I have to question the idea that has been espoused by a couple of people here that the dugout is a "public" venue. Yes, the ubiquitous (today's 25-cent word:)) presence of television has given the public a glimpse into that (although without audio so we don't actually know what was said or what Gardy was mad about), but it is still, in my mind, a private venue, just as the locker room is private. With the advent of video-capable smartphones, even locker room "discussions" can now be aired publicly, but that doesn't make it a public forum. There is still a big difference between what happens in a dugout and a locker room and what is said in a post-game press conference that is an intended media event. And, while Gardenhire's personality and interpersonal skills are a valid topic of conversation, let's not start shifting the blame for Hicks's play to Gardenhire. Hicks is the one who is making simple mistakes that big-league players just should not be making. When you make the first mistake, the manager should gently correct and coach you; when you make the third mistake, the manager can still correct and coach; when you make the 10th, 15th, etc... at some point you have to kick some butt, because obviously the soft-sell approach is not sinking in. Same thing with Plouffe at third.