Twins join ‘Moneyball’ era behind mystery man
From Mike Berardino at the St. Paul Pioneer Press on April 24, 2013, with mention of SABR member Jack Goin:
The topic is ground-ball pitchers.
Specifically, whether the Twins set out this winter to acquire this particular sabermetric-friendly subset in transactions for right-handers Vance Worley (trade), Mike Pelfrey (free agency) and Kevin Correia (free agency).
Twins general manager Terry Ryan, who signs off on every major baseball decision the organization faces, leans back in his chair recently in the Target Field press dining room and tells a packed table of media that it was “just happenstance” that led to those ground-ball machines landing here.
“If you look at that statistical stuff, historically those guys throw ground balls,” Ryan says. “It’s part of the equation. You could talk to Jack a little more about it than
Jack Goin, who has the unwieldy title of manager, major league administration and baseball research for the Twins, is seated across the table from Ryan.
Famously press-shy, Goin immediately picks up his dining tray and excuses himself from the table.
“That didn’t take long,” Ryan says, shaking his head as the gathering breaks into laughter. “See you, Jack.”
Read the full article here: http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_23098690/minnesota-twins-join-moneyball-era-behind-mystery-man
Related link: Terry Ryan was a featured speaker at our SABR 42 convention in Minneapolis; listen to his speech here
Originally published: April 25, 2013. Last Updated: April 25, 2013.