I don't think this article is aimed squarely at Bill Smith at all. "This is not purely an indictment of Bill Smith. The Twins employ a vast network of scouts and other talent evaluators, front office personnel who should have had contingency plans in place for the 2007 offseason long before Smith ascended to general manager. The Twins’ long-standing player development philosophies—strike-throwing pitchers with limited upside; speedy, slap-hitting middle infielders in the mold of a traditional no. 2 hitter—left them predisposed to misjudge the talent in front of them." It does seem to indicate that the bottom dropped out when Smith took the helm, which I disagree with. The stage had been set before TR stepped down. It doesn't, however, claim the Twins problems are magically fixed now that TR is back in the saddle.