2:16pm: Backing up what we've already heard, Kelsie Smith from the Saint Paul Pioneer Press spoke with Twins' GM Bill Smith, who says Gardenhire's postseason track record won't affect his job security at all (Twitter link). Gardenhire is just 6-21 in his postseason career.
1:49pm: The Twins saw their postseason hopes swept away by the Yankees yet again last night, but it appears Twins CEO Jim Pohlad hasn't lost faith in manager Ron Gardenhire as a result. The Minneapolis Star Tribune's La Velle E. Neal III and Joe Christensen write that Ron Gardenhire will receive an extension beyond his current contract, which runs through 2011.
''That's just such a nonissue,'' Pohlad said. ''We all know that's a no-brainer. We are going to get something done.''
Since becoming the Twins' manager, Gardenhire has racked up an impressive regular season record of 803-656, placing him 71st on the all-time wins list for managers. He's led the Twins to six AL Central Division titles and has seen his team notch 90 or more wins five times.
Gardenhire's Twins have only managed one postseason series win, however, back in 2002 against the Oakland A's. They wound up losing to the Angels in the ALCS that season, with the Angels going on to win the World Series. Following their 2010 sweep, the Twins have lost 12 consecutive postseason games, dating back to 2004.
Pohlad says Gardenhire has yet to bring up the issue and ask for a new contract, and according to the article, he's content to wait for the Twins to approach him about his extension:
''I have a contract next year… I'm happy about that part.''
For all of the praise he's received, Gardenhire has yet to win the American League Manager of the Year award, but he's considered to be a leading candidate for the honor in 2010.
They oughta give Gardy the contract that Mike Scoiscia got. Gardenhire is showing that he is one of the best in the buisness.
Grossly under recognized by the national sports press. Bobby Cox II
Agreed.
Gardenhire the greatest regular season manager in the game. One of the worst all time in the post season. The man should get a endorsement deal with Depends.
It’s really not his fault that they’ve been matched up with the Yankees in the ALDS 4/6 times the Twins have made the postseason under Gardenhire. (and they’re 0-for-4 in that department)
The LDS system sucks anyway, it’s time to eliminate the Wild Card and give the team that has the best record a bye into the LCS. Make the other two teams play a best two out of three (2 home / 1 road) playoff to reach the LCS.
Anything that makes the MLB less money will never happen.
It’s really time for a 7-game ALDS.
Anything that makes the MLB less money will never happen.
It’s really time for a 7-game ALDS.
Not until divisions are realigned. No way a Rays, Red Sox or Yankees fan will ever see eye to eye on that opinion. Best 2 out of 3? This isn’t WNBA, that’s even more fluky than the current DS, which seems to be your issue in the first place. Why don’t you just make it the “please don’t make the Twins play the Yankees in the ALDS” rule?
The wildcard is one of the best inventions in baseball history, if anything another one should be added.
I agree with the below poster though, if you have to change anything, it’s change the DS to a best of 7.
Hope he gets the deal. Then he can give you a free one to put wear on your head. This guy delivers his team to the playoffs just about every year with lesser talent and loses to better equiped teams and you dump on him? What you posted is just plain stupid! This is coming from some one who’s not a Twins fan.
Twins have a top 10 payroll and 4 of the 8 teams in the playoffs this year have a smaller one. At some point Gardenhire is going to have to make a case in October. He can’t hide behind his scouting department and “The Little Engine that Could” persona forever.
Hope he gets the deal. Then he can give you a free one to put wear on your head. This guy delivers his team to the playoffs just about every year with lesser talent and loses to better equiped teams and you dump on him? What you posted is just plain stupid! This is coming from some one who’s not a Twins fan.
Gardenhire the greatest regular season manager in the game. One of the worst all time in the post season. The man should get a endorsement deal with Depends.
I was curious about his situation since his contract is up next year. The Twins HAVE to do something at some point to actually win a playoff series again. Ideally it would be to acquire a very good third baseman but that selection is very limited. David Wright is probably the best that is most likely (even though the chance of that is remote) to be traded (I rank him 3rd behind Longoria and Zimmerman).
I don’t see a problem with Valencia at 3B. He deserves a shot to be full time. Is he going to be an all-star? No, but I believe he’ll get the job done.
why wont he be an all-star?
he could be, but there’s nothing that really stands out. 10-15 HR, .300+ BA, 60-70 RBI, good defense every season seems like his ceiling
Yeah, those are basically the stats I’m thinking of too. They’re not awful, but they’re not up there with the best.
Not best, but very solid
he could be, but there’s nothing that really stands out. 10-15 HR, .300+ BA, 60-70 RBI, good defense every season seems like his ceiling
Because I see all-stars as top of the line players in MLB and Danny has never shown that he’s anywhere near a top player. He’s struggled and underperformed in the minors. He’s taken a long time to be ready to play in the majors.
