Article: Examining Alex Anthopoulos

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

When you consider the cost of Free Agents. Drafting and Development has to be extremely important to the long term health of an organization. 

 

Cutting corners here seems absolutely goofy. 

 

If I was the POBO... I'd not only expand but seriously compete for the best of the best by doubling salaries and that additional expense would add up to less than what Kurt Suzuki makes. 

 

For example... Not only would I expand our analytics department to help assess baseball talent. I'd also create a separate analytics department that only focuses on front office personnel across the league.

 

Truly identify the best of the best with actual data and make offers that they can't refuse. 

 

I don't know if they cut corners here or not, but that is something that I've read they have done. That's unfortunate if that's the case.  Goofy is one way to put it.  I'd have a few other adjectives to describe that. It's basically shooting yourself in the foot.

[HitInAPinch]

 

I tend to agree - I'd prefer to see Antony out of the GM chair - but I'm sticking to my opinion that the new POBO gets something approaching a free pass for their first 3-4 months on the job.

 

There's a lot to sort out and a lot to do. I don't expect Antony to be retained but I wouldn't fault the new POBO if they want someone with organizational experience near them as they attempt to restructure.

I'm in the same boat as you re: GM.  If I'm the new PoBO, I'm not hanging onto too many people involved in the Twins baseball ops for the last several years.  Especially not someone who's literally grownup in this organization.  I'm not saying Antony is THE bad guy, but the Pohlad's are signalling change.  Maybe keep Antony in a lesser, non-personnel position.  Maybe...

 

Anyone in a new position of any kind gets a few months to prove themselves.  If the new PoBO doesn't workout in that time period, something has gone TERRIBLY wrong with that search firm.

(with I'd find really, really hard to believe)

[jimmer]

 

The Bradford for a 1st round and 4th round pick may go down as a stupid trade, but I will be damned if I ever get too upset about it, Speilman is going for a super bowl win, and as a fan, I love it.

Probably goes down as a stupid trade even without adding the 4th rounder :-)

 

And it's not just about a 1st rounder and a 4th rounder.  The cap hit is going to hurt too.

 

http://www.sbnation.com/2016/9/6/12797614/sam-bradford-trade-vikings-eagles-why

 

Yes, you guys needed someone else, sure.  But Bradford was a #1 pick who has flopped (for whatever reason).  Now the Eagles get a first round pick for a guy who...

 

A: is hurt a lot himself.

B: hasn't been that good when he's been on the field.

C: was just replaced by a rookie. 

 

But your GM did what he thought he needed to do.  It's a pretty big gamble.

 

BTW, in regards to C, that's no knock on Wentz. I'm a big fan of this rookie.  Was so disappointed he went to the Eagles.  It's like, how can I root for you NOW? :-)

[HitInAPinch]

This just in from Jim Souhan:  New Twins boss must have a nose for arms to fix this team.

 

THANKS, JIM !!

 

[Darius]

He's not coming to MN. Why would any high-end FO guy want to come to a place where he'll be hamstrung by ownership every year?

 

He was recently named executive of the year, and turned around a struggling franchise with a lot of saavy big-time moves. He built arguably the most entertaining product in the league, and has the terrible stadium in a hockey-only city nearly sold out every night.

 

This guy will have a much better opportunity than the Twins within a year. I heard it said by Gleeman that this could be a leverage play that originated from his camp, not the Twins, and that just makes too much sense. The Twins would never publicly divulge a nugget like that if it were actually in the works. Possibly, a leverage play by the Twins to try and pull in another actual candidate ("see, we have options). Knowing the Pohlads the way we do....probably to try and get someone to sign a low-ball deal.

 

All of that said, a guy who isnt afraid to shake things up is exactly what this organization needed 10 years ago. Id be thrilled with that hire, and every Twins fan should be as well.

[Darius]

Probably goes down as a stupid trade even without adding the 4th rounder :-)

 

And it's not just about a 1st rounder and a 4th rounder. The cap hit is going to hurt too.

 

http://www.sbnation.com/2016/9/6/12797614/sam-bradford-trade-vikings-eagles-why

 

Yes, you guys needed someone else, sure. But Bradford was a #1 pick who has flopped (for whatever reason). Now the Eagles get a first round pick for a guy who...

 

A: is hurt a lot himself.

B: hasn't been that good when he's been on the field.

C: was just replaced by a rookie.

 

But your GM did what he thought he needed to do. It's a pretty big gamble.

 

BTW, in regards to C, that's no knock on Wentz. I'm a big fan of this rookie. Was so disappointed he went to the Eagles. It's like, how can I root for you NOW? :-)

This is way off:

 

1). He has beem hurt in his career, but the majority of his time missed was due to one ACL injury (he missed a few other games with an ankle). I dont think its overly worrisome. For example, Aaron Rodgers missed nearly the whole season a couple

years ago, and had surgery this offseason. Tom Brady had an ACL. It happens. Nobody calls them injury prone.

