terry ryan?

by nycbirdo on Sep 13, 2007 7:03 PM EDT

just saw on sportscenter that twins gm terry ryan is stepping down. if jocketty leaves at the end of the season, should the cards try to get ryan?

from the report, it sounds like ryan doesn't want to get out of baseball, necessarily; he specifically, for whatever reason, wanted out of minnesota. i consider minnesota as one of the teams, along with the a's and marlins, to have had the most success with the least money over the past several years. the cards aren't in the same bad situation as the twins are, monetarily, but dewitt does seem to have a pretty solid limit on the money the cards can spend.

it's my opinion that, if lajocketty leaves, ryan would be a great new gm and would further the cards' move toward a focus on scouting and player development, which, given the limit on salary expenditures, is what they need to do. what say you?

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No thanks...

He basically wrecked the Twins '07 chances by giving rotation spots to retreads - Ponson and Ortiz - instead of Garza and Scott Baker. He eventually came to his senses but by then the Twinkies were seven back of two very good teams.

That's not the kind of move toward player development I'm looking for.

Ease LaDunketty out gently, thank him profusely, and... Hire Antonetti!!!

by guayzimi on Sep 13, 2007 7:09 PM EDT reply actions

well, agree those were bad moves...

but do you think that was really ryan's call, or the manager's?

The Cardinals are coming, tra la, tra la

by nycbirdo on Sep 13, 2007 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it might have been the field manager......

Scott Baker has had a hard time in his transition into the ML-up and down to the AAA club, and struggled a lot--they were really frustrated with him. When they finally called him up this year, he still struggled. And then, about 6 weeks ago or so, it all began to click, and he's pitched well. You really got to be careful with young pitchers--the aces will hit the ground running, heck even some of those guys don't, and everyone else might take 1-3 seasons to figure it out. Unless you want to be a farm system for everyone else, you better be careful when you discard pitching........

by jillsinmo on Sep 13, 2007 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions

A farm system for others

I believe jillsinmo is actually Anthony Reyes! I agree completely with you. No one can really argue with the Twins record with young pitching...Liriano flamed out for sure, but Johan was treated the same way, I think. Even if not, most of their young pitchers received the same treatment, and they could have an excellent rotation next year (Santana, Garza, Bonzer, Baker, Slowey)because of it. Its a matter of finding a team philosophy and staying with it, not jerking a poor kid up and down multiple times and criticizing him for every missed pitch or bad selection.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

Let me get this straight...Rowand over Pujols??? Really, Tony?

by cardzfan24 on Sep 13, 2007 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

Go ahead and add Liriano to that rotation.

Let me get this straight...Rowand over Pujols??? Really, Tony?

by cardzfan24 on Sep 13, 2007 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Hitting 106 with 12 foot slider and 8 foot change

I hope Tommy John did it's magic on him. He was really fun to watch.

Cheeseburger in paradise.

by joker24 on Sep 13, 2007 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually

that sounds like a bunch of pitches that could seriously injure fans behind the dugouts. 12 foot slider? 8 foot changeup? 106??? No hitter every time!

Let me get this straight...Rowand over Pujols??? Really, Tony?

by cardzfan24 on Sep 13, 2007 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I am not--my name really is what I say it is.....

they were very, very, disappointed with Mr. Baker, and they did talk about trading him more than once.......my sister lives and dies with the Twins--(she will become unglued if they do not sign Johan) and she talks this Baker guy up all the time, insisted they would regret giving up on him...I don't quite understand why Baker had the trouble he had, but he had it, and they did almost dump him. But then they didn't. And now it looks like he is going to be as good as they thought when he was drafted. Go figure. Pitchers are like that some time. I guess you could read into my comments whatever you wish, but I enjoy looking for the 'almost there' guys and following them to see how it all unfolds. It keeps me out of the bars.

by jillsinmo on Sep 13, 2007 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Dunno...

But he signed them. He did a lot of great things obviously. He pulled the wool over Sabean's eyes something terrible. He picked up Santana for nothing. He drafted well. But a lot of his moves lately have been questionable. Using what little cash the Twins have for the likes of Ponson, Ortiz, Batista, Rondell White (twice!)...

His career track is somewhat like Jocketty's. In both instances I would say it is unlikely that either guy would be able to continue to make the moves that built their reputations, ie fleecing their counterparts in trades. So while they've done a good job in the past, they don't engender confidence going forward. There will be little chance of replicating Edmonds-Bottenfield or Pierzynski-Liriano from now on.

Ease LaDunketty out gently, thank him profusely, and... Hire Antonetti!!!

by guayzimi on Sep 13, 2007 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

two things

ok, but basically by that logic - and correct me if i'm overstating - any good gm's career is going to have a limited duration, because after they make a few good moves, no one is going to trade with them anymore. i mean, maybe you're right, but that would mean that it's essentially pointless to try to hire a gm with a track record of success.
i think the three key words in your post are "he drafted well." better drafts is the primary thing i want out of a new gm if there is one.

The Cardinals are coming, tra la, tra la

by nycbirdo on Sep 13, 2007 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

What I want

I a GM that doesn't give $ million + contracts to replacement level players. Save your money for impact level talent and fill in the replacement level stuff from the AAA team.

by DriverZn on Sep 14, 2007 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

thats not completely fair

the twins half about 40 million less to work with than we do
and they still perform as well
their payroll TRULY forced him into some of those bad pitching signings

RESIGN JIMMY BALLGAME....HE SHOULD RETIRE A REDBIRD!

by benstl on Sep 17, 2007 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions