Article: Right Man for the Job

[Mr. Brooks]

Count me in the Ruesse camp.

Gardy has created, or at least allowed, a culture of "i'll play when I want to play" to take over the clubhouse.

Say what you want about Ruesse, but there is NOBODY in this market who has more baseball sources than him, and if he says that part of the reason Cuddyer wanted out was because of the culture of "entitlement" that has been created, I believe him.

Far too often guys miss far too many games with extremely minor injuries.

 

And on another sub topic that has been brought up in this thread, I really don't understand the statement, "...the worst thing they could do is cave into fan pressure..."

LOL, what?

Aren't the fans the customers?

As a business owner, I have to say that placing such minimal value on customer satisfaction is pretty laughable.

I'm trying to picture myself telling a disgruntled customer that I can't really go around appeasing my customers, I'm not sure I'd keep much business if I did so.

[howieramone1406390264]

Count me in the Ruesse camp.

Gardy has created, or at least allowed, a culture of "i'll play when I want to play" to take over the clubhouse.

Say what you want about Ruesse, but there is NOBODY in this market who has more baseball sources than him, and if he says that part of the reason Cuddyer wanted out was because of the culture of "entitlement" that has been created, I believe him.

Far too often guys miss far too many games with extremely minor injuries.

 

And on another sub topic that has been brought up in this thread, I really don't understand the statement, "...the worst thing they could do is cave into fan pressure..."

LOL, what?

Aren't the fans the customers?

As a business owner, I have to say that placing such minimal value on customer satisfaction is pretty laughable.

I'm trying to picture myself telling a disgruntled customer that I can't really go around appeasing my customers, I'm not sure I'd keep much business if I did so.

 

What he means is just becomes some fans panic doesn't mean you have to. Nothing some fans like more than firing people or signing free agents to 6 year, 147M contracts. The Twins have millions of loyal and knowledgeable fans, you don't cave in to a vocal minority. If millions decide to vote with their feet, then that's a different deal.

[ThePuck]

What he means is just becomes some fans panic doesn't mean you have to. Nothing a fan board likes more than firing people or signing free agents to 6 year, 147M contracts. The Twins have millions of loyal and knowledgeable fans, you don't cave in to a vocal minority. If millions decide to vote with their feet, then that's a different deal.

 

This is the second time in the last two or three days that you've said the Twins have millions of loyal and knowledgeable fans, then right after say something that seemingly classifies others are not. Are there people on here you're referring to that you don't think meet this criteria because they disagree with your point of view or Ryan's point of view/plan of action?

 

Oh, and BTW, show all of us the poster(s) who said they want to sign free agents to 6 year 147M contracts.

[Riverbrian]

This is the second time in the last two or three days that you've said the Twins have millions of loyal and knowledgeable fans, then right after say something that seemingly classifies others are not. Are there people on here you're referring to that you don't think meet this criteria because they disagree with your point of view or Ryan's point of view/plan of action?

 

Oh, and BTW, show all of us the poster(s) who said they want to sign free agents to 6 year 147M contracts.

 

Puck And Howie... I'm gonna step in and ask for niceness. More accurately... Warn...

 

Niceness will prevent slippage from the rails.

[Guest USAFChief]

Roughly a half million voted with their feet in 2013 compared to 2011. Does anyone know what FSNs baseball ratings were this year compared to 2 yrs ago?

[TheLeviathan]

Roughly a half million voted with their feet in 2013 compared to 2011. Does anyone know what FSNs baseball ratings were this year compared to 2 yrs ago?

 

Well, even if you can find that number you'll have to also find out how many of them were busy preparing the parade route.

 

I think we'll start seeing that backlash coming soon if this offseason is underwhelming. Target Field, in all it's brilliant glory, is masking some larger issues.

[ThePuck]

Well, even if you can find that number you'll have to also find out how many of them were busy preparing the parade route.

 

Or how many people actually attended as opposed to sold tickets

[TheLeviathan]

Or how many people actually attended as opposed to sold tickets

 

I think that's important too. They sold a lot of season tickets (part of my theory about the hold the all-star game has had) but the park is almost never as full as the attendance states. I wish we could get our hands on season ticket figures.

[jokin]

I think that's important too. They sold a lot of season tickets (part of my theory about the hold the all-star game has had) but the park is almost never as full as the attendance states. I wish we could get our hands on season ticket figures.

 

I don't have the link, but a few weeks ago Rob Antony was quoted as saying the Twins sold 19000 season tickets this year, down significantly by about 24% year-over-year from 2012, repeating a similar percentage decline for 2012 versus 2011.

