Comments on: Twins Notes: Thome, Oliveros, Blackburn, Swarzak, Neshek, and Hardy

By: Gendo

Gendo — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:07:07 +0000

I’d like to blast ownership for giving Morneau that contract.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:40:11 +0000

Look, I like to slap around management as much as the next guy, but while the Pohlads might be collectively among the richest owners in baseball, the team is no longer owner by Carl, who was the richest owner in baseball. The money has been split up among the kids and while they are all fabulously wealthy by any standard I’ll wager they ain’t the richest even collectively any longer.

And why would Mauer & Morneau blast ownership? Both got huge deals and right now, Mauer isn’t performing up to his. Morneau has been injured for most of 2 seasons. Blasting ownership would make them look like fools.

I would rather see the media take a more critical look at the manager, who gets a free pass. Bill Smith has (justifiably) come under fire this season. But Gardy still gets a free pass even though he was strongly influential behind some of the Twins personnel moves and his on-field performance hasn’t been up to snuff. But he’s a good quote so writers would rather fawn all over him than take a chance ripping him and getting cut out of the loop.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:13:10 +0000

The pohlads only care about meeting their bottom line. They dont care about winning. Alot of these moves can also be traced directly to slashing payroll. Keep in mind, this is the richest owner baseball.

I just wish that the star players like mauer and morneau would blast the ownership in the media.

By: Gendo

Gendo — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:04:14 +0000

I hear you Joe, but unfortunately I suspect the Pohlads will continue to be loyal to a fault. I mean, Terry Ryan made it clear towards the end that the game was passing him by but he wasn’t forced out, he left on his own terms and he hand picked his own successor.

They really need a major shift in organizational philosophy as you say and a renewed focus on things like on base skills and statistical analysis.

Sadly I just don’t think that’s coming. It’s a luddite organization in a lot of ways and they’re more likely to chalk this season up to bad luck than make any real changes.

In a perfect world they’d bring in someone like Kim Ng, let her clear out the FO and pick her own manager. Realistically though we’ll be seeing a lot more of the same. :\

So we’re back to hoping a blind squirrel finds a few nuts.

By: joe szymonik

joe szymonik — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:04:02 +0000

What a depressing season. The avalanche of injuries must certainly be related to what appears to be a mediocre-at-best training staff.

If there is a silver lining in these injuries, it is that the ineptness of the front office has been revealed. The injury avalanche augmented what was already a senseless talent drain due to stupid trades over the last few years.

Throw in a few ill-advised signings and you have this year’s recipe for disaster.

I wish Bill Smith and his team, including Ron Gardenhire, would “get it” and realize that they are very privileged caretakers of a very proud franchise. It’s time to perhaps find a new management team which is creative, can think outside the box, pays some attention to relevant stats, and understands the simple concept of buying low and selling high when trading.

I am also tired of hearing that Gardenhire can’t get along with this player or that player. Geez, guys, grow up.

Finally, from a purely entertainment business standpoint, this team has been boring and a pain to watch. If the Twins’ front office doesn’t change its approach, the team will lose market share to tractor pulls in Rice Lake.

By: Gendo

Gendo — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:50:22 +0000

Allow me to make my point graphically:

http://i.imgur.com/vPwdz.png

By: Gendo

Gendo — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:31:18 +0000

Someone just mentioned that Felix Pie was released and pointed out that he and Alex Rios have pretty horrific OPS+ ratings this year:

Felix Pie 52
Alex Rios 56

Drew Butera? 25.

Felix Pie is lapping Butera.

By: Al S

Al S — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:11:07 +0000

Hardy finally found his niche?He already proved his niche in Milwaukee as a powerhitting shortstop years ago!A bad season on the Brewers and an injury shortened season in Minnesota slowed him down a little.The Twins screwed up not securing him for this season.Either because Gardy’s an idiot or the team is going on the “cheap” again just like back in the Griffith days.Anyway you slice it…horrible move and we got no offense at all from our middle infield this year.I told my buddy the day they got rid of Hardy,what a dumb move it was and that he deserved a whole year to show what he had to offer.Look at him now,25 hrs this year!That would be leading the Twins easily.These stupid moves are becoming the norm for the Twins now,so we better get used to it.

By: Jon L.

Jon L. — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:52:52 +0000

Hardy has been very good this season and it looks like he finally found his niche in Baltimore.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:00:18 +0000

Gardy seems to be looking to distance himself from the Hardy decision, which is a smart political move, but does any fan really buy it? Getting rid of JJ Hardy was a move dictated by the manager and I think everyone who follows the Twins knows it.

I expect Danny Valencia to get shoved out the door by our manager very soon, which would be a shame. Despite the defensive lapses this year, Valencia still shows real ability at 3B and shouldn’t get run out of town because he’s not one of our (overrated) manager’s “guys”.

I’m very down on Ron Gardenhire right now. Can’t fill out a lineup to benefit his team (no balance in L-R hitters, put Revere in LF instead of CF, etc.), gets into stupid and pointless arguments with umpires, poor bullpen management…it’s been a BAD year for the manager too.