I think he’ll be an average player in baseball. Not bad, but not one of the best. There has been nothing to show that he can be one of the best. He was good, and a bit lucky, this year.
I doubt he’ll ever get to Longoria/Wright/Youkilis numbers. Those guys are all-stars.
Because I see all-stars as top of the line players in MLB and Danny has never shown that he’s anywhere near a top player. He’s struggled and underperformed in the minors. He’s taken a long time to be ready to play in the majors.
I think he’ll be an average player in baseball. Not bad, but not one of the best. There has been nothing to show that he can be one of the best. He was good, and a bit lucky, this year.
I doubt he’ll ever get to Longoria/Wright/Youkilis numbers. Those guys are all-stars.
why wont he be an all-star?
The Twins have typically been weak at 3rd for several years, that was the position that I immediately thought of where they can get a big upgrade. It’s harder to get offensive middle infielders without sacrificing much defense.
With Valencia, I don’t think they’re weak at that position anymore. Like I said, he’s not an all-star, but he’s good.
He’s definitely better than anything we’ve had since Koskie. I can honestly see him as being our next Koskie or as close to it as we’re going to get. He’s been considered our future 3B for several years.
I think they’ll give him a shot before they do anything. I don’t see the Twins making a trade for a third baseman at all, especially a huge deal. The Twins don’t do that.
With Valencia, I don’t think they’re weak at that position anymore. Like I said, he’s not an all-star, but he’s good.
He’s definitely better than anything we’ve had since Koskie. I can honestly see him as being our next Koskie or as close to it as we’re going to get. He’s been considered our future 3B for several years.
I think they’ll give him a shot before they do anything. I don’t see the Twins making a trade for a third baseman at all, especially a huge deal. The Twins don’t do that.
The Twins have typically been weak at 3rd for several years, that was the position that I immediately thought of where they can get a big upgrade. It’s harder to get offensive middle infielders without sacrificing much defense.
I don’t see a problem with Valencia at 3B. He deserves a shot to be full time. Is he going to be an all-star? No, but I believe he’ll get the job done.
The Twins payroll is going to be 105 million without bringing back ANY of our potential free agents this year (Pavano, Hudson, Thome, Guerrier, Rausch etc.. i believe there are 13 total). I would obviously love to add Wright.. He’s a big RH bat who could be a perfect addition to our line up. Gardy could move Mauer up to two where he belongs, bat Wright three, and Morneau cleanup. It would obviously be awesome, but Bill Smith may have a tough time putting together a complete roster having a rookie salary at third. Although I’m not sold on Valencia being an allstar or even an above average third baseman, we basically need to take our chances with him due to our payroll situation. Unless the Pohlad’s pull something crazy or Target Field brought in more money than even us fans believe, adding Wright isn’t a realistic option.
Granted Gardenhire has to manage the players that the Ownership gives him, but he did NOT have this team ready to go for the ALDS.
THE TWINS NEED A REAL GM. Bill Smith sucks!!! In ’87 and ’91, Andy Macphail went out and got the pieces needed to win a World Series title.
Bill Smith is actually a great GM? The Twins organization is the best in Baseball and you dont think that Smith has anything to do with it?
“The Twins organization is the best in Baseball”
and yet the twins still can’t win a playoff game
They can never win in the playoffs because they never have good enough pitching to shut down a playoff offense.
Even if they did, the offense disappears in the playoffs.
Even if they did, the offense disappears in the playoffs.
True, but its still the best
“The Twins organization is the best in Baseball”
and yet the twins still can’t win a playoff game
Bill Smith is actually a great GM? The Twins organization is the best in Baseball and you dont think that Smith has anything to do with it?
I think Thome/Hudson/Hardy were all great additions. You can’t say they didn’t try to get better. Those guys helped make the Twins one of the top offenses in baseball.
Did they get Lee? No, but they didn’t sit on their hands either. Even if they had Lee, who’s scoring the runs in the playoffs? Only Hudson and Young decided to show up for the offense and even they weren’t amazing.
The GM can’t go out there and hit for them. The hitters failed, plain and simple. The hitters have failed in almost every postseason game since 2004.
No free agents are a guarantee, but if the Twins keep having offseasons like they just did then I will be happy because they actually look like they are trying now (unlike Hernandez, Lamb, Batista, Everett, Monroe and all the other crap they’ve brought in). This time they actually brought in good players. The results still weren’t there, but that’s the players fault, not the GM’s.
I think Thome/Hudson/Hardy were all great additions. You can’t say they didn’t try to get better. Those guys helped make the Twins one of the top offenses in baseball.
