Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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Greg Dryden of Minneapolis is about as dyed-in-the-wool of a Minnesota Twins fan as you'll find anywhere. 


By his own count he made it to all but two home games this year. And on Monday afternoon, he and some friends spent a few hours at the gate to the Target Field parking lot as players drove in to pack up their equipment at the end of the season.


"We're down here trying to get the last couple of autographs you can get with the locker cleanout," he said. "Then we got the bad news that 


The Twins announced manager Ron Gardenhire's departure after the team finished the year 70 and 92. It was the fourth season in a row that the Twins lost more than 90 games. 


Still, even though the Twins have had a rough time of late, Dryden, 52, said it's unfair for the team's front office to hang all the blame Gardenhire and the coaches. 


"This is the team he was dealt. I thought he did a pretty good job with what he was handed," Dryden said. "To blame him for it and his coaching staff, that's kind of a tough way to go."   


Inside Target Field, there was no animosity apparent as Gardenhire and Twins General Manager Terry Ryan sat down for a news conference in the afternoon. Both seemed at ease. The only hint of emotion came from Ryan, who said Gardenhire was more like a brother than a manager. The two men had worked together for more than three decades first with the New York Mets, then the Twins. 


Ryan acknowledged the criticism from many fans that Gardenhire didn't have a good enough roster of players to work with.  

 
"He's dependent on exactly what we provide for him, I've acknowledged that forever. I'm not going to hide from the talent level," Ryan said. "He's done the best he could with the product that he's been given for the most part. And ultimately we just decided to come to this decision."


Gardenhire is leaving his job as manager halfway through a two-year contract. Ryan said the team offered him another job. But whether he'd stay on in some other capacity, Gardenhire said that's something he needs to think about.


"I'm not done managing, I don't think. Right now I just want to take time and step back. I love this organization. I haven't even come close to talk with Terry about what kind of position that would be," he said.


For now, he's focused on becoming a grandfather; his daughter is due to give birth at the end of October. 


When asked what advice he'd give to his successor, Gardenhire was almost at a loss for words.


"All he's got to do is not lose 90 games. He'll be good." 


Ryan said it would be nice to promote someone from within to replace Gardenhire, but being a Twins insider is certainly not a requirement for the job.  And filling the position will not be easy. 


"This is a tough racket. You can ask around about the demands not only during the season, but certainly off season. Some guys just aren't cut out to be a manager. Some are and we'll see," Ryan said. Certainly if one comes to me and decides that he wants to interview for this job I more than likely will give him that shot if I think he's qualified."


There will be some additional hiring in the clubhouse ahead of next season. Besides dismissing Gardenhire, the Twins also released all seven coaches from their contracts. However, many could be hired back, and the new manager may even be chosen from among them.


Four years of losses on the field have meant big losses in ticket sales. Attendance has dropped 30 percent since 2010 -- the Twins' last winning season and the year Target Field opened.


In a letter to season ticket holders, owner Jim Pohlad and President Dave St. Peter urged fans to stick with the team. They say the front office is doing a comprehensive evaulation of the baseball operation, including the roster. 


Despite a rough four years, Gardenhire leaves the team with a winning record overall and six division titles in his 13 seasons as manager.

Sports

Matt Sepic

Author

The team's general manager, Terry Ryan acknowledged the criticism from many fans that Gardenhire didn't have a good enough roster of players to work with.

With Gardenhire out, Twins begin to look ahead

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