield becomes functional. If Morneau regains more of his old form. If Correia pitches like normal. If Pelfrey is what he was if NY. If all those ifs were true, the Twins could have been a .500 team.

They weren't.

I think Ryan hoped the pitchers added and Diamond would be an aggregate league average pitcher. He hoped the players maintained or stepped up their level of play. Dozier has, no one else did. No rookies stepped forward. Hence, the Twins became what they are.

[TheLeviathan]

A season of IFS. IF Plouffe plays nearer to the player he was last June and July. If Diamond, Willingham and Doumit perform like last year. If Hicks is league average at hitting. If Worley was the pitcher he was in Philli. If the middle infield becomes functional. If Morneau regains more of his old form. If Correia pitches like normal. If Pelfrey is what he was if NY. If all those ifs were true, the Twins could have been a .500 team.

They weren't.

I think Ryan hoped the pitchers added and Diamond would be an aggregate league average pitcher. He hoped the players maintained or stepped up their level of play. Dozier has, no one else did. No rookies stepped forward. Hence, the Twins became what they are.

 

If your plan is to have everything go right with no margin for error....I call that poor planning. I only would excuse the Worley and Hicks issues personally. Plouffe's history was not on our side that he would get better. Ditto Willingham and Doumit.

 

Everything you listed was very much forseeable as problems. In fact, many here posted exactly those concerns prior to the season. This wasn't some kind of disaster of bad luck - this was a roster with limited talent that was relying too much on hope rather than depth of actual talent.

[howieramone1406390264]

The plan to compete was a disaster. The rebuilding plan, now all of 22 months old, continues to show signs of future success. A less stable or experienced organization may well have commingled the two, surrendered to pressure, and traded Sano and/or Buxton.