Twins owner Jim Pohlad said Monday that manager Ron Gardenhire and general manager Bill Smith would both be back with the team next year despite an awful 2011 season. Pohlad blamed the disappointing season on a "perfect storm" of injuries.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire wants absolutely nothing to do with 100-losses. Despite all of the injuries up and down the team's lineup, Gardenhire says he never expected the team to get close to losing 100-games.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire says he'll try to restrain himself as he addresses his team before their first full workout this morning in Ft. Myers. But if he dwells on 99 losses in mid-speech, Gardenhire tells the Star Tribune his blood just might start to boil.

On Jan. 4, 2002, the Twins replaced manager Tom Kelly with Ron Gardenhire. While Gardy had his worst year in the dugout in 2011, there's no doubt he's kept the Twins a winner for most of his tenure.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire says Nick Punto always has a place on his roster. He told the Pioneer Press that he didn't want the utility infielder to "leave in the first place." Punto signed a one-year deal last winter with the St. Louis Cardinals, who just won the World Series.

Toby Gardenhire -- the son of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire -- has a new job. Fox Sports North reports he is the new head baseball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Gardenhire, 29, has been in the Twins farm system for years, but never made the big leagues. He says he’s already picking his dad’s brain for coaching advice.

He’s said it before, he said it again today. “Losing sucks.” That, from Twins manager Ron Gardenhire at a luncheon with statewide media. Gardenhire says there’s a lot of work to be done as the team heads to Spring Training next month.

On his Sunday morning radio show, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Dozier will be his starting shortstop. The infielder will join the team at Target Field Monday when the Twins kick-off another series with the Los Angels Angels. Right-hander Scott Diamond is also being recalled.