Did they get Lee? No, but they didn’t sit on their hands either. Even if they had Lee, who’s scoring the runs in the playoffs? Only Hudson and Young decided to show up for the offense and even they weren’t amazing.
The GM can’t go out there and hit for them. The hitters failed, plain and simple. The hitters have failed in almost every postseason game since 2004.
No free agents are a guarantee, but if the Twins keep having offseasons like they just did then I will be happy because they actually look like they are trying now (unlike Hernandez, Lamb, Batista, Everett, Monroe and all the other crap they’ve brought in). This time they actually brought in good players. The results still weren’t there, but that’s the players fault, not the GM’s.
There is no way MacPhail is a better GM than Bill Smith. IMO MacPhail is the worst GM in the league while Bill Smith is the best.
Granted Gardenhire has to manage the players that the Ownership gives him, but he did NOT have this team ready to go for the ALDS.
THE TWINS NEED A REAL GM. Bill Smith sucks!!! In ’87 and ’91, Andy Macphail went out and got the pieces needed to win a World Series title.
Why is this even speculated? Gardenhire is obviously top 3 manager in all of baseball give this man the deal scoscia got
It’s a big deal because a lot of fans are calling for his head. I don’t agree with it, but a lot of fans have been calling for his head for years.
It’s a big deal because a lot of fans are calling for his head. I don’t agree with it, but a lot of fans have been calling for his head for years.
Someone needs to take the fall for their terrible offensive showing in the post-season. Batting coach Jim Vavra definitely should be fired, as well as the vastly unliked 3B coach Scott Ullger.
Gardenhire should take some of the blame for having Nick Punto on the post-season roster instead of Jose Morales. In games 1 & 2, he could have played Morales at first and moved Cuddyer to right field and kept Jason “Blinky” Kubel on the bench – where he belongs against lefties.
How about the players? The hitters hit well enough all year to get them to the playoffs, and then it’s the coaching staff’s fault they don’t hit in the playoffs?
This ‘fire the manager or coach’ mentality when things go wrong is getting just a bit old. Sometimes you need to hold the players accountable, but you can’t fire most of the team, can you?!
How about the players? The hitters hit well enough all year to get them to the playoffs, and then it’s the coaching staff’s fault they don’t hit in the playoffs?
This ‘fire the manager or coach’ mentality when things go wrong is getting just a bit old. Sometimes you need to hold the players accountable, but you can’t fire most of the team, can you?!
No kidding on Ulger.. Worst 3b coach in the league honestly! Please tell me someone remembers earlier in the year when the Twins were at Target field in the bottom of the ninth down a run, Hardy on second and Thome lines a shot off the base of the LF wall, Hardy is rounding third when the cutoff man is getting the ball and here’s Ulger waving him on home and he’s out by a mile.. What is ulger doing? Standing on the edge of LF looking out into the stands with his hands on his knees. What a joke.
And that was just ONE incident this year. I swear he got our guys out by a mile somewhere around five times this year. A few of those, at least two, cost the Twins the game. He’s beyond bad.
Someone needs to take the fall for their terrible offensive showing in the post-season. Batting coach Jim Vavra definitely should be fired, as well as the vastly unliked 3B coach Scott Ullger.
Gardenhire should take some of the blame for having Nick Punto on the post-season roster instead of Jose Morales. In games 1 & 2, he could have played Morales at first and moved Cuddyer to right field and kept Jason “Blinky” Kubel on the bench – where he belongs against lefties.
I can’t believe Gardenhire hasn’t won MOY before!
I can’t either, he’s done a lot with a little for many seasons. Though I don’t think you can say that this season, even with the injuries. The Twins on paper and during the regular season were pretty good up and down.
Is La Velle E Neal III any relation to La Velle E Neal Jr? Or perhaps La Velle E Neal II?
You guys are too kind. I would fire Gardenhire. The man wins nothing in October.
what?? outside their division, doesn’t everybody loves — or at least likes — the Twinkies.
they just have some bad-luck karma going here when it comes to the playoffs.
See A’s Oakland v. Yankees, New York.
( Jeremy Giambi — it stings, still!)
An omen of bad karma began the year even after the good offseason moves: Joe Natahan’s arm.
Then, despite the division win, came the late-season omen — Justin Morneau’s head.
then comes the Yankees. ouch
Ok how about this. Put the Twins to face some team NOT named the Yankees in the ALDS. If the Twinkies can’t win that, idk how will they ever win a world series much less get to the ALCS.
And that’s the crux of what we’re looking at here. How many teams actually have post-season success against the Yankees? Anybody who plays the Yankees 4 times in the playoffs is bound to lose at least 3 of them.
The Twins issue here isn’t the post-season, it’s the Yankees. Our regular season record against them the last decade is atrocious as well.
So, so underrated.