 

2). Considering the fact that he has never played with evem mediocre skill playera around him (running game, receivera, etc), and never played in the same system for multiple years (which is so underrated), he's been pretty darn good. After winning offensive rookie of the year in 2010, on an awful team, he had a pretty poor year in his sophmore year, on a worse team. Since that year, he has never posted a rating below 82, which is around league average, posting as high as 90+, which is well above league average -- Aaron Rodgers posted 92 last yeae, for example. Since 2012, he has a 54-31 TD-INT ratio....on terrible teams.

 

Tell me, you dont think an above average NFL QB on awful teams, an a guy comfortable with play-action, would look much better with the best RB in the NFL, and a top 10 if not top 5 defense?

 

"Not good" on the field is just lazy analysis.

 

3). He was not replaces by a rookie. He was the starter. The rookie was named the starter after the trade....over Chase Daniel.

 

4). The first round pick is overrared. Espwcially 20+. Cordarrelle Patterson, etc, were picked in the first round. You're not really as likely to find a great player as many like to think, because theyre bought into the NFL draft machine hype.

 

Also, the Vikinga have a second, multiple thirds, and multiple fourths. They will be moving up.

 

5). The cap hit means almost nothing at this point. Kalil will be coming off the books, Patterson, etc. They'll be just fine.

 

The trade may or may not work out...but one of two things is going on here:. Youre a crusty Packers fan who was happy as hell after Teddy went down, who is now disappinted and grasping at any straw to makw yourself feel better.....or you dont know as much about Bradford and football aa you think you do.

 

The trade may or may not work out. But, lets not be dense and pretend like rolling into the season with Shaun Hill was a better option. How'd the Pack look with their awful back up when Rodgers got hurt?

[jimmer]

 

This is way off:

1). He has beem hurt in his career, but the majority of his time missed was due to one ACL injury (he missed a few other games with an ankle). I dont think its overly worrisome. For example, Aaron Rodgers missed nearly the whole season a couple
years ago, and had surgery this offseason. Tom Brady had an ACL. It happens. Nobody calls them injury prone.

2). Considering the fact that he has never played with evem mediocre skill playera around him (running game, receivera, etc), and never played in the same system for multiple years (which is so underrated), he's been pretty darn good. After winning offensive rookie of the year in 2010, on an awful team, he had a pretty poor year in his sophmore year, on a worse team. Since that year, he has never posted a rating below 82, which is around league average, posting as high as 90+, which is well above league average -- Aaron Rodgers posted 92 last yeae, for example. Since 2012, he has a 54-31 TD-INT ratio....on terrible teams.

Tell me, you dont think an above average NFL QB on awful teams, an a guy comfortable with play-action, would look much better with the best RB in the NFL, and a top 10 if not top 5 defense?

"Not good" on the field is just lazy analysis.

3). He was not replaces by a rookie. He was the starter. The rookie was named the starter after the trade....over Chase Daniel.

4). The first round pick is overrared. Espwcially 20+. Cordarrelle Patterson, etc, were picked in the first round. You're not really as likely to find a great player as many like to think, because theyre bought into the NFL draft machine hype.

Also, the Vikinga have a second, multiple thirds, and multiple fourths. They will be moving up.

5). The cap hit means almost nothing at this point. Kalil will be coming off the books, Patterson, etc. They'll be just fine.

The trade may or may not work out...but one of two things is going on here:. Youre a crusty Packers fan who was happy as hell after Teddy went down, who is now disappinted and grasping at any straw to makw yourself feel better.....or you dont know as much about Bradford and football aa you think you do.

The trade may or may not work out. But, lets not be dense and pretend like rolling into the season with Shaun Hill was a better option. How'd the Pack look with their awful back up when Rodgers got hurt?

yeah, I'm sure I'm way off.  I enjoyed the very polite way you showed me the error of my ways.

Edited September 9, 2016 by jimmer

[tobi0040]

Here is my analysis of the trade.

 

The Vikes felt like they could have make a deep playoff run.  Add to that that AP is getting older and this could be his last year here.  Shaun Hill diminishes the likelihood of that.

 

Bradford was available and the best and really only option.  Dallas was in the same position so the price went through the roof.  In addition, Bradford has two years left and nobody is certain Teddy can be back for next year.

