Article: Five Potential Twins GM Candidates

[crpict]

I think it's great that Kim Ng's strength is the business side. God forbid this team be run like a business rather than the country club that it is. Hiring her would be a bold and smart move from an organization without a history of making bold, smart moves. After watching the interview with Rob Antony last night, it seemed like he had the look on his face of a man who knows he's already got the job.

[d-mac]

 

These names and even parts of the commentary look a lot Mike Axisa's from earlier today...
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/despite-poor-2016-the-twins-gm-is-a-desirable-job-and-here-are-some-candidates/amp/

Dan Kantrovitz and Chaim Bloom are two more names worth looking at.

 

Ack! Formatting, my eyes!!!

[FunnyPenguin]

Gardenhire is just waiting to be appointed...

[d-mac]

These are all good candidates, although I'd stay away from anyone from the Angels organization. 

 

But if it's Antony, I may have to get a new favorite baseball team. 

[Thrylos]

I think that we have to be a bit realistic here.  There is one particular thing that makes this position not that great, and it is kinda difficult to admit if you lived in the MN/ND/SD/IA/WI area all your life:  the weather in MN from November to February is brutal and the GM would have to be there during that time.

 

I'd love to have Ng as the Twins GM, but would she be willing to leave NYC and move to MN?  Dunno.

 

Different story than finding players, managers and coaches who can be in MN from April-October and be someplace humane during the winter time.

 

I'd seriously look at people from these 5 states first and foremost, and disqualify anyone who has moved S of the Mason-Dixon line, for starters.

 

 

[wsnydes]

 

I think that we have to be a bit realistic here.  There is one particular thing that makes this position not that great, and it is kinda difficult to admit if you lived in the MN/ND/SD/IA/WI area all your life:  the weather in MN from November to February is brutal and the GM would have to be there during that time.

 

I'd love to have Ng as the Twins GM, but would she be willing to leave NYC and move to MN?  Dunno.

 

Different story than finding players, managers and coaches who can be in MN from April-October and be someplace humane during the winter time.

 

I'd seriously look at people from these 5 states first and foremost, and disqualify anyone who has moved S of the Mason-Dixon line, for starters.

While I think this is a valid consideration, there are only 30 of these positions and not many open up a year.  As much as I hate heat and humidity, if my dream was to be a MLB GM, I'd be willing to relocate to Arizona, Texas, or Florida without question.  I'll adjust and make due if I have to.

 

Besides, they'd be in Fort Myers by mid-February and someplace warm for the Winter Meetings in early December.  Business can be done via phone or video conference if need be.  That would cut the winter down enough to survive it.

[tobi0040]

I think that we have to be a bit realistic here.  There is one particular thing that makes this position not that great, and it is kinda difficult to admit if you lived in the MN/ND/SD/IA/WI area all your life:  the weather in MN from November to February is brutal and the GM would have to be there during that time.

 

I'd love to have Ng as the Twins GM, but would she be willing to leave NYC and move to MN?  Dunno.

 

Different story than finding players, managers and coaches who can be in MN from April-October and be someplace humane during the winter time.

 

I'd seriously look at people from these 5 states first and foremost, and disqualify anyone who has moved S of the Mason-Dixon line, for starters.

We are at a disadvantage. No doubt. But Clevelad has a very well regarded front office. Detroit had one of the best for a long time. Epstein went to Chicago (although from Boston). And a few of these are a high enough profile job. But a lot of #2's want to be a #1.

 

My hope is that a candidate emerges as the clear #1 who if from the Cardinals, A's, Indians, Cubs, etc. and that person demands and receives full control over the front office and coaching staff.

Edited July 19, 2016 by tobi0040

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Not a Cherrington fan. He undid a lot of what Epstein did, imo.

