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 |  Subject: Twins News- Twins without manager after brother's death  Sat May 03, 2008 10:11 am | |
| 05/02/2008 8:10 PM ET
Gardenhire to miss Tigers series
Twins manager headed to Oklahoma after brother's death
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
MINNEAPOLIS - The Twins will be without manager Ron Gardenhire for this weekend's three-game series against Detroit following the death of his oldest brother, Mike Gardenhire.
Mike passed away unexpectedly at his home in Oklahoma on Thursday. He was 55 years old.
Third-base coach Scott Ullger will manage the Twins in the skipper's absence. Gardenhire headed back to his hometown of Okmulgee, Okla., to be with his family on Friday.
"I know he was really torn up about it," Ullger said. "The suddenness of the situation -- you can't prepare for something like that."
Ullger said that the Twins just saw Mike Gardenhire during the club's series against the Rangers in Texas this past weekend. The majority of the Gardenhire family still lives in Okmulgee, a town of about 13,000 people that is located about 40 miles south of Tulsa. And a group of family members made the trip down to Arlington.
"He came in the clubhouse and was sitting in the stands next to [Justin] Morneau's dad," Ullger said of Mike. "It just reminds you that you never know, right?"
Tigers manager Jim Leyland offered condolences from the entire Tigers organization to Gardenhire and his family.
"We're deeply saddened by it," Leyland said.
In addition to managing, Ullger said that he will continue to hold down his third-base duties as well.
"I did it a thousand times in the Minor Leagues," Ullger said of juggling both jobs. "It's just a little different but that's all right. I won't have to look in the dugout now."
Funeral arrangements for Mike Gardenhire had not been finalized as of early Friday evening, but the expectation is that the funeral will be held early next week. That means Ron Gardenhire could rejoin the Twins in Chicago during their three-game series against the White Sox that begins on Tuesday.
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | |
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