Twins GM resigns today

[Spinach]

We lost a great GM today, Terry Ryan was one of the best.

Heres the story.


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan has resigned yet will stay with the team as a senior adviser.

The GM the past 13 years, Ryan said his resignation was effective Sept. 30. He will be replaced by Bill Smith.
"I felt a lot of elation when we won and sorrow when we lost," Ryan said. "Now all of a sudden the defeats are getting a little harder to take, and the wins aren't as much fun. That's not a good thing to experience as a general manager."

The Twins won the American League Central last season, but they're two games under .500 this season and out of the playoff chase.

Ryan said his decision had nothing to do with the team's record. "If we won 100 games this year or lost 100 games, this was going to happen," he said.

Smith began in the organization as the director of baseball administration in 1989, and he was promoted to assistant general manager at the same time Ryan took over for Andy MacPhail as GM in September 1994.

Smith's primary responsibilities have been planning for the new ballpark, overseeing the Twins' development academies in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, and sharing contract negotiations with Ryan.

The 52-year-old Ryan long has been considered one of baseball's most savvy general managers, working within a limited payroll to build a team that won four AL Central titles in five seasons.

"This is a good thing for me. My health's intact. My marriage is intact. That's a difficult thing to do in baseball," Ryan said.

A native of Wisconsin, Ryan's minor league career with the Twins was cut short by arm trouble. He was a scout for the New York Mets until he was hired as Minnesota's scouting director in 1986. Eight years later, he became general manager.

[Outdoors Junkie]

It is sad to see him go...but maybe a new GM with a different mindset will provide the additional spark to get them over the hump.

[rchaze60]

it's called money if the  team wont spend it to get better players then what are you suppose to do? a new gm aint going to make a difference  just my 2 cents worth

[Spinach]

Yeah, maybe Smith will be able to convince the richest man in baseball to open up his wallet and get some more talent here. Re-sign Hunter, make Santana happy and bring in 2 all star type talents at 3rd and lf.

The guy has more money than Steinbrenner!

[rchaze60]

so true bro so true

[Outdoors Junkie]

Poland needs to open up the wallet!  We have so many young players that need to be signed to long term contracts.  Then we continue to lose quality position players because they play well and rise above the Twins small payroll.  Let's open the wallet up and put/keep a great team together for this new ball park.