Did he?  Alot of what is on the field now and for the foreseeable future for the BoSox is a byproduct of Cherrington, granted he had a couple of horrible signings in Sandoval and Ramirez but in the grand scheme left them better than Theo left him.  Cherrington took alot of heat for not pulling the trigger on trading his young assets for talented proven players something his successor Dombrowski is notorious for.

 

Side note stay away from my Cubbies FO until we win something with the current band we have, lol.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Did he?  Alot of what is on the field now and for the foreseeable future for the BoSox is a byproduct of Cherrington, granted he had a couple of horrible signings in Sandoval and Ramirez but in the grand scheme left them better than Theo left him.  Cherrington took alot of heat for not pulling the trigger on trading his young assets for talented proven players something his successor Dombrowski is notorious for.

 

Side note stay away from my Cubbies FO until we win something with the current band we have, lol.

 

Maybe I'm remembering wrong......I admit my knowledge check was only an 8*

 

*for those that get that, thx

[whydidnt]

 

I think that we have to be a bit realistic here.  There is one particular thing that makes this position not that great, and it is kinda difficult to admit if you lived in the MN/ND/SD/IA/WI area all your life:  the weather in MN from November to February is brutal and the GM would have to be there during that time.

 

I'd love to have Ng as the Twins GM, but would she be willing to leave NYC and move to MN?  Dunno.

 

Different story than finding players, managers and coaches who can be in MN from April-October and be someplace humane during the winter time.

 

I'd seriously look at people from these 5 states first and foremost, and disqualify anyone who has moved S of the Mason-Dixon line, for starters.

 

Come on, this is ridiculous. We are talking about Minneapolis here, not Bismark, North Dakota. Several of the largest companies in the world call Minneapolis home and don't have issues recruiting executives and other top talent. Yes, it's cold in the winter, but guess what, it's hotter than hades in Arizona and Texas in the summer, and you don't seem to think weather is an issue there. 

[toosweet64]

 

After reading this ESPN article I like the idea of hiring Kim Ng.

From the article, "Jim Bowden, who frequently negotiated trades with Ng when he was with the Reds, calls her a "solid negotiator" but that her "weak spot" might be scouting. "From what I've heard, evaluation of talent may not be her strength. That may hold her back"

 

Exactly what we don't need. Pass. 

[twinsfanstreif]

I have another name to throw out there. Candidate: Eric Streif

Role: Twins Fan

Eric has been a Twins fan all his life, his qualifications include: being strongly opposed to the drafting of Levi Michael, Carlos Gutierrez, Luke Bard, Matthew Bashore, and Aaron Hicks; good interpersonal skills; experience with real estate contracts and negotiations (therefore dealing with baseball contracts and negotiations will be a breeze, right?). It would be a bold choice but one I personally would approve of!

 

 

Besides him, I like Ng (can someone please tell me how to pronounce that?) or McLeod. Ng sounds extremely smart and has the experience to back it up, plus being the first Woman GM would probably provide extra motivation to kick ass. I like that McLeod has worked with Epstein for years. While that doesn't automatically qualify him it can't hurt that he's worked along side the best in the business for so long, right? However that didn't really work in Ben Affleck's favor, so......

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think that we have to be a bit realistic here. There is one particular thing that makes this position not that great, and it is kinda difficult to admit if you lived in the MN/ND/SD/IA/WI area all your life: the weather in MN from November to February is brutal and the GM would have to be there during that time.

 

I'd love to have Ng as the Twins GM, but would she be willing to leave NYC and move to MN? Dunno.

 

Different story than finding players, managers and coaches who can be in MN from April-October and be someplace humane during the winter time.

 

I'd seriously look at people from these 5 states first and foremost, and disqualify anyone who has moved S of the Mason-Dixon line, for starters.

If Ng was offered the job and turned it down, she doesn't deserve a GM position in the league.

 

Minnesota may be "flyover country" but there are only 30 of these positions available and few will ever be as promising as this one (core of young players with a well stocked farm system to feed more over the next 3-4 years). Sure, ownership isn't perfect but they're not that bad, either. They don't stick their noses into the day-to-day very often and that puts them head and shoulders over plenty of other franchises.

