JB_Iowa

Oops, thanks. Should read that blurb above not just count years especially when he saw little action those first 2 or 3.

Here's the problem. To me, firing the pitching coach isn't the owner's job. It's the GM's job. And Ryan's failure to take action is, for me, reflective of the "old boys club" atmosphere that permeates this franchise. And that's pretty much why I think a new GM who can evaluate what is working and not working -- and WHO should keep their job and not keep their job is necessary. A fresh perspective.

Yesterday in the game thread, Glunn posed the following question: If you could be the owner of the Twins for one day, and could fire the GM, would you do it? If so, who would you try to hire as the new GM? Since it looks like the Worley thread is taking a turn in this direction, I thought I'd post it here. Just to get the discussion rolling, I'll post my answer from the game thread. I'd probably refine it a little but I'm feeling lazy this morning so I'll start with it as it was: I would fire him. My primary basis for doing so would be the stagnant nature of the front office staff and the field staff over the past few years. Other than the 3 token coaching terminations, we haven't seen anything that would lead us to believe that there was any change in the "business as usual" nature of the FO decisions. Yes, they spent a little more in free agency this year but they certainly didn't spend near their limit. I felt -- and continue to feel -- that Gardenhire needed to be gone before this season. As I've mentioned before, I think he may well be a good manager elsewhere. There is just too much same old, same old to keep him (and Rick Anderson) with the Twins. And I think someone from outside the organization should have been hired for the manager's job. Perhaps the move would be more symbolic than effectual but at some point, I think you need to show that you are serious about changing the culture. I'm lousy at questions of who to hire plus as we are seeing elsewhere, there are the questions of who would take the GM job. But again, I would be looking for someone from outside the organization and I would empower that person to make whatever changes need to be made including replacing whatever front office and field staff needs to be replaced. That type of change isn't easy and sounds pretty hard-hearted. And the decision to do so would be difficult when you look at the prospects that the Twins have coming up. But I'm reminded again that prospects are just that -- prospects. We haven't seen them prove anything yet and there are a lot of decisions that need to be made about how to make some of those prospects flourish in the majors. I've been ready for a change for some time. Let the furor begin.

The Twins went out and spent big on free agent pitching during the offseason, and yet they still can't seem to escape the same old outcome: eroded depth and a totally inadequate starting staff. At what point do you look at the team's overall pitching philosophy? I'm not making excuses for Nolasco but Nolasco isn't the only problem here. We also have the Pelfrey signing. We have Meyer who has been inconsistent. We have May who was looking pretty good before injury but wasn't given a look-see. We see Worley go to Pittsburgh and have success. I know that many posters on TD are excited about the depth of pitching talent in the minors. I have concerns about whether that minor league depth will translate to good pitching in the majors. I'm not specifically blaming Rick Anderson (or anyone else in the organization) for Nolasco's troubles -- most of that falls on Nolasco's shoulders. In looking over the threads from when Nolasco was signed, TD posters were generally supportive but not overwhelmed by the Nolasco signing. He was seen mostly as a solid 3/4 -- an innings eater, not necessarily a staff leader. Obviously he hasn't even done that. There were a few posters who foresaw Nolasco's struggles so even this doesn't come as a complete surprise (and maybe someone with the Twins should have foreseen those struggles). The question is whether the Twins (1) are good at evaluating major league ready pitching talent; and (2) are capable of nurturing their minor league depth to turn into reliable major league pitchers. I don't have a very good feeling about the answers to either of those questions.

I wanted to see Dozier make the AS team but I don't see his non-selection as a snub. There were just a lot of players who were worthy at 2nd base. You do have to consider position. The AL has a group of really good 2B men right now. Enjoy their play and hope it continues and we get to see a different set of them next year. (But fan voting is unfortunate in that it allows certain markets to dominate player selection. That being said, I'm off to vote Morneau a few more times.) Edit: One other thing. We've gotten to see a lot of nice national articles about Dozier -- the season he was having and whether he should be selected. That has value in building him up for future years.

Perkins has a limited no trade clause. It includes the Rays and 4 or 5 other teams. He is also very close to having 5 and 10 rights which would give him the opportunity to veto trades (and might be a reason to trade him now before the rights kick in). http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_25347388/minnesota-twins-perkins-deal-includes-limited-no-trade http://puckettspond.com/2014/04/21/glen-perkins-tampa-bay-rays-trade-clause/ http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-10-and-5-rights/ I just am not very accepting of the argument that trading a player soon after a contract is signed will be a negative for future signings. I guess if it becomes an overall regular pattern, that could be true. I'm not sure that a case now and then really causes that. I don't think the Twins will trade Perkins. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't listen to offers.

