Now that I think about it, Bill Smith got hosed

For what it’s worth, I loved doing the radio thing yesterday, and all I can think about is doing the next episode. One thing that’s great is that it stirs up emotions in me and things that I would like to talk about, even if I can’t right at that moment. Eric and I discussed Tsuyoshi Nishioka and his demotion, and it occurred to me… Bill Smith took an inordinate amount of blame for a situation that he didn’t really want to create.

Smith took over in 2007 with the team at a cross roads. Torii Hunter was on his way out, as was Johan Santana. These were things that he couldn’t control. The team was also moving to a new field, and they didn’t quite know how it would play. MVPs Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau were constantly injured. Despite this, he managed to put together the best Twins team I have seen in 2010. Never mind that they floundered in the postseason. That’s sort of their thing.

And let’s look at that 2010 team. Morneau missed much of the season, so Delmon Young (acquired by Smith) and Jim Thome (acquired by Smith) picked up the offensive slack. The middle infield was anchored by veterans JJ Hardy and Orlando Hudson (acquired by Smith). He built the team with power, notably from the right side, as well as veteran leadership.

And then, the Twins fell apart in the postseason, thanks both to new players and old. That failure led to the Twins deciding to listen to Ron Gardenhire’s opinion: The Twins needed more speed to play in the new stadium. They went after Nishioka, while trading away Hardy to make room. I can’t believe this was what Smith wanted to do, because it ran counter to his strategy the year before. That, and the raft of injuries were two primary factors in the Twins failure in 2011. Both of these, I would say, are not Smith’s fault. Of course, his inability to effectively build a bullpen WAS his fault.

I can’t shake the sensation that, when the team was built the way Bill Smith wanted it built, it was successful, and when the organization encouraged him to follow Gardenhire’s lead, it was less so, but that is an over simplification. Terry Ryan has the trust of the Pohlads and Gardenhire. He has also made some savvy, Smith-like offseason moves, and knows how to build a bullpen. Mauer and Morneau are healthy. If the Twins turn it around, don’t immediately blame last season on Bill Smith. If he has any fault to accept, it’s in not fighting hard enough to assemble the team he wanted on the field.