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Dołączył: 23 Paź 2019
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 Wysłany: Pią Lis 22, 2019 09:19 Temat postu: Four birdies on the back nine left Lee Westwood on one |
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| MINNEAPOLIS -- Ron Gardenhire had every reason to leave and the Minnesota Twins had every reason to let him walk away. They had partnered for 12 seasons -- an eternity in this day and age for a franchise and a manager. They had won a lot of games together -- 998 to be exact -- and six division titles. They also have endured three straight seasons of at least 96 losses, and the loyal fan base is starting to get impatient. If ever there was a time for a fresh start, this appeared to be it. But thats not how the Twins operate. And Gardenhire isnt one to walk away when times are toughest. The Twins and Gardenhire agreed to a new two-year extension on Monday, keeping the second-longest tenured manager in the big leagues in the Twin Cities through the 2015 season. "My father was a military guy and said the easy thing to do was walk," said Gardenhire, who just finished the final season of his existing contract. "The hard thing to do was stay and try to make it better. Thats what Im going to try to do here. I want to make it better." Gardenhire has a career record of 998-947 (.513) as a major league manager, and trails only Tom Kelly on the Twins all-time win list (1,140). But all the losing the last three years was starting to wear on the fans, many of whom wanted to see some big changes made to an organization seems lost its way after being a model franchise last decade. Instead, the Twins brought back the 2010 AL manager of the year and his entire staff, too, keeping with their longstanding preference for stability at the top. "Ron Gardenhire didnt get stupid overnight," Twins President Dave St. Peter said. "He was the manager of the year in 2010. I dont think theres been a manager, a coach in this town that has ever connected with Main Street Minnesota better than Ron Gardenhire. I think people relate to him. I think theyre angry with the Twins and people want a scapegoat. "But at the end of the day, we believe organizationally and I think most Minnesotans believe that Ron Gardenhire isnt the problem. Weve got to get him better players." Gardenhire took over for the retired Kelly in 2002, just when the young Twins were poised to make their move after years of miserable rebuilding. He led the team to the division title in his first three seasons and took them to the ALCS in his first year. Once one of the most popular figures in town thanks to a gregarious personality and impressive run of six AL Central division titles in nine years, Gardenhire started to hear some grumbling from the Twins fan base in recent seasons. The Twins have been swept out of their last three appearances in the ALDS and have been nowhere close to competing over the last three years. But even after spending this season as a lame-duck manager, Gardenhire made it clear he wanted to return. "This was a no-brainer for me, a pretty easy thing," Gardenhire said. "I love it here. I wouldnt want to be anywhere else. I know there was a lot of talk about other ball clubs. This is where Im comfortable." Gardenhire met with GM Terry Ryan on Sunday to discuss the direction of the team and the state of the organization in general as the two of them often do during a season. In bringing him back, Ryan is sending a message that the problem lies much more with the talent on the field, and particularly on the mound, than in the dugout. "Weve fallen on some hard times, theres no doubt about that," Ryan said. "Nobodys pretending that everything has gone well the last three years frankly. We need to clean it up and we think we have the right man in-house to do that and Im very happy hes decided to come back." Many of the key players in the clubhouse seem to agree. "I dont think theres anyone else we want leading the team," closer Glen Perkins said Sunday. "Theres no better guy to run this team, and Ive said it once and will say it a thousand times, its not his fault. Hes doing the best he can with what hes given, and Terrys doing his best to give him more. I dont think that will stop. I think (Ryan) knows where were deficient and will do what he can to rectify that." All-Star catcher Joe Mauer, who missed the last 41 games of the season with a concussion, has never played for another manager in the big leagues, and he didnt want that to change. "I dont think, really, whoever was managing would have made much of a difference," Mauer said. "Gardys a great manager. Hes managed some great teams here. Hes a great leader and I hope to see him back here." The Pohlad family prides itself on stability in the leadership positions, and the Twins have had only two managers since 1986. They rarely bow to public pressure, whether its to fire an employee, make a trade or splurge on a free agent. "I think everybody knows that we value consistency and loyalty," Jim Pohlad said. Now the hard work begins to improve a team that finished 66-96. The starting rotation was by far the worst in the