Article: Ron Gardenhire Out As Twins Manager

[Jham]

Gardy, thanks for bringing us out of the darkest years of Minnesota baseball and making us a model franchise for a decade.  You guided us out of contraction and introduced a new generation of baseball fans to postseason ball.  Your success paved the way to a new stadium and higher payrolls (which haven't panned out), but you set the groundwork for continued rebirth and success for....  hopefully...  Doug Mientkiewicz.  You never figured out the Yankees, but you were always a steady presence.  Best of luck.

Let the Doug Mientkiewicz era begin!!

[Mike Sixel]

I might have to somehow listen at work at 3.......

[twinsfan34]

My first thought..who all does this include? Molitor too?

 

But then I found this, Molitor seems to be a solid possibility to replace Gardy.

 

http://fansided.com/2014/09/29/minnesota-twins-rumors-paul-molitor-hired-manager/

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

I have a great picture of Gardy, with his arms around my two boys after a Spring Training Game--they were seven and nine when the pic was taken. It was a delight to see him out before the game, taking infield with the players, yukking it up with the fans when he missed a ground ball, looking for the hole in his glove...

 

I will miss him, but it was time. Thanks for the memories. I will enjoy seeing the name "Mientkiewicz" across the back of a Twins jersey again, hopefully soon!

[Linus]

I'm ok with this either way - I do not harbor any hopes that the Twins will magically be better because of a different manager but maybe a different voice will help.

 

I will give him credit in that one of the ways coaches / managers should be judged is if their players play hard for them.  Gardy has always gotten maximum effort from his players even when they had nothing to play for.

 

I'm sure he will get another chance - he would be a good fit for a veteran ballclub.

[James Richter]

It seems like Gardy is making himself accountable for the results of recent seasons, and you have to respect that. He is well enough regarded around the league that he should find somewhere to make a contribution. Moving on from MN is definitely a good decision for all parties.

 

One thing this does for me is immediately raise my optimism that the Twins will break camp with the best possible 25-man roster next spring. For all his good qualities as a manager, Gardy rarely seemed to get that right.

[Bark's Lounge]

If the Twins are seriously considering going outside the organization for a manager, they better get Dave Martinez on the horn sooner than later.

 

My gut tells me Molitor will get the job.

 

I'm not sure if Mientkiewicz is the best candidate, but he certainly would be the most exciting hire in my opinion.

 

PS - Good Luck Ronnie G. I'm sure you'll land on your feet just fine.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I think JB or ChiTown should at least get an interview!

 

That day will come, my friend, that day will come. (though I don't know if either of those two specifically are qualified…. highly doubt it  

[chopper0080]

It was the move that had to be made.  That is the business of sports.  Hopefully the Twins focus on building a staff to work with and develop young talent.  That seems to be the direction that they are going.

[John Bonnes]

Looking over Gardenhire's record, he didn't have his first losing season until his sixth season as manager. And he didn't have his second until his 10th season as a manager.

 

He also one Manager of the Year once, but finished second five times and third another time. That's seven Manager of the Year top three finishes in 13 seasons. 

[twinsnorth49]

No slight to Gardy, I liked him well enough but this makes me pretty jazzed about next season already.

[Brock Beauchamp]

No slight to Gardy, I liked him well enough but this makes me pretty jazzed about next season already.

Now we just need to get Correia back in this rotation and we're ready to rock.

[Squirrel]

I think JB or ChiTown should at least get an interview!

JB would be fine.  Me?  Not so much.  Thanks for that hearty laugh!  I like the gig I have now, thank you very much.  

 

And thanks above for the 'guy or gal' ... that's forward thinking ... but are there any women coaches, managers out there anywhere in baseball?  

[twinsnorth49]

Now we just need to get Correia back in this rotation and we're ready to rock.

