Gardenhire beat out Rangers manager Ron Washington in the voting, taking first-place votes on 16 of the 28 ballots for 108 points overall. Washington got 10 first-place votes and 81 points overall, while Joe Maddon of the Rays was third at 44 points.
The Twins won the AL Central for the sixth time in Gardenhire's nine years at the helm, and they have never finished worse than third since he took over in 2002, but this was Gardenhire's first Manager of the Year honor. He has finished second five times and third once.
"It's nice not finishing second, I can tell you that, so I have that off my back," Gardenhire said on a conference call. "And (the media) won't ask me about finishing second anymore, so that's off my back. Now if we can just go out and whack the Yankees and get that off our back. Maybe this is a start in the right direction."
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But his work in holding together a Twins team that played the second half without one of its top hitters, Justin Morneau, and employed Carl Pavano as the No. 2 starter and still managed to go 94-68 was enough to put Gardenhire over the top in the eyes of the voters.
Though the Twins once again lost out to the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs – a non-factor in the voting, which was conducted before the postseason began – Gardenhire was able to maintain Minnesota's impressive run of division success.
In their first year at Target Field after leaving the Metrodome, the Twins relied on players like the ageless Jim Thome and a resurgent Delmon Young to make up for the midseason loss of Morneau, who was limited to 81 games after suffering a concussion.
The Twins also lost closer Joe Nathan before the season began but made do with Jon Rauch at the back end of an effective bullpen that boosted a rotation that was mediocre beyond Pavano and Francisco Liriano.
The formula wasn't enough to bring October success to Minnesota, but the Twins always seem to find themselves in position to make a playoff run, and Gardenhire has to get credit for that staying power over the years. But unfinished business remains.
"We obviously have to figure out a way to get past the Yankees; they seem to be our Achilles' heel," Gardenhire said. "They always seem to get it done, and we have to figure out a way to get it done. We're built a certain way and we're going to stick with it. We've been successful."
Gardenhire was the only manager named on all 28 ballots. Three voters did not include Washington on their three-man ballots.
Other AL managers receiving votes were Terry Francona of the Red Sox (13), Cito Gaston of the Blue Jays (five) and Joe Girardi of the Yankees (one). Maddon and Gaston had one first-place vote each.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ron Gardenhire gets the most out of his small market players and deserves the award!
I agree ! great job !
Ron Washington has been working for the past several years to mold a winning team. This year was the reward guiding the Texas Rangers to their first American League Championship and onto the World Series. Ron is a good manager, but this year the manager of the year should have gone to Ron Washington.
Sure.Once a drug addick allways a addict.Him and Hamilton.Woops.....dont relaps.
CONGRATULATIONS! GARDY! By the way, do you happen to know anything about coaching Football, as long as you have a couple of months off! You wouldn't have to travel far, just to a couple of away games. But with your coaching skills, it could take you into February. Just wishful thinking!
Again, CONGRATULATIONS! Next year, all the way!!
The awards for Manager of the Year should have been changed to the Sparky Anderson Awards before this years winners were announced. Sparky signified what a major league manager is supposed to be. He was thye first to win world series managing in both leagues. Managing the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers.
this is a bunch of bull washington took them to the world seies and playoffs for the first time as a texas ranger team gardenhire has been there 6 times ? tis is just wrong and i say shame on the voters
Ciongratulations Gardy! This award is long overdue and I'd bet many of your peers are happy for you. The Twins always seem to make do despite adversity and their style of baseball is fun to watch.
Ron congratulations, you are truly Okmulgee, Oklahoma finest product. If you ever get to Cincy give me a call. Steve Dawson
Ron Washington got screwed, He is the one who beat the Yankees to get to the world series, not get swept by the Yankees like the Twins were. Hope it wasn't a color thing.
Hey Don, it doesn't matter what happened during the playoffs, voting is done before playoffs begin.
In 2003 I thought a bunch of managers including Gardenhire got screwed when Tony Pena won finishing 3rd. But coaching for the worst owner in all of sports, maybe he deserved it since David Glass gives the GM and manager nothing to work with.
I’m glad Gardenhire finally won it. Everybody thought with them moving outside, they would not have the advantage they did at the Metrodome. Big wrong since they had a better home record this year than ever before.
Way to go Gardy!