When TR Retires

[ScottyB]

I think it's a given that Terry Ryan will retire in the not too distant future.  I believe he will take the Tom Kelly approach and when the team turns the corner (hopefully next year), Ryan will tell the Pohlads that it is time for him to move on.  The team will be on an upward swing (as it was with TK), the minor league system will be one of the best in baseball, and with hopefully improving health, he can take some time to retire and stay available for consulting just as TK does now.  TR is like TK in that he doesn't want to leave the team in decline.

 

The big question is, what direction will the Twins go to fill TR's shoes.  We've tried the work from within approach with Billy Smith and that didn't pan out well.  After watching Rob Antony take over as interim, I don't believe that's the solution.

 

If I was in charge of the Twins, I would look outside the organization.  I'm tired of re-using fired GM's (there's usually a reason they were fired).  I would look at winning mid-market teams and tap their front offices. Phil Mackey cited Tampa, Oakland and St. Louis  as teams to emulate.  I'd be even more specific and narrow it down to St. Louis.  In the last 14 years, they have averaged 91 wins and the Cardinals are the Yankees of the National League, having won the most pennants and titles in the NL.

 

There are two guys who are young and yet have years of front office, scouting and most importantly player development experience who I would interview and choose one of them to take over.  My choices would be either Matt Slater, their current Director of Player Personnel and Dan Kantrovitz, their Director of Scouting. 

 

Slater has 20 years experience working for teams like Baltimore, the Dodgers, the Brewers and the Cards.  He also spent time working for the Oryx Buffaloes in Japan.  He has held many positions including DIrector of Scouting Operations, Director of Professional Scouting, and Director of Baseball Operations.  He has experience negotiating contracts, arbitration and roster management and is currrently directly involved in all player acquisitions including major league, minor league, draft and international signings.   In my mind, this guy is perfect.  So much so, that I'm not sure the Cards would let him go, but it would be a definite step up, so it's possible.

 

Kantrovitz is younger and has less experience, however, he has extensive experience on the international front having been Director of International Scouting for the A's.  He was integral in helping the A's sign players from Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Panama, Taiwan, Europe, and Korea.  He also brings the bonus of having helped to create the Cardinals computer system - Redbirddog. 

 

These are exactly the types of front office execs that the Twins need to tap into.  They would bring new blood into the organization and help the Twins to become a powerhouse.  That's what my research has led me to.  I am assuming that a change in GM would bring a change in managers.  I would have no problem with any of the managers that have been talked about here at TD - Dougy Baseball, Molly, Steiny, even Glynn. New blood in the coaching staff is essential.  There is no question that we need a coach whose first language is Spanish.  That topic has been covered here at TD.  A new pitching coach (maybe Cuellar), but the new manager should have a free hand at choosing his staff and hopefully bring in some guys from outside the organization to bring in new perspectives.

 

 

[B Richard]

Kantrovitz seems like a great pick to me. It bothers me to no end that the Twins have purportedly been well behind the sabermetric curve. I like TR quite a bit and believe that he has done a very good job, but going forward I really do believe the Twins would benefit from embracing a more data-driven, analytic approach throughout the player valuation process. 

[drjim]

How did Phil Mackey muster the genius to come up with those teams?

 

But I agree, Cardinals are absolutely the team the Twins should emulate. And there is no internal candidate right now.

[oldguy10]

Great suggestions but do the Pohlads even know who these candidates are?   Therein lies the problem, they do not even know where to look outside of the current management team to look.

[Paul Pleiss]

I wish I could like this post more than once.

Thinking about what happens with TR retires will probably cause my brain to implode on itself, but just the teeny tiny chance that the Pohlands could bring in someone from outside the organizaton is enough to get me all randy with excitement!

[ashbury]

they do not even know where to look outside of the current management team to look.

Any evidence you could provide would make interesting reading.

[markos]

Even though I think that Rob Antony is being groomed for the job, it wouldn't be a complete shock if they decided to bring in someone outside the organization. I say this because I feel like Antony made enough questionable moves when he temporarily took over for Terry Ryan this spring that it may cause them to look for someone else. And I don't know who else in the front office is GM material other than Antony. Maybe Radcliff? Anyway, I feel like there is a better chance of them going outside the organization today than there was a year ago. 

 

Can anyone else think of internal candidates besides Radcliff and Antony?

[glunn]

What about Michael Girsch, the Cardinals' assistant GM?  This interview suggests to me that he might be the best candidate.

 

He appears to be young and smart, and as assistant GM he should know a lot about the Cardinals' formulae for success.  Also, two of his children are twins.

 

I would be pretty happy with anyone from the Cardinals' organization, except the guy in the red bird suit.

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, I think this would be wise as well.

[old nurse]

Terry Ryan is soon to be 61. Not 101. He could be around as GM for a lot more years.

[ashbury]

Terry Ryan is soon to be 61. Not 101. He could be around as GM for a lot more years.

It's possible.  Cancer treatment is tough, though.  And I doubt he's seen the last of it.  I wish him only the very best, but a change in the organization may be higher than 50/50 IMO.  His role could go back to being an advisor, for instance.

[ScottyB]

What about Michael Girsch, the Cardinals' assistant GM?  This interview suggests to me that he might be the best candidate.

 

He appears to be young and smart, and as assistant GM he should know a lot about the Cardinals' formulae for success.  Also, two of his children are twins.

 

I would be pretty happy with anyone from the Cardinals' organization, except the guy in the red bird suit.

 

Girsch would be okay with me as well.  The thing I liked about the other two guys was that they had worked in other successful front offices as well.

[Brandon]

Even though I think that Rob Antony is being groomed for the job, it wouldn't be a complete shock if they decided to bring in someone outside the organization. I say this because I feel like Antony made enough questionable moves when he temporarily took over for Terry Ryan this spring that it may cause them to look for someone else. And I don't know who else in the front office is GM material other than Antony. Maybe Radcliff? Anyway, I feel like there is a better chance of them going outside the organization today than there was a year ago. 

 

Can anyone else think of internal candidates besides Radcliff and Antony?

Krivitsky?  Isn't he still with the team and a former GM?

[ScottyB]

Krivitsky?  Isn't he still with the team and a former GM?

 

Yes.  He and TK are Special Assistants to the GM.  He was GM for the Reds.