Gardy hired as Special Assistant to the GM.

[jimmer]

So now we know what he's doing.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Oh. Good. 

[alarp33]

LOL.  This organization is unbelievable.  

[Vanimal46]

Per Twitter: 

 

Aww hell, I can't get it to work... 

On the Minnesota Twins Twitter page: 

 

#MNTwins hire Ron Gardenhire as Special Assistant to the GM. He will travel to MiLB affiliates as an instructor.

 

[John Kelsey]

"Assistant GM" -Gardy

 

"Assistant to the GM" -Terry Ryan

 

 

[gunnarthor]

From Neal: "The longtime coach and manager will be a roving minor league instructor, special assignment scout and carry out special assignments for Ryan.  The role is similar to the one Tom Kelly performed after he stepped down as manager following the 2001 season."

 

[John Kelsey]

 

LOL.  This organization is unbelievable.  

 

I would say this move is incredibly believable. 

[jimmer]

So now Gardy is in place to take over as GM when Ryan steps down.

[Brock Beauchamp]

There's nothing wrong with using an experienced hand as a roving instructor.

 

Just don't give him any real power. Please god, don't give him any real power.

[Mike Sixel]

I will refuse to pass judgement on this. Let's see if he can help the minor league coaches.

[alarp33]

 

So now Gardy is in place to take over as GM when Ryan steps down.

 

*Shudders at the thought... yet nods head

[jimmer]

 

There's nothing wrong with using an experienced hand as a roving instructor.

 

Just don't give him any real power. Please god, don't give him any real power.

not unless you want some real change in the organization.  Then it's pretty wrong.

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

So now Gardy is in place to take over as GM when Ryan steps down.

Bite your tongue, damn you. 

[Vanimal46]

 

There's nothing wrong with using an experienced hand as a roving instructor.

 

Just don't give him any real power. Please god, don't give him any real power.

Also, keep him 200 feet away from MiLB pitchers at all times... We don't need JT Chargois or Nick Burdi learning the "pitch-to-contact" philosophy. 

[Pardon My Dinger]

Why don't they want us to be happy? 

[Brock Beauchamp]

not unless you want some real change in the organization. Then it's pretty wrong.

Roving instructors help young players with footwork, defense, baserunning, preparation, that sort of thing.

 

Sounds like a decent role for Gardy, actually.

[jimmer]

Rick Anderson was just hired as the Assistant to the Special Assistant to the GM :-)

[Danchat]

This is an interesting twist. I guess Gardy won't be managing [presumably] again.

 

If he's in the Tom Kelly role, that's fine. If he's going to be in a position of power... oh dear.

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

Rick Anderson was just hired as the Assistant to the Special Assistant to the GM :-)

Oh, you, old sonofagun. Are you funnin' on us? 

[jimmer]

 

Oh, you, old sonofagun. Are you funnin' on us? 

the Rick Anderson one is a joke.  Unfortunately the Gardy one is not.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

There's nothing wrong with using an experienced hand as a roving instructor.

 

Just don't give him any real power. Please god, don't give him any real power.

yeah this.  Gardy was a pretty decent coach... lousy manager.  If they keep him using his talents, I like it.  Otherwise, what Brock said..

[Vanimal46]

I don't hate this hire. This could be good for Gardy and the Twins' minor league squads... But good lord, is there any other organization in sports with this much of a country club atmosphere than our Twins? Does TR, the Pohlad's, or whoever made this hire fear any voice outside of the organization? 

[TheLeviathan]

 

the Rick Anderson one is a joke.  Unfortunately the Gardy one is not.

 

Let it breathe for a few hours and then hit em again with the "Scotty Ulger" version.

[d-mac]

I guess this tells you what other MLB organizations thought of Gardenhire as a coach. 

[alarp33]

 

I don't hate this hire. This could be good for Gardy and the Twins' minor league squads... But good lord, is there any other organization in sports with this much of a country club atmosphere than our Twins? Does TR, the Pohlad's, or whoever made this hire fear any voice outside of the organization? 

 

Sadly they've blown the Wolves out of the water when it comes to the "Country Club". 

 

And yeah, I think it's pretty obvious they are extremely comfortable with the "known" commodities.  

[Dr. Evil]

I'm going to withhold (posting my) judgment on this.

[TwinsCD]

As soon as I saw this cross the interwebs, I had to throw the Jiffy Pop in the microwave and mosey on over here to gauge the entertainment value.  It hasn't been disappointing.

[Thrylos]

Glad to see the Twins doing their best to help keep unemployable former managers from finding out what it takes to earn a buck in baseball's free market.

 

 

Welcome back to the Country Club Gardy

[Mike Sixel]

I will say, it seems a bit too comfy for my tastes. It is hard to get on board with "we are trying to bring in new voices and ideas" when stuff like this happens. 

 

But, my recollection is that Gardy was a very good teacher in the minors.

[USAFChief]

 

"Assistant GM" -Gardy

 

"Assistant to the GM" -Terry Ryan

"like" is not strong enough.  I want to marry this post.