 

The Twins GM role isn't perfect but it's a pretty good gig if you want to make your imprint on the league in a hurry.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think that we have to be a bit realistic here. There is one particular thing that makes this position not that great, and it is kinda difficult to admit if you lived in the MN/ND/SD/IA/WI area all your life: the weather in MN from November to February is brutal and the GM would have to be there during that time.

 

The GM would have to be there the whole time? I can't imagine that, how much baseball work goes on in Minnesota in the winter? You could fly in for the occasional meeting, but otherwise scout winter leagues, meet with free agents, do the winter meetings, convene in Ft Myers, etc. It's not like the GM is going to have to get up at 7 AM every morning to shovel snow to work a 9-to-5 all winter... some of his/her staff, sure, but not the GM.

[twinsfanstreif]

 

I think that we have to be a bit realistic here.  There is one particular thing that makes this position not that great, and it is kinda difficult to admit if you lived in the MN/ND/SD/IA/WI area all your life:  the weather in MN from November to February is brutal and the GM would have to be there during that time.

 

I'd love to have Ng as the Twins GM, but would she be willing to leave NYC and move to MN?  Dunno.

 

Different story than finding players, managers and coaches who can be in MN from April-October and be someplace humane during the winter time.

 

I'd seriously look at people from these 5 states first and foremost, and disqualify anyone who has moved S of the Mason-Dixon line, for starters.

You realize that she is from Indiana and went to college and worked for 6 years in Chicago right? While the Twin Cities might be slightly colder than those places I would venture to bet it's not that far off. according to the Weather Channel, Minneapolis was the coldest major metropolitan in the US and Chicago is the 6th and Indianapolis is the 15th. I'm sure she can handle the cold for an opportunity to be the GM of a major league franchise

[Winston Smith]

I'd give Ng a chance and chip in for a winter coat and mukluks.

[Willihammer]

Keep dreaming.

 

Anthony is the choice.

I'll wait and see like most people but its hard not to be cynical about the Pohlads willinghness to look for outside help.

 

BTW If you were wondering why Joe Pohlad's name has been involved with the TR firing.

 

 

This makes two general managers Pohlad has fired since his father Carl died in 2009, and Ryan might not be the only executive on his way out. Joining Pohlad and St. Peter for Monday’s meeting with reporters at Target Field was nephew Joe Pohlad, Bob’s son, who heads Go Media, the family broadcast arm. Insiders expect Joe to replace St. Peter whenever Jim decides he’s ready, and his presence Monday suggests a larger role may be imminent.

https://www.minnpost.com/sports/2016/07/why-terry-ryan-had-go?utm_content=buffer76062&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[Mr. Brooks]

If Ng was offered the job and turned it down, she doesn't deserve a GM position in the league.

 

Minnesota may be "flyover country" but there are only 30 of these positions available and few will ever be as promising as this one (core of young players with a well stocked farm system to feed more over the next 3-4 years). Sure, ownership isn't perfect but they're not that bad, either. They don't stick their noses into the day-to-day very often and that puts them head and shoulders over plenty of other franchises.

 

The Twins GM role isn't perfect but it's a pretty good gig if you want to make your imprint on the league in a hurry.

1) It seems very homerish to me to say that if someone passes on our job opening they don't deserve a similar job anywhere.

 

2) I think you VASTLY overrate the talent that we have.

I like our future lineup, but that doesn't mean much without starting pitching and I just don't see much of that in the cards for us. Berrios looks like a keeper, but probably not an elite ace. The odds say that only 1 of 3 of Jay/Gonsalves/Stewart will pan out. I don't see any impact talent in our rotation now. Sorry, never believed in Gibby and still don't.

 

3) I think it's very possible, based on Phil Miller reporting there was a specific disagreement, and Pohlad's comments, that maybe ownership is actually very meddling and Terry has always covered it up.