Correia>not jazzed

[Squirrel]

That day will come, my friend, that day will come. (though I don't know if either of those two specifically are qualified…. highly doubt it

Oh boo!!  DISLIKE! DISLIKE!    (hee hee hee)

[IowaTwin346]

I honestly am pretty stunned that this happened.  I have always been a big Gardy supporter and am somewhat dissappointed to see him go, but this is one of those things where it needed to be done.  I dont blame  him for the last four seasons. 

 

No one was going to win with Nishi, two dudes named Rene and a staff of PJ Walters and Cole DeVries types trotting out each night.  The last four years have been rough and I dont think firing Gardy is going to make next year the year to be back. I expect some struggles from prospects but at least its prospects and not jersey fillers. 

 

I also think Gardy was just kind of used over the past 4 years.  Ownership could see the losses coming and would rather have him stay than go through a mangerial change and do it all again when it didnt work in 3 years.  To people saying the Twins dont have loyalty is laughable.  They brought back Bill Smith and reassigned asst coaches who werent doing well to another coaching position instead of firing them for Christ's sake

 

I hope Gardy gets another chance and I think he will and he will probably win elsewhere but with the youth movement coming I would like to see Dougie or a younger voice in the clubhouse or an outsider altogether.  

[nicksaviking]

Looking over Gardenhire's record, he didn't have his first losing season until his sixth season as manager. And he didn't have his second until his 10th season as a manager.

 

He also one Manager of the Year once, but finished second five times and third another time. That's seven Manager of the Year top three finishes in 13 seasons. 

 

It sounds silly to say, but by keeping Gardenhire through the last four seasons, Ryan may have inhbited the managers future job possibilities.  In 2010, after another post season flop, many people were asking for a new manager, had Gardy been fired then, he likely would have found a new gig with ease.  Now four years later when progressive statistics, infield shifts and platoons are 10x more popular, Gardenhire looks that much more like a dinosaur.  I hope he gets another job, but I think he and Kirk Gibson are going to be looked at as too old school.

Edited September 29, 2014 by nicksaviking

[Dantes929]

I am fine with this move but lets be realistic. It will take exactly one game where a starter going strong is lifted for a reliever who fails combined with exactly one game where a starter going strong and is left in and fails for fans to start saying the new guy doesn't know what he is doing. More effect will be as a result of new pitching coach. Main thing I am hoping for is new guy puts Mauer in the 2nd spot and leaves him there.

[Squirrel]

I'm not at all surprised by Gardy for all the reasons listed above.  I am surprised, sort of, by the 'letting go' of the entire coaching staff, but understand why that had to be.  Let the 'new guy' (and I use that term lightly, because I don't consider Molitor a new guy, if it's him, but I kind of hope not) choose whom he works with best.

 

Question ... does anyone think any of the coaches will be back?  Who do you want back, if any?

 

I wouldn't be opposed to Bruno and/or Cuellar.  

[h2oface]

He fits a team in the mold of the Rangers with a bigger payroll, more veterans and an ownership group that is willing to take on risk at the trade deadline. Being an Oklahoma native I really hope the Rangers give Gardenhire a good solid look because when he has players, and a few stars  he tends to have  pretty good ballclubs. Good luck to Ron Gardenhire and his coaches they will land on their feet in the big leagues somewhere, possibly even some with Redmond in Miami or the managers in Toronto or Pittsburgh.

 

That would be great for him to go to the Rangers.  I think his future is limited, as he has not embraced changes in the game well - changes in the personalities of the younger players, the newer analytics, platooning, and playing people in position - but he deserves to see if he can manage to success without inheriting a team that was set up for it before he takes the helm.  I am pretty confident some team is going to buy the kool aid and give him a shot.  

 

nicksaviking makes some great points about the value he may have suffered the last 4 years.  If he goes to Texas, maybe he will do the Twins a favor and take fellow Oklahoman, Mike Pelfrey, with him.

