Twins ignore possible elimination, will name new manager today

MINNEAPOLIS -- In another sign baseball is unlikely to eliminate any teams this year, the Minnesota Twins called a news conference for today to announce their new manager, with Ron Gardenhire expected to get the job.

"Right now I'm kind of waiting until tomorrow. I'll be able to talk a little after that," Gardenhire, the only remaining candidate, said Thursday.

After longtime manager Tom Kelly resigned in October, Gardenhire and bench coach Paul Molitor emerged as the finalists. But the Twins suspended their hiring efforts after baseball owners voted Nov. 6 to eliminate two teams before the 2002 season.

Minnesota and Montreal were the likely candidates, but the plan was stopped Nov. 16 when a Minnesota judge issued an injunction that forces the team to honor its lease at the Metrodome this season. The Twins and baseball appealed, but the Minnesota Court of Appeals -- which heard the case last week -- hasn't ruled.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan, testifying Thursday before a state task force examining options for a new ballpark, said baseball commissioner Bud Selig recently told the team: "Go about your business and assume that the season will be played, but stay flexible."

With the start of spring training six weeks away, Ryan said he couldn't wait any longer.

"We're under the assumption that we're going to play and eventually we've got to have a manager and a coaching staff to direct this team," Ryan said.

Schecules announced

The Twins announced a 2002 schedule on Dec. 21 and a spring training schedule on Wednesday.

Molitor withdrew from consideration in December because of uncertainty caused by over baseball's contraction plan.

"The consensus is it's going to be Gardy," hitting coach Scott Ullger, who also had interviewed for the job, said. "It's a good choice and I'm really happy for him."

Gardenhire, 44, hit .232 in portions of five seasons with the New York Mets. He was a successful minor league manager for three seasons before joining the wins' staff in 1991.

Last month, he admitted he was antsy about the wait.

"I try to get out of the house," Gardenhire said in an interview Dec. 4. "I'm in a bowling league with Kent Hrbek --chasing my kids around."

Ullger said the new manager might inherit a highly motivated group of players following a second-place finish, the Twins' best since winning the World Series in 1991.

"It's a good young team, and they've played together a long time, and they're hungry," he said.