The new general manager could earn extra praise if the Minnesota Twins defeat the New York Yankees.
It would much appreciated if the new general manager could help the Twins beat the New York Yankees.
Obviously any general manager can’t directly affect their team’s success against any particular team. Unless of course you ask a Boston Red Sox fan after the 2004 playoffs when the Sox broke the team’s long-standing curse against the Yankees.
The goal to beat the Yankees is more of a personal goal than any of the other goals.
Growing up with the Twins in the early 2000s, the arch-enemy was always the Yankees. It was extremely deflating to see Yankees in the first round of the playoffs seemingly every year.
To some, this applies to many other teams the Twins historically don’t play well against.
Regardless, there’s no denying Twins continue to struggle against the Yankees.
Terry Ryan’s first stint as the general manager started in 1994 and ended in 2007.
From the end of the 1994 season to the end of 2007 the Twins owned a 38-67 regular season record against the Yankees. The .362 win-loss percentage is the worst of any team to play the Twins.
When Ryan came back in 2011, the record against the Yankees didn’t get any better. The Twins 13-29 regular season record, or .310 win-loss percentage, is among the worst win-loss percentages against any team.
In total, the Twins are 51-96 against the Yankees in the regular season and 2-12 against the Yankees in the playoffs with Ryan as general manager. Furthermore, the only season series the Twins won against the Yankees was in 2001.
It’s not the most urgent task the general manager should focus, but it would be nice to see the Twins beat the Yankees. Especially, if it came in the playoffs.