Q&A with Ryan

[ThePuck]

He points to 'positives' such as Pelfrey and Correia. Says our defense wasn't bad. 'So it's not been a defensive issue here as much as it has not being able to score much'.

 

Baseball Prospectus has us 29th in defensive efficiency.

 

 

Exclusive Q&A with Twins GM Terry Ryan

[ThePuck]

He says starting pitching was not the most disappointing aspect of this year, that offense was. Well, the rotation was only the worst in baseball by a good margin when looking at the whole picture.

[Mike Sixel]

The Twins gave up the 2nd most runs in all of the majors.....

 

If they gave up one half less run per game, 81less runs, they'd still finish in the bottom 10.

 

The Twins were 25th in runs scored, if they added 81 runs, they'd be in the top 12.

 

I'm not sure I understand what the GM is talking about, that offense is the main problem here.

[gunnarthor]

"Our team defense hasn't been all that bad, especially up the middle. I think it's apparent that (Pedro) Florimon and (Brian) Dozier can handle those spots defensively. And certainly for the time that (Aaron) Hicks was up here, he could really play some center field." I don't think any of that was controversial.

 

And I think the offense was far more disappointing than the pitching. We knew the pitching would struggle but Plouffe, Doumit, Morneau, Willingham, Parm were all dissappointing and even Mauer missed a big chunk of time. I think coming into the season we were all a lot more hopeful about the offense.

[ThePuck]

The Twins gave up the 2nd most runs in all of the majors.....

 

If they gave up one half less run per game, 81less runs, they'd still finish in the bottom 10.

 

The Twins were 25th in runs scored, if they added 81 runs, they'd be in the top 12.

 

I'm not sure I understand what the GM is talking about, that offense is the main problem here.

 

Pretty much the whole Q&A made me sick to my stomach.

[ThePuck]

"Our team defense hasn't been all that bad, especially up the middle. I think it's apparent that (Pedro) Florimon and (Brian) Dozier can handle those spots defensively. And certainly for the time that (Aaron) Hicks was up here, he could really play some center field." I don't think any of that was controversial.

 

And I think the offense was far more disappointing than the pitching. We knew the pitching would struggle but Plouffe, Doumit, Morneau, Willingham, Parm were all dissappointing and even Mauer missed a big chunk of time. I think coming into the season we were all a lot more hopeful about the offense.

 

So because we expected our starting pitching to be the worst in baseball by far that makes it less disappointing? I guess that's one way to look at it.

 

And our defense has been very bad. A couple bright spots doesn't negate the overall TEAM performance.

[gunnarthor]

So because we expected our starting pitching to be the worst in baseball by far that makes it less disappointing? I guess that's one way to look at it.

 

And our defense has been very bad. A couple bright spots doesn't negate the overall TEAM performance.

 

I think you're just over reading this a bit. Ryan's full quote indicates he was talking about the up the middle defense, and he's right. Ryan (and no one in baseball) thinks Plouffe is a good third baseman or that our corner OF's were good.

 

And there is a difference between worst and most disappointing. Ryan isn't ignoring the problems in the rotation just b/c he says he was more disappointed by the teams inability to score runs.

[Major League Ready]

The Twins gave up the 2nd most runs in all of the majors.....

 

If they gave up one half less run per game, 81less runs, they'd still finish in the bottom 10.

 

The Twins were 25th in runs scored, if they added 81 runs, they'd be in the top 12.

 

I'm not sure I understand what the GM is talking about, that offense is the main problem here.

 

He did not say it was the main problem. He said it was the most disappointing. They are two completely different things.

[Mike Sixel]

"So it's not been a defensive issue here as much as it has not being able to score much"

[ThePuck]

I think you're just over reading this a bit. Ryan's full quote indicates he was talking about the up the middle defense, and he's right. Ryan (and no one in baseball) thinks Plouffe is a good third baseman or that our corner OF's were good.

 

And there is a difference between worst and most disappointing. Ryan isn't ignoring the problems in the rotation just b/c he says he was more disappointed by the teams inability to score runs.

 

I'm not over-reading at all.

 

The full quote starts by him saying the TEAM defense hasn't been all that bad...then he points out the middle defense as the good part...then he comes back and says 'So it's not been a defensive issue here as much as it has not being able to score much.' He's NOT just talking about the defense up the middle.

 

And, sorry, but before the season started he talked about how happy he was with the rotation and said he had good hopes for it...and it crashed and burned. And yet it's not the most disappointing aspect? He's not pointing out the offense because he made a big deal about how he'd significantly improve the starting pitching and it was a massive FAIL, so of course he can't point to that as the most disappointing part.

[ThePuck]

"So it's not been a defensive issue here as much as it has not being able to score much"

 

EDITED due to it just not being worth it...

[gunnarthor]

He's not pointing out the offense because he made a big deal about how he'd significantly improve the starting pitching and it was a massive FAIL, so of course he can't point to that as the most disappointing part.

 

Do you really thing Ryan's job security or character is so low that he'd purposefully avoid blaming himself? I mean, even if you don't think he's good at his job, has he ever come across as dishonest or self promoting?

[Mike Sixel]

I think it was dishonest to say he'd do what it took to sign good starting pitching, and that they'd play meaningful games this fall, yes.

 

edit: if answering was against board policy, I apologize. And, not everyone will agree with my answer, I'm not trying to convince anyone, I'm answering a question.

[ThePuck]

Do you really thing Ryan's job security or character is so low that he'd purposefully avoid blaming himself? I mean, even if you don't think he's good at his job, has he ever come across as dishonest or self promoting?

 

It's against site policy to say a person involved in this organization is purposely dishonest so, no, I wouldn't say that.

[TheLeviathan]

I stopped reading after he insinuated the team was in meaningful September games because the other teams cared. I'd rather not see if he tried to top that doozy.

[Death Rattle]

The game has passed this crusty old man by.

[Badsmerf]

"We (played) some teams here that had a lot to play for in September. That's the one thing I do enjoy. We're playing games here that mean something for the opposition..."

 

So they did play in meaningful games in September!!!

 

"If you want to look at Tampa Bay and you want to look at Cleveland and you want to look at Oakland, and then you look at what our payroll is, and then you look at a team like the Yankees, maybe, add it up. You don't necessarily have to have a Top 10 payroll to get to the postseason."

 

How the **** does that answer his question?

 

I can't stand when this guy talks anymore.

[drivlikejehu]

Ryan's credibility is completely shot. His comments since he took the GM job back just do not match reality in any way, and make it hard to understand what is going on.