Line Of Succession

I think the Cubs are demonstrating how you have to have a really specific plan for what you like and what you don't and build with that.  I think Terry comes from an era where you just assembled assets and tried to fit them as you go.

 

Epstien has brilliantly targeted hitters with high picks and high value trades because he knows that scouting their future impact is generally more reliable.  (Plus they are less likely to have injury issues and longer careers) He's supplemented the pitching staff with buy-low moves and free agent dollars.  

 

That basic framework is so easy to replicate.  Or, hell, do something else smart for all I care - but time for a total change in organizational framework.  Gut the whole front office.

Yeah, hire a really smart up and comer from another organization that is more well respected than the Twins.  We could throw out about five really good examples and another 10-15 that would be an improvement upon today.  When you do that, they tend to know other smart, well respected people and bring them over too. 

Sign me up.  

Watch the guys let go either retire or take lesser jobs elsewhere.  Similarly how nobody is beating down Gardy's door. Tommy Milone's door.  Casey Fien is in AAA.  We paid Duensing $6M the last three years and he has yet to throw a pitch somewhere else. And so on.  The Gardy coaching tree, or front office tree of Terry Ryan is not exactly blooming.

BREAKING: Twins go outside the organization, hire new GM.

GM George...George Glass. 

I understand Terry Ryan has respect throughout baseball. But, honestly, do we not think it's not time to bring in someone from outside the organization?

Terry has had five years to fix this. He hasn't fixed it. A few points:

* Yes, he helped build the farm system; but he SHOULD have built up the farm system because the team has had top draft choices for years now and some of these top prospects (like Miguel Sano) were actually signed under Bill Smith. Relatively few of the team's top prospects have come to the team via trade.

* Most of his free agent signings have not worked. Even the players who did work initially, Phil Hughes and Kurt Suzuki, were then resigned to longer-term deals and have regressed badly.

* He had badly misaligned the roster. There are too many poor fielding corner infielders/outfielders/DH types; not enough guys who can get on base and few stud fielders. This team badly needs a couple of trades to realign the roster. (As a side note: The piss-poor fielding likely cost the team a win last night, or at least extra innings - a better left fielder likely gets Adam Jones' hit in the 9th).

* The bullpen. Oh, the bullpen. That bullpen has cost the team several games this season, and everybody KNEW in the offseason that it needed to be fixed. And while Terry Ryan wants to reserve spots for his young arms like Burdi and Chargois, those guys aren't up with the team.

Again, Terry Ryan is owed a lot of credit for the 2000s resurgence. But it really is time to overhaul the front office and bring in some outsiders.

To tell the truth, I'm more dismayed at Molly's management than Ryan's.  You've got to do the best with what you're given to work with, and the mind-boggling decisions on lineups and game days, along with the club's seeming unpreparedness in so many situations, (middle-school level baserunning mistakes, defensive lapses of throwing to the wrong base, or not being focused enough to handle relay throws), that's on the field manager.   So we're lacking in the bullpen, and too often in the rotation- so people aren't hitting the way they have in the past-  fer cryin' out loud, find the hot hand, and put them in a position to help- don't have your hottest current hitter in the god-forsaken 9 spot.  Don't put a guy fresh off a lackluster rehab in cleanup.  Don't bring up a guy who's been lights out in AAA and make him sit for 9 days.  These are elemental things, that shouldn't have to be addressed at the mlb level.

BREAKING: Twins go outside the organization, hire new GM.

 

GM George...George Glass. 

Is that a tarantula on his head? Extra points if yes.

Sure.  As the equipment manager.

Who else could play Santa at the team Christmas party?

I'm so horrified to think that the Torii Hunter thing might actually happen.

If Gardenhire's being groomed as anything it might be as a potential manager.  The current guy in that spot seems to be among the struggling.  Don't see him being groomed as a potential GM. 

Anyone who thinks Rob Antony would be a good GM must have lost their mind entirely from watching this team play. Or they're part of the good ol' boys club and afraid of losing their press pass.

To tell the truth, I'm more dismayed at Molly's management than Ryan's. You've got to do the best with what you're given to work with, and the mind-boggling decisions on lineups and game days, along with the club's seeming unpreparedness in so many situations, (middle-school level baserunning mistakes, defensive lapses of throwing to the wrong base, or not being focused enough to handle relay throws), that's on the field manager. So we're lacking in the bullpen, and too often in the rotation- so people aren't hitting the way they have in the past- fer cryin' out loud, find the hot hand, and put them in a position to help- don't have your hottest current hitter in the god-forsaken 9 spot. Don't put a guy fresh off a lackluster rehab in cleanup. Don't bring up a guy who's been lights out in AAA and make him sit for 9 days. These are elemental things, that shouldn't have to be addressed at the mlb level.

And Terry Ryan hand picked Mollie as his field manager, so that all comes back to Terry.

That's the responsibility of being in upper management. You are responsible for the hires you make, period.

Neither extreme is good.  You are right.  But if I had to pick I would take the owner that cares so much he meddles and is quick to replace people that are incompetent.   We have a guy that has not run a thing in his life who is either in denial or afraid to fire someone. 

At least Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder have their heads in the right spot and are competitive to no end.  You have guys worth billions who get upset about their team losing and think they alone can fix it.  And I believe I heard the other day that since Jimmy Johnson left, the Cowboys were a .500 team.  That is a far cry from where the Twins have been.