With the Twins having lost 23 of their last 41 games and at times looking like a Central Division wannabe instead of a champion, the finger pointing among fans now even includes manager Ron Gardenhire.  He’s long been a favorite in this town but anybody and everybody receives blame when the Twins lose a comfortable division lead and play like second stringers instead of heroes.

But don’t expect team management or ownership to have thoughts about changing managers any time soon.  And most everyone who pulls for the Twins is feeling better after last weekend’s Target Field series when the Twins won three of four against the first place White Sox who now lead Minnesota and Detroit by 1.5 games.

The Twins’ decision makers are likely to want Gardenhire to manage the team even if the team falters on the field the balance of this season and next.  It’s the organization’s philosophy to minimize change and create continuity.

During the last 25 seasons the Twins have had two managers, Tom Kelly, 1986-2001 and Gardenhire, 2002-present.  The front office folks kept Kelly around for years after he managed two World Series champions even though the Twins had teams that were among the worst in the American League.

Gardenhire has managed five teams to Central Division titles with the most recent championships in 2006 and 2009.  His teams haven’t experienced post-season success and the Twins struggles are so bad they haven’t won a playoff series since 2002.

Like any group of coaches, even the best in the game, the Twins coaching staff led by Gardenhire doesn’t always make the right decisions.  But there’s consensus among baseball authorities that the Twins have outstanding on field leadership.

Gardenhire’s contract ends after next season.  Neither Gardenhire nor management is likely to be talking contract now, or perhaps even during the next off-season.

It would be just like the front office and Gardenhire to stay in the moment, play out the season and see what the situation looks like then.  Even use the same approach next season.

The end of the 2011 season seems far away.  Gardenhire will be 54 years old by then.  He’s had some health issues and his older brother Mike died unexpectedly at age 55 two years ago.  So who knows if Gardenhire will even want to manage after his  contract expires?

Both he and the front office will be in a much different and better place to evaluate his future in early or late 2011.  But despite some public finger pointing, count on Gardenhire being around for awhile, maybe a long while.

Comments Welcome

The Vikings open training camp in Mankato next week and will be there through August 12.  Here are 10 (hopefully) laugh out loud reasons to visit the Purple at training camp:

1. Most of the citizenry is unemployed and there’s nothing else to do.

2. See if there’s anyone wearing a Packers’ jersey to start a fight with.

3. Let NFL reps know we don’t appreciate defensive players (even those known as Saints) diving at our quarterback’s legs.

4. Help make sure the Vikings have 11 players in the huddle, not 12.

5. Pick up a lock of Jared Allen’s hair.

6. Last chance to see Tarvaris Jackson as No. 1 quarterback before you-know-who returns.

7. Attend final training camp in Mankato before franchise relocates to Los Angeles next year.

8. Be among the first to hear what sack records Ray Edwards intends to break this season.

9. See if Adrian Peterson will be carrying a football with handles attached.

10. Admit you’ve just been pretending to be interested in the Twins until training camp opens.

Comments Welcome

TV sports reporter and radio show host Mike Max talking about the Vikings’ popularity: “The Twins can take over for awhile but as soon as the Vikings start up:  Boom!  Everything changes.  You can just feel it in people. Their conversations change.  So they’re (the Vikings) the king and always will be. …”

Interest in the Vikings is intense but many fans choose to follow the team through the media instead of attending games.  To encourage ticket sales the Vikings are advertising free parking and a $20 concession coupon through Valpak, a direct mail advertiser.  The offer is for regular season games against Miami, Detroit, Arizona and Buffalo.

The Vikings and USA Football are ready to help Minneapolis area youth football coaches prepare better for the coming season.  USA Football’s Minneapolis Coaching School presented by the Vikings will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Saturday at Winter Park.  The clinic will address coaching philosophy, the teaching of fundamentals, concussion awareness and education, proper equipment fitting, and communicating with parents, players and other coaches.  Registration for the event is $40 and includes instruction from high school coaches, plus lunch and a USA Football Certificate of Completion.  Youth coaches can register at www.usafootball.com.

Are you kidding? Sporting News magazine has the Gophers ranked No. 98 among 120 major college football teams while Middle Tennessee State, Minnesota’s season opening opponent, is rated No. 43.

When BCS schools like Minnesota and Southern California play each other the visiting team receives $400,000, according to Marc Ryan, associate athletic director at Minnesota.  The Gophers host the Trojans here on September 18 and then play in Los Angeles next year.

Former NBA and world championship coach Bill Fitch talking about recently traded Timberwolves star Al Jefferson: “I’ve always thought Jefferson was a better player than he’s shown so far.”

Kevin Noreen, Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball who recently committed to West Virginia, plans to major in business and complete a master’s degree in four years.  He earned a perfect score on the English portion of his ACT college entrance exam.

Noreen said basketball legend Jerry West’s son, Jonnie, finished his undergraduate degree in two years at West Virginia.

Twin Cities Live host John Hanson of KSTP TV is a 1994 grad of Apple Valley High School and a passionate sports follower.  Hanson, who sometimes fills in for Joe Schmit as Ch. 5 sports anchor, has been a Texas Rangers fan since 1983 when the Twins traded Gary Ward, his favorite player, to the Arlington-based ball club.

Former Pioneer Press sportswriter Gregg Wong is a volunteer for the St. Paul Urban Tennis program that teaches kids tennis and life skills.  Wong reported on various sports for the newspaper including tennis, golf, hockey and baseball.

St. Thomas seniors Nikki Arola and Alison Wright, and St. Olaf senior John Schantzen, have been selected as recipients of the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.  They are among 58 spring sports scholarship winners, each receiving $7,500 scholarships.

Comments Welcome