 

4) I won't believe that there are not payroll limitations until I see proof otherwise. It just doesn't make any sense that Terry would refuse to sign any elite ace pitching if ownership was begging him to spend more money.

[drivlikejehu]

I've always felt that Ryan was covering for the Pohlads on financial matters. Really it would be more surprising the other way, that Ryan just hated spending other people's money.

[notoriousgod71]

 

Why not pay whatever it takes to bring in Billy Beane?

It would be less than the Twins will be paying Santana, Nolasco, Hughes and possibly Plouffe

 

i would rather have Terry than Beane. Absolutely no continuity, completely undoes any positive trade by making a worse one, never won anything. His pitching draftees are not any different than the Twins.

 

Pass 1 million times.

[Brock Beauchamp]

1) It seems very homerish to me to say that if someone passes on our job opening they don't deserve a similar job anywhere.

 

2) I think you VASTLY overrate the talent that we have.

I like our future lineup, but that doesn't mean much without starting pitching and I just don't see much of that in the cards for us. Berrios looks like a keeper, but probably not an elite ace. The odds say that only 1 of 3 of Jay/Gonsalves/Stewart will pan out. I don't see any impact talent in our rotation now. Sorry, never believed in Gibby and still don't.

 

3) I think it's very possible, based on Phil Miller reporting there was a specific disagreement, and Pohlad's comments, that maybe ownership is actually very meddling and Terry has always covered it up.

 

4) I won't believe that there are not payroll limitations until I see proof otherwise. It just doesn't make any sense that Terry would refuse to sign any elite ace pitching if ownership was begging him to spend more money.

I'm not overrating anything. Read what I wrote. I said there's a core of young players with a well-stocked system to feed more over the next 3-4 years.

 

If you don't believe that to be true, you're underrating the organization. In no way, shape, or form did I imply the farm system was elite or that there weren't holes in the system.

 

My point is that most new GMs inherit a franchise in shambles and have to start from scratch. That's not the case with the Twins.

[Mr. Brooks]

I'm not overrating anything. Read what I wrote. I said there's a core of young players with a well-stocked system to feed more over the next 3-4 years.

 

If you don't believe that to be true, you're underrating the organization. In no way, shape, or form did I imply the farm system was elite or that there weren't holes in the system.

 

My point is that most new GMs inherit a franchise in shambles and have to start from scratch. That's not the case with the Twins.

You said "few will ever be as promising as this one. "

IMO that is overrating the talent.

I'd say it's more promising than average, but I'm not as convinced that our farm system is much better than average. Even the national experts might be starting to agree as Law dropped us off his top 10 farm systems.

 

Edit to add: And I'd say that if it turns out that ownership is as meddling as I suspect, it turns this job into an instant decline by the best of the best candidates, regardless of all other circumstances.

I think you could still get a bright up and coming under the radar guy with a chip on his shoulder, which may turn out ok.

But, for Pete's sake the owner is seriously considering making the hire himself (along with St Peter who isn't a baseball guy)! I hope he comes to his senses, but if not holy huge red flag.

Edited July 19, 2016 by Mr. Brooks

[Brock Beauchamp]

You said "few will ever be as promising as this one. "

IMO that is overrating the talent.

I'd say it's more promising than average, but I'm not as convinced that our farm system is much better than average. Even the national experts might be starting to agree as Law dropped us off his top 10 farm systems.

Read my last paragraph again. The Twins job is promising because it HAS prospects, not because they're elite prospects.

 

GMs aren't usually fired and replaced with an outside candidate because they've been doing a bang-up job with the organization. If the organization is in salvageable condition, the GM either sticks around or passes the torch to an heir apparent. As far as job openings go, the Twins job is pretty attractive in the short-term.

[Mr. Brooks]

Read my last paragraph again. The Twins job is promising because it HAS prospects, not because they're elite prospects.

