Fort Myers Miracle‏@MiracleBaseball Miracle and Twins pleased to announce that Doug Mientkiewicz will be the manager for the 2013 season http://atmilb.com/VyQWMQ

Well, that's pretty cool. Welcome back Doug!

Very exciting and interesting announcement. He had been a hitting coach in the Dodgers' system last year. Certainly should have some credibility!

Hopefully his glove rubs off on Sano and Rosario.

Welcome back to Jodi as well!

I suppose the league progression for a new manager or coach isn't necessarily the same as for the players. You kind of want really experienced managers at Rookie League level to handle the brand-new players, and also you want someone with a lot of experience to bring the AA/AAA players the final polishing they'll need for the majors. So that leaves low-A and high-A for the place to give a young manager his first taste and learn the craft. I would have guessed low-A, but Jake Mauer is there, right? Then again, I looked up Jake and he coached at GCL and was promoted to manager there, shooting the theory about rookie ball. Who is on board for 2013 in GCL and Elizabethton?

 

Maybe Doug can grab a few game-winning balls this season and sell them on eBay to supplement his income.

Welcome back to Jodi as well!

 

+1 to you Sir.

Welcome back!

The Twins are petty set, still, at Elizabethton...just need a new pitching coach, but some folks are still wandering between jobs. Do wish the Twins had added Redmond. The Jake Mauer thing is interesting, since he was residing in the Mauer homes in Ft. Myers, but coming north puts him closer to the Twin Cities, if that means anything. Also, you get to deal with a different aspect of player development, where they reside in a small town atmosphere and prety much have nothing to do but work and go on road trips.

Cool! He probably won't be on Gardenhire's staff anytime soon.

Very happy to have Mientkiewicz back! Probably the best defensive 1B to never win a Gold Glove. He was a favorite of mine.

In his first act as manager, Mientkiewicz has called "dibs" on every game-winning ball hit by the Miracle in 2013.

 

After asked about this in his inaugural press conference, Mientkiewicz simply replied "My kid needs braces".

Dougie Baseball!

 

All we need is Randy Bush in the Front Office and we are set.

I wonder if he prefers his players to not use batting gloves?

In his first act as manager, Mientkiewicz has called "dibs" on every game-winning ball hit by the Miracle in 2013.

 

After asked about this in his inaugural press conference, Mientkiewicz simply replied "My kid needs braces".

 

Or, maybe Doug can grab a few game-winning balls this season and sell them on eBay to supplement his income.

Mientkiewicz simply replied "My kid needs braces".

I blame Jodi. Kid refused to be weaned until he was 6.

Mientkiewicz is on 1500espn with Reusse and Mackey. May be too late to catch it now, but you'll want to listen to the podcast later. Terrific answers. He's quite talkative.

By the time Travis Harrison is in Fort Myers he will likely be playing 1st. Doug could help him excel at that position. BTW I don't think Sano should/will ever be moved to 1st otherwise I would say the same for him.

Very happy to have Mientkiewicz back! Probably the best defensive 1B to never win a Gold Glove. He was a favorite of mine.

 

He won a Gold Glove in 2001.

And he knows the "Twins Way".