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| Thursday, November 15 Twins continue to play waiting game Associated Press |
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MINNEAPOLIS -- If things were normal right now at 34 Kirby Puckett Place, employees of the Minnesota Twins would be busy discussing the young team's chances of contending in 2002. Instead, most of the words muttered around the Metrodome these days are "if," "why" and "don't know." With the Twins in danger of being eliminated as baseball plans to pare two franchises, it's clear that on- and off-the-field employees are remaining loyal to the end -- if it is indeed the end. No one can be sure. "I don't think anybody knows what's going on," general manager Terry Ryan said. "I'd just be guessing." Ryan's search to replace retired manager Tom Kelly was interrupted last week when commissioner Bud Selig announced the intent to fold two teams. Ryan himself isn't going anywhere just yet. The Toronto Blue Jays contacted him last week about their GM opening. Ryan said no, and the job went to J.P. Ricciardi on Wednesday. . "I'd just as soon see this through here and hope the organization is allowed to play in 2002," Ryan said. "I'm flattered at Toronto's interest, but it's something that I didn't feel right about." The Twins have long been seen as a friendly, family-like organization. That feeling is evident amid the uncertainty. Director of communications Brad Ruiter doesn't have any regrets about leaving the University of Minnesota's sports information department last spring to join the Twins. "I'd do it all over again," he said. "This is a great opportunity for me." Mark Sheldon moved to Minnesota this spring from Ohio to take a job as a reporter for major league baseball's Web site. He and a colleague are paid by MLB -- not the Twins -- but work in the Metrodome and have frequent contact with many members of the organization. "I got more out of this year with the Twins than I could've ever imagined," Sheldon said. "The job was a dream come true. Even if I lose it, it was worth it." Denise Johnson, recently appointed manager of special projects, is supposed to be starting an alumni association of former Twins players this offseason. Her promotion may be short-lived. "I try not to think about it," she said with a nervous laugh. "I still have the title and the job and the responsibilities." Budget discussions and planning meetings have gone on and season summaries have been sent to the media as scheduled. But marketing campaigns and special events for next season can't be finalized. "You can take things to a certain point," Ruiter said. "But you've got to be smart and stop. The season-ticket brochures and the schedules, you can get them ready, but if you go spend the printing costs, it's silly. You have to be smart about spending your money." Owner Carl Pohlad, his son, Jim, and team president Jerry Bell presented a plan at a meeting with employees last week that would offer them three months' salary in addition to severance packages if the Twins shut down. "I don't think everyone left the meeting feeling a whole lot better," Ruiter said. "We're still talking about the possibility of losing our jobs and losing the franchise. I'd be lying if I said everything is just like it normally is. It's weighing on a lot of people's minds." It's on the players' minds, too. But their chances of having a job in baseball next season are a lot better than those in the front office. "For the owners to want to contract us, that would be a shame," left fielder Jacque Jones said from his home in San Diego. "But baseball's a business, and this year I really began to understand that. My hope would be to come back to Fort Myers for spring training, but that's not up to me." Sheldon, who was recently married, might have to move again. His wife is still searching for a job. "Limbo is kind of the word right now for our family," Sheldon said. "When my wife goes to an interview, can she really give someone a full-fledged commitment if her husband is going to be leaving town?" Most people are wondering why there can even be talk of eliminating the Twins after such a successful season. "It seems so surreal," Johnson said. "Nothing really makes sense." |
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