33 thoughts on “Who is the manager of the Twins on Opening Day, 2014?”

  2. If I had to choose, I'd say (a) Gardy.* If it was my choice, I'd say (b) Not Gardy.**

    *I have to believe that TR knows Gardenhire hasn't been given much to work with this year; a bunch of 3, 4 & 5 type starters, holes on the bench and in the outfield, and mediocre play from the corner infielders. This has to play a big role his decision....right?

    **Notwithstanding my first points, I don't believe that Gardy is the best choice for developing/managing a young team and, if the final month of this season is any indication, I don't know if he has the skillset/mindset to effectively utilize the limited resources he has or will have going forward.

    ***Both points are made with the caveat that this team has been so bad that I haven't seen or heard probably 45% of the games in 2013. That percentage is even lower over the past 6 weeks.

    1. I pick and think GMTR will pick the devil we know.
      Again, neither Tito nor Showalter is walking through that door.
      Neither M16 nor Steinbach is experienced enough yet as a manager/coach.
      I don't think anyone else would be a significant enough upgrade.

      1. Neither M16 nor Steinbach is experienced enough yet as a manager/coach.
        How much does that matter though?

          1. Counterpoint: Mike Matheny. To some degree, I think these guys are either leaders or not leaders, and at 35+, it is still possible for experience to improve their performance, but it takes a certain personality to keep learning and not just dig your heels in and rely on what got you there.

            That said, I have no idea on the relative merits of the minor league managers discussed here.

      2. Tito was the guy I would've liked to see replace Gardenhire, if anyone. Gardenhire isn't the greatest manager, and certain things he does drive me up a wall. But it's not fair to pin the blame on him given the talent level that's been on the roster the last couple years. Is he going to be the right manager for a team of young guys? I'm not sure. But I think he's done enough in his tenure here that letting him have a say in if he stays or goes is up to him.

        My fear is that Gardenhire will leave, Scoscia will get fired, and the Twins will hire Scoscia.

  3. I'm more interested in "who is not Gardy". Glynn? Joe Mauer as player-manager? That's the one I want.

    1. Perkins as player-pitching coach. Teach those guys about PitchFX Perk!

      Honestly, I think whoever takes over is just warming the seat until Jake Mauer's ready.

  6. I think the Pohlads will pull the trigger here and not because of the third straight 90 loss season. I think what has to bug them is seeing ex-Twins playing better other places than they did here. I'm thinking specifically about Francisco Liriano.

      1. Maybe so. I don't think that firing Gardy (or you know, not renewing his contract) solves much. I do think it's going to happen though, because I think the Pohlads are probably not very happy. Then again, they sat through a long losing period in the 90s and stayed with their guys.

    2. I still lean towards the thought that the Twins will keep Gardy for another year, but I think he is finally on the hot seat. They turned over a few coaches last winter and it didn't help, so will they trim higher up on the tree? Maybe.

  7. as with others, what i think and what i want are two different things. if they do pull the trigger, i really hope that they'd go out and bring in some new blood, but i'm guessing it'll just be something like ullger getting promoted.

      1. Better Ullger than Scioscia.
        I think that Ullger got demoted a bit last offseason, so he's not next on the list anymore.
        Steinbach and Bruno got brought in, Steinbach at Bench-Coach level, which to me is basically "Assistant (and backup) Manager".

        Hey! We're doing Kremlinology here, aren't we?

        1. The hints I got last year when they were talking about coaching changes was that Molitor didn't want to come on board because he's on the short list if Gardenhire gets axed. I dunno, I suppose I'd be okay with that.

        2. You could look at it as a benching for Ullger or just a chance for him to go to another coaching position and learn it to give him that experience as a future manager. In past years, it was pretty obvious Ullger was the manager in training. I don't know if that is the case anymore.

  10. I certainly don't think Gardy deserves all, or even a majority of, the blame for the recent losing seasons. However, that's not really the question. As others have observed, the real question is whether Gardy is the right manager going forward. I'm skeptical. On the other hand, as others have also observed, firing Gardy does not necessarily mean his replacement would be the right manager going forward either.

    Having said all that, I will be very surprised if Ron Gardenhire is not the manager of the Twins in 2014.

  11. The Twins have had seven 90-loss seasons and six last-place finishes since the last time the Pohlads fired a manager. Ray Miller was fired at least partly because the GM, Andy MacPhail, had not hired him and wanted to bring in his own manager. The manager before that was Bill Gardner, and he was hired before the Pohlads bought the Twins, so they really have never fired a manager that they and the current GM hired.

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