 

GMs aren't usually fired and replaced with an outside candidate because they've been doing a bang-up job with the organization. If the organization is in salvageable condition, the GM either sticks around or passes the torch to an heir apparent. As far as job openings go, the Twins job is pretty attractive in the short-term.

Fair enough, I like but not love our talent. But, please see my edited add regarding ownership.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Fair enough, I like but not love our talent. But, please see my edited add regarding ownership.

I whole-heartedly agree that DSP and Pohlad shouldn't be making this decision without both internal and external help from baseball people. It's insanity to expect non-baseball people to pick the head of baseball operations without help.

 

For the record, I don't love the Twins farm talent, either... But it's solid. Many, if not most, GMs inherit a lot worse (never mind the handful of potentially elite talent already on the roster with

 

There's a lot to like about the Twins GM job, particularly if the person has never held a GM position and wants to make a mark on the league. A few savvy moves and you don't have to squint too hard to see a contender in 2018.

[Mr. Brooks]

I whole-heartedly agree that DSP and Pohlad shouldn't be making this decision without both internal and external help from baseball people. It's insanity to expect non-baseball people to pick the head of baseball operations without help.

 

For the record, I don't love the Twins farm talent, either... But it's solid. Many, if not most, GMs inherit a lot worse (never mind the handful of potentially elite talent already on the roster with <2 years service time).

 

There's a lot to like about the Twins GM job, particularly if the person has never held a GM position and wants to make a mark on the league. A few savvy moves and you don't have to squint too hard to see a contender in 2018.

I think we agree on all but 2 things then.

 

1) I don't think someone would be stupid to pass on this job. It won't be the only appealing one.

 

2) I don't think we can be a real contender until 2019. 2018 seems a bit too soon for me without shocking the world and signing or trading for a legit elite ace.

[Bark's Lounge]

I don't really care you gets the job as long as they come from a baseball organization with a dominant modern day baseball philosophy and they are able to assemble their own team of talent evaluators and talent developers.

 

Names don't mean crap to me as long as they get the job done.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think we agree on all but 2 things then.

 

1) I don't think someone would be stupid to pass on this job. It won't be the only appealing one.

 

2) I don't think we can be a real contender until 2019. 2018 seems a bit too soon for me without shocking the world and signing or trading for a legit elite ace.

I think someone would have to be kinda stupid to pass on a pretty good GM job when they've been rotting away in the comissioner's office for five years and has publicly stated their dream job is general manager.

 

And I think you're too fixated on ace pitcher = contender. The Twins don't need an ace to be a contender, they need a competent pitching staff that is above average in the aggregate. Loads of baseball teams have won big in both the regular and postseason without having an elusive "ace".

[Mr. Brooks]

I think someone would have to be kinda stupid to pass on a pretty good GM job when they've been rotting away in the comissioner's office for five years and has publicly stated their dream job is general manager.

 

And I think you're too fixated on ace pitcher = contender. The Twins don't need an ace to be a contender, they need a competent pitching staff that is above average in the aggregate. Loads of baseball teams have won big in both the regular and postseason without having an elusive "ace".

That may be true. But, one ace can turn a fringe pretender info a contender.

I didn't say it's a must have, I said it could speed the process up by one year.

[Brock Beauchamp]

That may be true. But, one ace can turn a fringe pretender info a contender.

I didn't say it's a must have, I said it could speed the process up by one year.

Sure. Better players means better team.

 

I think that, with a few smart moves, the Twins could enter pretender status next season. If the lineup steps up and performs even adequately in the second half, that's a big step forward. Add in a 2017 rotation of Berrios, May, Gibson, Santana, Duffey/FA and that's another small step. A few bullpen pieces... And that's maybe a .500 team.

 

The rest is where the general manager makes a difference. Ryan did a bad job of picking which free agents to pursue and an even worse job of picking which to extend. 2-3 smart moves and the Twins suddenly aren't terrible.