Fire Gardy!

[fisherman]

Not going to happen. Nice to see he'll be around. Not like he was going anywhere.

Cut & Paste from the Star Trib

Twins GM working on next year's team.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has signed a contract extension that will allow him to run the club through the 2009 season.

In addition, the entire Twins coaching staff has been signed through the 2008 season.

"I thought we had a tremendous year," Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. "We've had a number of good years. This staff is experienced and they have a work ethic and they have the same philosophies. I know Gardy delegates a lot of responsibility to them."

Gardenhire will head into his sixth seasons as Twins manager with a career record of 455-354. Only the Yankees' Joe Torre, the Cardinals' Tony LaRussa and the Braves' Bobby Cox have won more games among active managers.

The Twins were 25-33 when Gardenhire made changes that helped the club finish with 96 wins and a fourth American League Central title under his watch. He changed the left side of the infield and had a heart-to-hear conversation with first baseman Justin Morneau. The new infielders, third baseman Nick Punto and shortstop Jason Bartlett, played well. Morneau became a Most Valuable Player candidate. And the Twins caught the Detroit Tigers on the final day of the regular season to win the division.

But the Twins lost to Oakland in the AL Division Series, something that still bothers Gardenhire.

"I'm excited that we are here a few more years to try to get to the ultimate place, the World Series," Gardenhire said.

Pitching coach Rick Anderson, bench coach Steve Liddle, bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek, third base coach Scott Ullger, hitting coach Joe Vavra and first base coach Jerry White all agreed to contracts which will run through the 2008 season.

Gardenhire, 48, was named manager of the Twins on January 4, 2002.