I just voted a bunch of times for Morneau (I thought it would stop me at some point and since I was watching something on TV, I just kept voting. You can cast a lot of votes in a half hour or so). Just didn't vote in the AL. I hope Morneau makes it but there is a lot of lobbying going on in the boards over at mlb -- and talk of alliances between fan bases.

Seth tweeted that J.O. has been promoted to NB. Assume he'll be doing a story on it: Seth Stohs ‏@SethTweets 59m Very happy to hear that JO Berrios is being promoted to AA New Britain! Congratulations @JOlaMaquina!

Apparently we should be worried about Nolasco and Gardenhire didn't mince many words: Rhett Bollinger ‏@RhettBollinger 1h Ron Gardenhire was clearly not pleased postgame with Ricky Nolasco's performance: "He did nothing for us today and didn’t give us a chance." Mike Berardino ‏@MikeBerardino 1h 7 weeks ago there was concern about Nolasco's hamstring, but Gardy shot that down. "Hasn’t had any problems. Hasn’t said a word about it." Mike Berardino ‏@MikeBerardino 1h Does Gardy have injury suspicions re: Nolasco? "Nope. Not gonna blame it on anything other than sh-tty pitching." Mike Berardino ‏@MikeBerardino 1h Gardy on Nolasco to pen: "We’re discussing a lot of options, trying to figure it out. It starts with him. He’s got to do a better job."

Thomas Harding ‏@harding_at_mlb 1m #Rockies 1B Justin Morneau will be a Final Vote candidate for the NL All-Star squad. I don't usually vote but here's one I can support!

No, Dozier didn't make it. Here's hoping that in a few years Nick Gordon joins big brother Dee and Dad Flash as All Stars.

Congrats to Perk and Suzuki! And welcome back to Neshek and Gomez.

Wow, wish I hadn't clicked on the 4th page there, Bark.

Phooey.

I'll take that instead of the HBP.

Lesson to self: Make sure to close the dog's treat cupboard firmly.

In honesty, I can't believe how many of us have stuck around for this game.

And that's where I think a fresh perspective really comes into play. Identifying those opportunities for improvement. I just think when you've developed the system and grown with it for 25 years, it's hard to have that objective eye. I know that the Twins supposedly made some system-wide changes at the time of TK's retirement but even that has been more than a decade ago. And when all you do is promote from within, you never have someone with "clout" who comes in with that fresh eye.

You might be fine. I'd be a disaster.

Well, I liked Glunn's post anyway but your approach is actually the one I favor. There must be things that the Twins do/have done that work and are worth keeping. And there are undoubtedly some personnel who should be kept. But ultimately, I want someone who can chart a new course for the organization combining the best of what has worked while adding some of the best of "what's new" that may work elsewhere. I like that the organization has a long-term view and I wouldn't expect quick miracles but when I think of long-term view, I'm looking more at 10-12 years rather than the 20+ we're at now.

I would fire him. My primary basis for doing so would be the stagnant nature of the front office staff and the field staff over the past few years. Other than the 3 token coaching terminations, we haven't seen anything that would lead us to believe that there was any change in the "business as usual" nature of the FO decisions. Yes, they spent a little more in free agency this year but they certainly didn't spend near their limit. I felt -- and continue to feel -- that Gardenhire needed to be gone before this season. As I've mentioned before, I think he may well be a good manager elsewhere. There is just too much same old, same old to keep him (and Rick Anderson) with the Twins. And I think someone from outside the organization should have been hired for the manager's job. Perhaps the move would be more symbolic than effectual but at some point, I think you need to show that you are serious about changing the culture. I'm lousy at questions of who to hire plus as we are seeing elsewhere, there are the questions of who would take the GM job. But again, I would be looking for someone from outside the organization and I would empower that person to make whatever changes need to be made including replacing whatever front office and field staff needs to be replaced. That type of change isn't easy and sounds pretty hard-hearted. And the decision to do so would be difficult when you look at the prospects that the Twins have coming up. But I'm reminded again that prospects are just that -- prospects. We haven't seen them prove anything yet and there are a lot of decisions that need to be made about how to make some of those prospects flourish in the majors. I've been ready for a change for some time.

Good for CC!

There's the balk Gardenhire wanted yesterday ... on the wrong pitcher unfortunately.

Not soon enough.