RON GARDENHIRE
Game 600 | April 18, 2002 | Ron Gardenhire, Rick Anderson
A successful minor league manager and 11-year coach under Tom Kelly, Gardenhire was named manager in January 2002 after Kelly retired. The young team responded well to Gardenhire, winning the A.L. Central with a record of 94-67. Anderson, who had worked with Gardenhire at the minor league level, was named pitching coach three days after Gardenhire was named manager.
Game 631 | April 22, 2004 | Ron Gardenhire, Terry Ryan
The Twins won their third straight divisional title in 2004, finishing with a record of 92-70. Catcher Joe Mauer hit .308, Corey Koskie hit 25 home runs, and Johan Santana finished 20-6 while registering 265 strikeouts. It was Gardenhire's third year as manager.
Game 653 | May 5, 2005 | Terry Ryan, Ron Gardenhire
Manager Gardenhire and General Manager Ryan were coming off three straight divisional titles, but 2005 proved to be a challenging year for the Twins. A weak offense and injuries to key players combined to see the Twins finish 16 games behind the World Champion Chicago White Sox. Joe Mauer led the team with a .294 batting average, Justin Morneau led with 79 RBIs, and Jacque Jones led with 25 home runs. Johan Santana, 16-7, and Joe Nathan, 43 saves, anchored a solid pitching staff.
Game 674 | May 24, 2006 | Ron Gardenhire, Terry Ryan
For the first time since 1987 the Twins had legitimate power hitters in Justin Morneau, Torii Hunter and Michael Cuddyer. Morneau in 2006 became the first Twin to hit 30 or more home runs in a season since Tom Brunansky, Gary Gaetti and Kent Hrbek all did it in 1987. Johan Santana and rookie Francisco Liriano led a starting rotation that struggled much of the season. Liriano developed mid-season elbow problems and missed the entire 2007 season after surgery. General Manager Ryan acknowledged that "contract issues" with Hunter and Santana would be a challenge after the 2007 season.
Game 695 | May 10, 2007 | Terry Ryan, Ron Gardenhire
The Twins finished third in the American League's Central Division with a 79-83 record. Johan Santana led the pitching staff with a 15-13 record, but the staff was hurt by the retirement of Brad Radke and season-ending Tommy John surgery on Francisco Liriano. Torii Hunter led the team in hitting with 28 home runs, 107 RBIs and a .287 batting average. For the third year in a row the season began with the death of an important figure in Twins history. Long-time announcer Herb Carneal died the day before opening day. In 2005 it was long-time stadium announcer Bob Casey who died, and it 2006 it was Hall of Fame center fielder Kirby Puckett. For Ryan it was to be the last of his many Dunkers appearances as the team's General Manager.
Game 713 | April 3, 2008 | Ron Gardenhire, Bill Smith
With less than a month remaining in the 2007 Twins baseball season, long-time General Manager Terry Ryan stepped down and was replaced by his long-time assistant, Smith. It was a busy off-season for Smith as the team was unable to come to terms with star pitcher Johan Santana and popular center fielder Torii Hunter. Smith traded Santana to the New York Mets for center fielder Carlos Gomez and three minor league pitchers. Hunter signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In addition, Smith traded shortstop Jason Bartlett and promising pitcher Matt Garza to Tampa Bay for left fielder Delmon Young and utility infielder Brendan Harris. Gardenhire piloted his young team to a surprisingly good 88-75 record, losing the divisional title to the Chicago White Sox in a one-game playoff.
Game 736 | May 28, 2009 | Ron Gardenhire, Bill Smith, Joe Vavra
It was a repeat visit for Manager Gardenhire and General Manager Smith, but Vavra fielded a number of questions about the role of Batting Coach and his thoughts on hitting in various situations.
Game 755 | May 5, 2010 | Bill Smith, Ron Gardenhire
The Twins General Manager and Manager talked about their team and life at new Target Field. The team later clinched its sixth division title in nine seasons, and Gardenhire was named "American League Manager of the Year."
Game 774 | May 25, 2011 | Ron Gardenhire, Bill Smith
Filled with enthusiasm after a strong spring training, the Twins manager and general manager talked about prospects for 2011 with a payroll in excess of $110 million. Newly acquired second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka broke his leg in the first week of the season. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau missed major parts of the year and the team stumbled into last place with a record of 63-99. Smith was fired after the season as Terry Ryan returned as Twins general manager.
Game 789| April 12, 2012 | Ron Gardenhire, Terry Ryan
Ryan was back in his old role as Twins General Manager, and Gardenhire was returning for his 11th year as Twins Manager. Ryan talked about the signing of free agents Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit, Jamey Carroll and Jason Marquis. Suffering from a lack of quality starting pitching the team finished with a 66-96 record, 22 games behind division leader Detroit.
Game 805 | April 23, 2013 | Terry Ryan, Ron Gardenhire
After two consecutive seasons of more than 90 losses, the Twins general manager and manager talked about how some of the young players such as center fielder Aaron Hicks and pitcher Kyle Gibson, along with second baseman Brian Dozier and a combination of free agents should contribute to a better outlook for the 2013 season.
Game 824 | May 1, 2014 | Ron Gardenhire
Less than a month after the Twins home opener, the Twins manager and general manager talked about prospects for the 2014 season, Gardenhire's 13th as manager. Despite early optimism, the team lost 90-plus games for the fourth consecutive season, and Gardenhire was fired after the end of the season in favor of Hall of Famer Paul Molitor.