 

The Vikings won 10 games last year and should have won a playoff game.  That was with Teddy throwing 200 yards a game and passing for just 14 TD’s in 16 games.  Bradford is actually a step forward in that regard.  He has averaged 230+ yards a game over his career and almost 260 per game last year.  He has also never had a top 14 running game.  When healthy and on the field, he has been better than Teddy.   So the price was high but I think it almost needed to be done.

[mazeville]

 

He's not coming to MN. Why would any high-end FO guy want to come to a place where he'll be hamstrung by ownership every year?

 

I remain convinced that this is untrue. The bigger problem was Terry Ryan, who was not aggressive and thus didn't target top free agents or make trades for top talent (like Alfonso Soriano when the team was contending and needed some power).

 

I'm not saying ownership here is not at fault for the team's problems. It absolutely is. But I still don't think spending is the issue. It is quality of oversight. Poor drafts, not making trades when players are at top value, not aggressively bidding for international free agents, weirdly holding onto players, not adapting to changing times, etc. Those have been the team's problems. And I believe a good POBO could fix this and get the ability to make moves necessary to improve the team's record without being "hamstrung" by ownership.

 

I believe this job could be highly attractive. I get why Alex Anthopoulos wouldn't take this gig -- he just moved to LA, after all. But this team is loyal. It has a new stadium, a good base of young talent, and some big contracts coming off the books in the next couple of years. And the media market is far easier on teams here than, say, New York or Boston or LA or Chicago. 

 

This team should be able to attract a good POBO. Period.

[USAFChief]

Maybe I missed it, and it's been posted, but the PP is reporting Anthopoulos is no longer a candidate.

[Vanimal46]

 

Maybe I missed it, and it's been posted, but the PP is reporting Anthopoulos is no longer a candidate.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Here's the PP story:

 

http://www.twincities.com/2016/09/09/alex-anthopoulos-out-of-running-for-twins-gm/

[Vanimal46]

The young kids just starting school is a fine excuse. Bottom line is this opportunity didn't interest him enough to pursue it. Could be red flags about this organization in particular, or he's holding out for something better. 

[gocgo]

 

Here is my analysis of the trade.

 

The Vikes felt like they could have make a deep playoff run.  Add to that that AP is getting older and this could be his last year here.  Shaun Hill diminishes the likelihood of that.

 

Bradford was available and the best and really only option.  Dallas was in the same position so the price went through the roof.  In addition, Bradford has two years left and nobody is certain Teddy can be back for next year.

 

The Vikings won 10 games last year and should have won a playoff game.  That was with Teddy throwing 200 yards a game and passing for just 14 TD’s in 16 games.  Bradford is actually a step forward in that regard.  He has averaged 230+ yards a game over his career and almost 260 per game last year.  He has also never had a top 14 running game.  When healthy and on the field, he has been better than Teddy.   So the price was high but I think it almost needed to be done.

Don't mean to get off topic....we NEVER do that!  But am I the only one not buying into the Dak Prescott hype?  It's preseason...vanilla defenses, etc. and people are all worked up over him.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd note that the PP article mentions the GM position for AA, not the POBO.  I'm a bit surprised that they would be interviewing for the GM if they wanted a POBO.  Not sure what to think about that.

[diehardtwinsfan]

So guys, if you want to talk football and the Bradford trade, please take it here:

 

Side note, but just b/c it's a football conversation also does not mean that the level of respect we expect on TD get to change. 

[DocBauer]

Maybe I missed it, and it's been posted, but the PP is reporting Anthopoulos is no longer a candidate.

Ownership probably thought he was over qualified.

[gmarais66]

Anthopoulos probably thought he had no chance to compete with an established baseball genius like Anthony , so he figured why go through the whole interview process, only to see Anthony get the job.

[tobi0040]

He turned down a five year extension in Toronto because his job parameters shrunk. I am not sure why this job would appeal to him when he is being told before an interview he can't fire the manager.

 

I am starting to believe Jim has been pulling more strings than we thought and TR was always the mouth piece. If TR was here for example, he would be the one who communicating that Paul will be back and we would think it doesn't make any sense. Now it does.

Edited September 10, 2016 by tobi0040

[HitInAPinch]

 

I'd note that the PP article mentions the GM position for AA, not the POBO.  I'm a bit surprised that they would be interviewing for the GM if they wanted a POBO.  Not sure what to think about that.

Conflicting stories.  Strib posted "two sources on Friday said he was never a serious candidate."

 

Twins didn't consider him a serious candidate or AA? 

 

Anyway, Dodgers executive Alex Anthopoulos is still a Dodgers executive.  Seriously, moving from Dodgers to the Twins?  Come on.....

 

http://www.startribune.com/twins-adjust-front-office-hiring-timetable/392960281/

[HitInAPinch]

Alex Anthopoulos is out.  End of story.  Time to move onto the next fairy tale.  ;-)