big leagues. Justin Morneau was traded in August, rookies Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia went through horrible slumps after being rushed to the big club and veterans Josh Willingham and Ryan Doumit took massive steps backward after impressive seasons in 2012. The Twins do have two prized prospects in third baseman Miguel Sano and centre fielder Byron Buxton that are projected to be All-Star calibre players once they reach the majors. But the most likely scenarios dont have either player becoming everyday players for the Twins until 2015 at the earliest. And neither one of them can pitch, which only makes Ryans job of upgrading the roster Gardenhire has to work with that much more of a challenge. "We have a lot of things to fix," Ryan said. "Not just one thing." Air Max Sale . As the only competitor to try two quads, much less complete them, Kovtun ended the day nearly nine points ahead of Japans Tatsuki Machida, who opened with a clean quad but then stepped out of the triple toe loop that was the second jump in his combination. Under Armour Shoes Sale . -- Miami Dolphins defensive co-ordinator Kevin Coyle defended the management style of coach Joe Philbin in the wake of the teams bullying scandal. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/ .com) - Rajon Rondo turned in a game-high 21 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists as Dallas claimed a 102-98 win over the Lakers on Friday. Wholesale Shoes . Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves to backstop the Penguins to a 2-1 victory over the Flames, handing Calgary its team record sixth consecutive home regulation loss. Balenciaga Shoes Sale . Irving played 10 minutes Sunday night before going to the locker room. He had two points and four assists, missing all five of his shots. The All-Star game MVP is the top scorer among Eastern Conference point guards with 21.Justin Rose is refusing to give up hope of a maiden Masters after superb back nines kept him within touching distance of the leaders. Rose began the day an two-over-par and after an early birdie at three would have had high hopes of moving up the leaderboard.However playing in the afternoons blustery conditions the Englishman made the turn in 40 shots, finding himself at six-over the the championship. Rose is made of sterner stuff and a tremendous back nine including four birdies saw him card a one-over par 73 to leave him in the clubhouse at three over par. Oosthuizen on Augusta battles Louis Oosthuizen reflects on his third round 71 I had no choice but to hang in there, the game has felt incredibly hard over the last couple of days, Rose told Sky Sports.I played the first three holes really well today and I felt good about my game. Its been really tough to judge the wind and any time I have found myself outside 30 feet, Ive been having a hard time gauging the speed.You feel like being bounced around in the wind and that distorts the process as you are really just trying to stay solid with the putter.With the conditions looking like easing for the later starters, Rose knows he is up against adding to his 2013 US Open title but he will not give up without a fight. I was really happy to dig in, and to come back in 33, setting myself up for a good run at it tomorrow, Rose added.We had [the weather] pretty tough all day and then on the last three holes were were wondering if the wind was beginning to lay down and both Jamie and I looked at each other a bit disheartened that the wind had died down.At this stage when you are three over you are looking at the leaders being four or five under par and thinking you need a little bit of help to maybe stay within five.But with the conditions maybe easing up they are probably going to put a bit more distance between me and them so it might be a bit of an uphill struggle tomorrow but I will come out swinging. Lee Westwoodd produced a fabulous run of four birdies in his final seven holes Another man out to make a move on Sunday will be Lee Westwood, the Englishman shot a fine round of 71, one of just two early starters to go under par for the day.ddddddddddddA blistering back nine leaves him at one over par and in the mix for Sunday after recovering from a slow start to finish with four birdies in his final seven holes.Even when i was three over through 11 holes I wasnt doing that much wrong, Westwood told Sky Sports. Four birdies on the back nine left Lee Westwood on one over giving him an outside chance of victory tomorrow I just had to keep hanging in there and wait for the birdie chances to come. I hit a lovely nine-iron into 12 to about four feet and then knocked it close on 13 and knocked it to about four feet again with a nine-iron on 14.I then left it hanging on the edge on 17 and made a nice one on 18 so it was nice way to finish the round and give myself a chance for tomorrow.Its an inspiring place - the more you play it the more you learn. Im trying to hang in there and edge up the leaderboard for when Sunday comes. Also See: Masters: Ways to watch Masters leaderboard WATCH: Boxy behind the scenes Oosthuizen: 71 feels like 66 ' ' ' |
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