[jokin]

Well, even if you can find that number you'll have to also find out how many of them were busy preparing the parade route.

 

I think we'll start seeing that backlash coming soon if this offseason is underwhelming. Target Field, in all it's brilliant glory, is masking some larger issues.

 

The Pohlad's, of course, know that the "the new stadium" effect bought them time in having to realistically address the larger issues, as well as the 2014 All Star game (and the Pohlad's got a significant bump in their net worth while they wait in having to deal with this mess). Until the IRS/Carl Pohlad estate issues are made more clear, they probably are going to continue to limit significant payroll bumps.

[beckmt]

Talent wins games, both Casey Stengel and Connie Mack had multiple very bad losing seasons. At the end of the year many of the players on the team are not going to be here in the future, Diamond, Albers, De Vires, Pedro Hernandez, Bernier, Mastro, Fryer to name a few. Several others should be traded or roles redefined (Duensing, Parmelle, Collobella, Plouffe, Escobar, Pressley, Hendriks). Others should be traded for new parts during the next season (Willingham, Doumit). That is 40% of the current 40 man roster, with many of these being gone over the winter. No manager could win with this group, now if after next year players do not develop as expected at the major league level, that is a whole new issue, that could get a manager fired. I do not like calling out players(which I feel Gardy does too often, even if the need it). You will not get the best performance out of your players if they feel tension from making mistakes. That was the reason I would not have been disappointed to see him go, but I hope the Twins have talked to him about improvement in this area.

[howieramone1406390264]

I agree players should not be called out, but I certainly understand Gardy's frustration. This is an organization that is not used to losing and quite frankly not used to being questioned the way they are. But that's life in the big city.

[wagwan]

What I don't understand is why the players are supporting Gardy while he is quickly pointing the finger right at them. He says they are the problem, not him. Do they not get that they will be replaced according to Gardy and Ryan? Or is it only the "safe" players who support him? And if that's the case, what value does that support have?

[Riverbrian]

What I don't understand is why the players are supporting Gardy while he is quickly pointing the finger right at them. He says they are the problem, not him. Do they not get that they will be replaced according to Gardy and Ryan? Or is it only the "safe" players who support him? And if that's the case, what value does that support have?

 

That would certainly be dysfunctional.

 

Pohlad: So... Gardenhire?

 

Ryan: (Gives the Thumbs Up Sign) Let's Keep him

 

Pohlad: Really? Why?

 

Ryan: Jim... I'm responsible for giving him the bad baseball players that he had to work with... All in All... I'm very impressed by the job Ron did... Through it all... He hasn't lost the clubhouse. Those players want to play for him.

 

Pohlad: So... You are saying... The players performed better this year because they want to play for Ron.

 

Ryan: Yes... Yes I am... Except... Well... No... No I'm not... (Coughs) What I'm saying is... that if the players played better this year. They would be happy to do so under Gardenhire's direction.

 

Pohlad: Are we keeping those players?

 

Ryan: No we are not... Ok... Let me rephrase that... We will not keep those players IF we can find better players. If we can't... If we can't find better players... We will have to keep them.

 

Pohlad: If we bring in new players... Will they want to play for Ron? Will they come to Minnesota to play for Ron?

 

Ryan: Yes they will... Except... Well... No they won't... Because Ron has lost a lot of baseball games the past 3 years. But I want to be clear that if we hadn't lost this many games... That these players we are trying to bring in... They would love to play for Ron.

 

Pohlad: If we were winning games the past three years... would we be looking for new players?

 

Ryan: No... We wouldn't be.

 

Pohlad: Ok... the recommendation is stay with Ron for another year because he hasn't lost the clubhouse.

 

Ryan: Two Years.

[ThePuck]

That would certainly be dysfunctional.

 

Pohlad: So... Gardenhire?

 

Ryan: (Gives the Thumbs Up Sign) Let's Keep him

 

Pohlad: Really? Why?

 

Ryan: Jim... I'm responsible for giving him the bad baseball players that he had to work with... All in All... I'm very impressed by the job Ron did... Through it all... He hasn't lost the clubhouse. Those players want to play for him.

 

Pohlad: So... You are saying... The players performed better this year because they want to play for Ron.

 

Ryan: Yes... Yes I am... Except... Well... No... No I'm not... (Coughs) What I'm saying is... that if the players played better this year. They would be happy to do so under Gardenhire's direction.

 

Pohlad: Are we keeping those players?

 

Ryan: No we are not... Ok... Let me rephrase that... We will not keep those players IF we can find better players. If we can't... If we can't find better players... We will have to keep them.

