Twins Fire General Manager Terry Ryan

I've got a goofy theory. Ryan decided to retire at the end of the season and informed Pohlad. He wanted his hand picked successor to get the job, but Pohlad said he would do a traditional candidate search outside the organization too, while considering Antony. Ryan said that Antony wouldn't get a fair shake in that scenario, given the record of the club etc. So they reached an agreement to give Antony this audition until the end of the season. I don't know what metrics Pohlad might choose to judge Antony by, but this would fit the evidence I can think of at the moment, and explain the unusual timing.

I bet this is accurate. Seth threw this out there in his article today too

I've never been a manager but I feel I could've done a better job than Ryan.

I more than strenuously disagree.

I've got a goofy theory. Ryan decided to retire at the end of the season and informed Pohlad. He wanted his hand picked successor to get the job, but Pohlad said he would do a traditional candidate search outside the organization too, while considering Antony. Ryan said that Antony wouldn't get a fair shake in that scenario, given the record of the club etc. So they reached an agreement to give Antony this audition until the end of the season. I don't know what metrics Pohlad might choose to judge Antony by, but this would fit the evidence I can think of at the moment, and explain the unusual timing.

But entirely possible.

Prepare for a fire sale and the total salary dump thing is real, why else would TR choose to step away now when he was already notified he is not coming back after 2016. Other GM's smell blood in the water and are now preparted to offer little to nothing for Twins major league talent if they make any kind of salary. My prediciton on the one guy they will keep is Brian Dozier because they like to market the team around him. Why Joe Mauer has signed on with this ownership even if he is comfortable is beyond me. If there were ever a time Mauer wanted to waive his no trade clause and go play for a contender this would be the season. 

 

The Pohlads and this ownership group  have always been about making money on baseball and that is there sole goal. The  priority for Twins ownership even dating back to Carl's was to never spend more than 50% of revenues on baseball talent and running the baseball operations, to never reach for a championship when one with a few moves was within reach.

 

That is partially why this team despite contending during the down years of the American League Central, contended they never went anywhere in the playoffs. This ownership group has never been one that would stretch to obtain the ultimate goal which is a World Championship. They have been the beneficiaries of good baseball men and staffs that have been able to squeeze blood from a turnip. The game of baseball has changed, you have to spend a little coin in the international market, and Cuba especially on pitching in order to grab the top ring. I just don't see even with new leadership, that Twins ownership will ever go far enough to bring another World Championship to this organization. The owners are just not bold enough to bring themselves to the brink of spending just enough to win. This ownership is only in it for what will sell tickets, beer and put money in there pockets, always has been always will be. It is why fans and Minnesotans were reluctant to build a stadium in the first place. If this is a precursor to them selling the Minnesota Twins, than maybe after the 2016 not having to share in profits of the team in selling will finally happen. They even though they have been in the game a long time just do not seem to have a passion for baseball and being MLB owners.  

In this instance a salary dump would not be a bad thing.  The highest paid players on this team are also the oldest and honestly not the greatest, Nolasco, Hughes, Plouffe, Mauer, Suzuki, Santana.  Cutting bait on them and receiving younger talent in return could be a blessing.  Although Mauer being traded is a pipe dream and would require many things to happen such him waiving a no trade clause, he would get to pick which team to go to, that team would have to want/need him and they would have to send lots of money along with him.

I read somewhere that Pohland's daughter and Molitor's daughter had a business together or worked together, that could have been a real factor in this decision.

If this is actually the case, it is a big whiff by the reporters at the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press.

You have been following how hard these reporters cover the team, right?

It could just be the old home town factor.  Pohlads are big here and could have some influence on coverage.  Also the owner of the Star Tribune is Glen Taylor who owns the Wolves.  Could be some influence.

I'm not trying to pick on you but this is a clearcut case of the Dunning Kruger Effect in action.

 

No, you wouldn't be better at Ryan's job than he was from 2011-2015. Neither would I.

 

That doesn't mean there weren't better candidates available but Ryan had 35+ years of baseball experience and was at least moderately capable of performing general manager duties.

 

Which is more than any of us can say.

The more I hear/read in quotes from the parties involved, I think it came down to this: Ryan was ready to blow things up and start again - that included getting rid of veterans and eating salary to maximize return AND probably replacing Molitor, who has shown little interest in dealing with the growing pains of young players. This based upon the statements from Ryan that they were going to be very active a the trade deadline, and from Pohlad that they didn't agree on how best to "fix things". I think Pohlad is most interested in fielding a competitive team, and cares little about actually winning a championship. Competitive teams are quite profitable. It seems to me he has no interest in dealing with the lost revenue associated with a full rebuild and would rather just get back to where we were in 2015.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Ryan wanted to go with Luvollo or Mienikiewicz prior to the 2014 season and was told Molitor was his guy.  If this is true, than Pohlad is more of a meddler than most of us thought, and probably has something to do with the signings of Nolasco and Santana.