A local sports source told Sports Headliners he believes the Twins will change managers after the season ends on Sunday. “Something has to be done,” he said.
But other sources aren’t so sure the status of manager Ron Gardenhire will change after a fourth consecutive 90-plus loss season. The Twins have demonstrated a remarkable loyalty to Gardenhire who is finishing up his 14th season as manager and he has one year remaining on his contract. He is popular within the organization, and considered a “good soldier” and baseball man.
Gardenhire managed the Twins to first place finishes six times but the angst of Twins followers the last four years has raised speculation about not only Gardenhire but his coaches and the front office baseball decision makers including general manager Terry Ryan. Will Gardenhire be replaced? If he returns will he be told to replace some coaches? Will Ryan, who is recovering from cancer, be encouraged to return as the baseball boss?
Twins president Dave St. Peter and owner Jim Pohlad are silent about the future. However, it seems more likely that Gardenhire returns if Ryan is still around. Ryan is a Gardenhire admirer and the Twins don’t like to make changes. A new general manager, though? That could prompt changes everywhere—from the manager to coaches to front office talent evaluators.
If Gardenhire doesn’t return but Ryan does, the source mentioned above believes the club will look within the organization for a replacement. The candidates he mentioned are Twins coaches Paul Molitor and Terry Steinbach, and farm system managers Gene Glynn and Doug Mientkiewicz.
To many fans and media, Molitor is the most intriguing. “I think he would be a terrific manager,” another local sports source said. “They (the Twins) understand the status quo is not acceptable. I believe some change has to be made at the managerial level or beyond that.”
As a Cooperstown Hall of Famer and Minnesota native, Molitor is not only a sexy hire but one with a high baseball IQ. In the Edina resident’s first season as a Twins coach, he’s been hands-on helping with players and strategies.
Authorities like Gophers assistant head baseball coach Rob Fornasiere have long been impressed with Molitor, a former University of Minnesota All-American. He once spent four hours talking to Molitor about one subject—base running. “I admire Paul Molitor and feel that he’s one of the smartest baseball people I’ve ever met,” Fornasiere said.
Conversations among Twins fans during the winter could be interesting following a Molitor promotion. Already there is speculation that if hired, Molitor will bring former Brewers teammate and Hall of Famer Robin Yount to Minneapolis to work along side him as a coach.
Until the Twins put better players on the field—particularly quality starting pitchers—they’re not going to win division titles again but a change in managers and coaches would boost the optimism of some disgruntled fans. Target Field attendance is the lowest since the club moved into its new outdoor home in 2010. TV ratings suffer when the Twins slog their way through last place division finishes and ratings were down a month ago about 25 percent from 2013, according to a source. The Twins marketing leaders have to be concerned about future attendance, ratings, and corporate involvement by advertisers, sponsors and suite holders.
The Twins won’t be in the playoffs this October but it looks like an interesting month that will set the tone for 2015—status quo versus change. “I don’t think they’re going to let it (a decision) linger,” a source said. “I think it starts with Terry and then if Terry stays he will have the opportunity to decide on the manager. If it’s a new GM, then he will have that right.”