Hosken Bombo Disco

Funny, I thought it looked more like Brian Dozier's great-great-granddaddy

"interview" is probably too strong a word. If Dougie was a serious candidate for the Twins job, he would have flown to Minneapolis for it (my understanding is that Ryan is in Ft. Myers) or maybe Mientkiewicz is traveling up to Minneapolis in the near future. I'm a little warmer on Dougie after listening to the KSTP interview though. He's a "get after it" guy for sure but sounds fairly open minded. I didn't get the sense he was anti- analytics.

He will manage again. EDIT: I think he will manage again, as he almost said as much in the press conference Q&A. And I'd love to be at Target Field for the ovation when his team 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.

yeah I'm not keen on Mauer moving to catcher again, but the Suzuki to 1B needs to happen.

yeah, in your face, Moneyball..

Royals with 6 SB tonight? They obviously knew something and had a plan.. I soften my criticism of Yost somewhat.

Somebody go get RB

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.

There is zero evidence that Gardy was able to relate to the young guys coming up especially the Latin American guys. Gardy acknowledged that the team needs to hear a new voice. So time to go.

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.

Never met Hughes, but he seems sincere. California boy, sent to New York, and has found his happy middle here in Minnesota.

If the Twins part ways with Anderson, then Gardy will also wish to part ways.

You can go back almost every season and find a team that flips from 90 losses to 90 wins. This is the era of 33% participation in postseason so that should be a minimum goal for most teams most years.

Another good summary of the past couple decades. Brandon shared the dread he felt while watching the team at the start of 2011. Not sure when exactly I felt it, and not sure I recall correctly but I think the KSTP guys might have felt that dread, Barreiro and Reusse maybe, but following that 2010 loss to the Yankees, the writing was on the wall. In 2011 we had veterans who were already mentally and physically checking out, and all we had in the minors were guys more like "the last AAA man standing" than true talents rising through the system. Anyway, the Twins can immediately put behind them all these negative dicussions of "how we got here" and start generating some good discussions about the future, by making some significant personnel changes tomorrow. Might not be easy. Nothing worthwhile is. It's their choice.