Edited September 29, 2014 by h2oface

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

By letting Gardenhire go now, he leaves with a winning record overall. If he had another season under .500, it's  a good chance he'd have a losing record overall. He's 1,068-1,039 as of the end of 2014.

[Bark's Lounge]

I'm not at all surprised by Gardy for all the reasons listed above.  I am surprised, sort of, by the 'letting go' of the entire coaching staff, but understand why that had to be.  Let the 'new guy' (and I use that term lightly, because I don't consider Molitor a new guy, if it's him, but I kind of hope not) choose whom he works with best.

 

Question ... does anyone think any of the coaches will be back?  Who do you want back, if any?

 

I wouldn't be opposed to Bruno and/or Cuellar.  

The two coaches that I thought had a noticeable positive impact on the club were Bruno and Molitor - they do not deserve to lose their jobs, but I understand the situation.

 

My gut tells me Molitor gets the gig and Brunansky, Steinbach, and Cuellar return.

Edited September 29, 2014 by Bark's Lounge

[Squirrel]

I just hope a new manager is named sooner rather than later ... not sure I can handle 50 new threads daily on who the new manager should be.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

I have to admit, I am very surprised.  Probably more surprised than I should be, given the Twins recent records.

 

I guess I should have seen it coming, though -- the contract extension is usually the kiss of death for Minnesota coaches.

 

Best to Gardy and the staff.

[Mike Sixel]

I am hoping not Molitor. I am ready for someone that really symbolizes change. Even Jake Mauer or Menataetoiagl;witz (sp?) would do that more than Molly, for me anyway.

[Otto von Ballpark]

What about TR's comments (last winter?) how the team's failures were on him?  This seems like quite a reversal from that.  Maybe in 2014 he felt it was more on the coaches, but I'm not seeing how TR did appreciably better overall in 2014 either.

 

I guess this move, assuming it comes with TR's blessing, is a sign that TR is willing to act differently than he has in the past, which is a good thing but needs a lot more to really turn things around (particularly on the player acquisition and talent identification fronts).

 

Is the clock on TR now?  How much time does he have left to turn the ship around?

Edited September 29, 2014 by spycake

[Squirrel]

I am hoping not Molitor. I am ready for someone that really symbolizes change. Even Jake Mauer or Menataetoiagl;witz (sp?) would do that more than Molly, for me anyway.

If he's the new manager, better learn it now ... Mientkiewicz ... just remember ... you have two 'ie' combinations, and the rest is easy.  

[nicksaviking]

So we've talked about internal candidates.  Who are the external ones?  Even if they never get highly considered, there will be some to give the restructure some legitimacy.  I'm guessing Mike Maddox if the Rangers don't sign him.  Clearly the pitching is the biggest issue and is there a bigger name manager possibility with pitching background than Maddox?

 

People keep bringing up the lack of Latin pressence, so perhaps Sandy Alomar Jr and Omar Vizquel?  Vizquel in particular would move the needle.

[Bark's Lounge]

If he's the new manager, better learn it now ... Mientkiewics ... just remember ... you have two 'ie' combinations, and the rest is easy.  

Try again.

[powrwrap]

 

 

If the Twins are seriously considering going outside the organization for a manager, they better get Dave Martinez on the horn sooner than later.

 

My gut tells me Molitor will get the job.

 

I'm not sure if Mientkiewicz is the best candidate, but he certainly would be the most exciting hire in my opinion.

 

PS - Good Luck Ronnie G. I'm sure you'll land on your feet just fine.

 

I like the suggestion of Dave Martinez. If you can't get Joe Maddon, get one of his acolytes. I agree with you that Molitor seems to be the favorite.

 

I don't like the idea of Molitor, or Mientkiewicz, or Steinbach. I think the Twins need to go outside of the organization. Steinbach is likely headed to Arizona to work with LaRussa. Mientkiewicz seems too young and only has two years of managerial experience at A ball. The recent history of former ballplayers becoming managers hasn't been the greatest.

Edited September 29, 2014 by powrwrap