 

Pohlad: If we bring in new players... Will they want to play for Ron? Will they come to Minnesota to play for Ron?

 

Ryan: Yes they will... Except... Well... No they won't... Because Ron has lost a lot of baseball games the past 3 years. But I want to be clear that if we hadn't lost this many games... That these players we are trying to bring in... They would love to play for Ron.

 

Pohlad: If we were winning games the past three years... would we be looking for new players?

 

Ryan: No... We wouldn't be.

 

Pohlad: Ok... the recommendation is stay with Ron for another year because he hasn't lost the clubhouse.

 

Ryan: Two Years.

 

That is fantastic!

[JB_Iowa]

That is fantastic!

 

Gotta love that super sleuth technology that let RB bug Ryan's office.

[ThePuck]

Gotta love that super sleuth technology that let RB bug Ryan's office.

 

He got Ryan's double-talk down pat! :-)

[ThePuck]

[Riverbrian]

It's kind of like Butch Cassidy and Sundance looking over the Cliff and Sundance not wanting to jump because he can't swim.

 

We can't replace Gardy as Manager because the locker room will be upset.

 

It's the Players that are gonna kill you.

[howieramone1406390264]

It's kind of like Butch Cassidy and Sundance looking over the Cliff and Sundance not wanting to jump because he can't swim.

 

We can't replace Gardy as Manager because the locker room will be upset.

 

It's the Players that are gonna kill you.

 

It's like when the coach was asked about his team's execution. He replied, it's not a bad idea.

[Teflon]

First of all, in a business scenario Gardy isn't merely an important employee, he's an executive in the company.

 

Secondly, companies don't choose termination because they are too lazy or unwilling to shoulder their part of the responsibility. They choose termination because there is an immediacy in business to respond to customers, shareholders and the stock price. Show me a board of directors that says to their execs, "Our stock has sunk 50% over the last three years, here's a two-year extension for you and your staff" and I'll show you a business that will quickly have no capital to operate.

 

If the Twins' level of season ticket income, TV revenue, licensing money, share of opponent's gates, and portion of other MLB revenue sources actually mirrored their decline in wins, don't kid yourself, this team would be under new management in a heartbeat. That's why this is a bad analogy.

[LaBombo]

It's like when the coach was asked about his team's execution. He replied, it's not a bad idea.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0616/nfl_g_jmckay_400.jpg

[Richie the Rally Goat]

That would certainly be dysfunctional.

 

Pohlad: So... Gardenhire?

 

Ryan: (Gives the Thumbs Up Sign) Let's Keep him

 

Pohlad: Really? Why?

 

Ryan: Jim... I'm responsible for giving him the bad baseball players that he had to work with... All in All... I'm very impressed by the job Ron did... Through it all... He hasn't lost the clubhouse. Those players want to play for him.

 

Pohlad: So... You are saying... The players performed better this year because they want to play for Ron.

 

Ryan: Yes... Yes I am... Except... Well... No... No I'm not... (Coughs) What I'm saying is... that if the players played better this year. They would be happy to do so under Gardenhire's direction.

 

Pohlad: Are we keeping those players?

 

Ryan: No we are not... Ok... Let me rephrase that... We will not keep those players IF we can find better players. If we can't... If we can't find better players... We will have to keep them.

 

Pohlad: If we bring in new players... Will they want to play for Ron? Will they come to Minnesota to play for Ron?

 

Ryan: Yes they will... Except... Well... No they won't... Because Ron has lost a lot of baseball games the past 3 years. But I want to be clear that if we hadn't lost this many games... That these players we are trying to bring in... They would love to play for Ron.

 

Pohlad: If we were winning games the past three years... would we be looking for new players?

 

Ryan: No... We wouldn't be.

 

Pohlad: Ok... the recommendation is stay with Ron for another year because he hasn't lost the clubhouse.

 

Ryan: Two Years.

we're you in the room? Man that's funny

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Guess what day it is

Wednesday?

[gil4]

I'm disappointed in Gardenhire's rehire for the same reason I am about resigning Pelfrey.

 

They resigned Pelfrey already? I missed that.

[Kwak]

The Pohlad's, of course, know that the "the new stadium" effect bought them time in having to realistically address the larger issues, as well as the 2014 All Star game (and the Pohlad's got a significant bump in their net worth while they wait in having to deal with this mess). Until the IRS/Carl Pohlad estate issues are made more clear, they probably are going to continue to limit significant payroll bumps.

 

You are very PC. I would have posted: "Until hell freezes over, they are going to continue to limit significant payroll bumps."