Hosken Bombo Disco

What Twins news has Nightengale broken? I don't keep track of that stuff but would like to know.

Plouffe is a success story. Bruno seems to have improved him at the plate, Molitor in the field, and Gardy.. by just having faith in him after everyone else was ready to give up. He's not an all star, but he's a keeper.

Arcia is also the guy with Plouffe who hauls the Gatorade cooler out into the field after walk-offs

Link to interview http://twinsdaily.com/topic/15519-nightengale-twins-interviewing-doug-mientkiewicz-today/?p=285400 Warning: after all the buildup, it's probably not going to be as meaty as you'd expect.

Ryan and Smith seemed to have put together a nice crop of young talent.. putting in place a new coaching staff seemed like a minimum requirement. Pohlads and Ryan now must start thinking about a successor GM, in my opinion. Pohlads don't seem to be the types to hire someone cold off the street (so to speak) so I assume would want that person already in the organization for when the time comes.

When given lemons, make lemonade, right? The thing is, Marquis did turn it around - after he left the Twins. Worley did turn it around - after he left the Twins. The Royals still like Liam Hendricks. I thought Liriano was having one last lucky season in 2013, but nope, he sort of backed it up in 2014 with a season similar to 2010, even if the W-L wasn't as sexy. The Twins wanted Liriano to cut down the walks and pitch to contact. For Liriano that approach was a disaster. Gardy and Andy never gave up the pitch-to-contact philosophy, and teams were feasting. I think Gardy can hook on somewhere but only if he's willing to change his stripes a little, and another GM might give pause if Gardy insists on bringing Anderson.

again, thanks for the reminder.

which sounds a lot like what Ned Yost did with James Shields tonight, pulling him with a lead early in the sixth inning and bringing in another starting pitcher, who promptly surrendered a crushing home run. Bet Yost would like to have that one back. The Guerrier-A-Rod thing was pretty ridiculous thanks for reminding. But a lot fell on Nathan and the players too. What can you do. Gardy got stubborn as the years went on but as we see with Yost and Ausmus, Gardy was not really any worse than any other manager, and probably better than the ones representing the Central this season. Again though, just time for both sides to move on.

I always thought Hardy's greatest strength was his glove.

And as long as we are talking anecdotal, I will suggest that many of the baserunning mistakes that form your opinion can be attributed to Chris Parmelee. He looked clueless out there several times, including that bad one in the final week against the White Sox where he didn't pick up the third base coach and ran up Hicksies backside at third base. Hicks incidentally took the blame for that one, but it was all on Parms. Also the third base coach probably won't be back next year. Many other base running outs came from Dozier being overly aggressive, which was actually a good thing. This was a good year for him to test some limits. Also, Dozier and Plouffe give credit to Molitor for their improved defense. Gee whiz jamie dude, give Molly some credit!

Given your screen name I'm not sure if you are local or not, but Jim Souhan, Strib columnist, wrote this again yesterday, and I wonder if this would soften your feelings against Molitor: ' This summer, I asked Buxton and Sano who they rely on in the Twins’ organization. Both said, “Molitor.” ' I asked, “Who else?” ' Both said, “Molitor.” ' http://m.startribune.com/sports/twins/277536121.html

Gardy laid his cards down in the press conference. He sees himself as a manager, he's not ready to be done managing, and he doesn't give two shakes what this undefined "position in the organization" is that Ryan is offering him. I say Gardy tipped his hand, but honestly the character he showed today, I think I see again what Gardy's supporters through the years never lost sight of. He's passionate, perceptive, speaks his mind, he cares that the Twins start winning again without him, and really cares about baseball players (see Plouffe's goodbye). With a new team, Gardy won't be as stubborn and will have to open himself up to suggestions a bit more - his job will depend on it. Until today I figured Gardy would be done managing, either because of his record the last four years or he might admit he's burned out or whatever, but instead I am almost 100% convinced he manages again somewhere. He could easily be successful again in the right situation too, no doubt in my mind. The ideal candidate, according to Ryan today, will come from within the organization. That continuity for better or worse will be reassuring to the Twins. There will be outside coaches brought in, and it also sounded like some existing coaches would be welcomed back. If a guy like Ozzie were actually hired ( < .00001% chance of that happening) he would not be permitted to Surprise us! with his own coaching hires. Also, a guy as inexperienced as Mientkiewicz would probably need outside help selecting a staff anyway. I'm not opposed to Molitor but would hate to think he is a layup and already has the job. But the advantage of Molitor would be that he is an insider who seems open to outside ideas, and he apparently already has earned deep respect from guys like Buxton and Sano. Bruno has also gotten results and figures to stay in the picture. Whoever this new manager is, he will not get the leash Kelly or Gardy did. This was the worst day professionally for many people in the organization and I bet there will be much less emotion or hesitation in sacking the next guy if it appears he's not working out.

I would never bring Punto in as manager... but what about as a third base coach?

That day will come, my friend, that day will come. (though I don't know if either of those two specifically are qualified…. highly doubt it

Great reaction Lavelle. Or you know, he could pretend he is a reporter for a day, and say something like :"According to _____, entire coaching staff also not brought back."

84 was a fun season with a devastating finish. Those young Twins had no business being up there in the standings in the first place.

3pm news conference, I'd really like for Gardy to digest it and be at peace with it by then. Best of luck to him.

I'm betting like a lot of people, I would have rather seen KC-OAK playing a series for the pennant and not the play-in game.

Interesting how most of Hughes's walks came so early in the game. Very well presented story.

I like the foundation idea. Also if a game this weekend goes into the 11th or 12th inning, why not. I don't think the Twins will be called cheap if he finished 1/3 inning short, as I remember Hughes voluntarily removing himself from several games this summer when he could have pitched further.

Ok, then start with this: 66 - 96 = x

As someone who believes a manager change and coaching changes could bring immediate improvement, I would be eager to join a ticket buying group again, starting next year.

Twins made a huge gamble on Hicks and lost. In hindsight I'm not sure that particular gamble cost too much in W-L though, and the Span/Revere trades may have netted a good pitching prospect or two. I assume Buxton is doing ok now that the collision is in the rear view mirror and can make a visit next September despite his unlucky 2014. Optimism! Great point in OP that Dozier actually could stand to clean up his fielding a little bit. And Mauer still finding himself out of position from time to time. Otherwise happy with the infield D.

Probably not. I was stuck listening to him one day this week, unfortunately. I like to listen to Rosen at 2pm when I can but that's it. The only thing Common Man ever talks passionately about is his own golf game but he really went way over the top on this as if he was taking a controversial stand on a controversial issue. I'm just holding him up as an example of a media member who believes the only thing to do is to destroy the athlete and Vikings management but maybe he changed his tune the past few days. (by the way Vikings deserve some harsh criticism I think). I have no idea what Cole's take on Puckett is.

There are media people like Dan Cole who are taking a stand against child abuse (he is presumably pro- puppy dog and strongly in favor of the sunrise) only as it relates to the professional athletes he is paid to take down. There is no sense that he is ever interested in addressing issues like this, but has only been waiting for the right opportunity. It just gives him and other media people something easy to talk about, period. On the other hand there are guys like Cris Carter I guess who seem to want to advance the debate -- what is appropriate discipline. Who decides. What part do we wish our public officials to have in deciding. Good to discuss. To my mind Adrian is in the wrong even if he genuinely didn't believe he was doing anything wrong. It's not as black and white as he thinks. He gets paid to take and give bodily punishment, and our society condones this… yet here we are talking about a little child. I think he should have some sort of significant suspension but no idea how long. Football cannot be a priority for him right now. This is not to defend him though or defend NFL policy.