December, 7, 2011

DALLAS — Many Chicago White Sox fans might have been ready to move on from Ozzie Guillen, but elsewhere in the American League Central not everybody was happy to see him go.

Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire took the news hard and not just because his team was able to give Guillen’s White Sox fits over the years.

“I’m going to miss him because he’s entertainment for me,” Gardenhire said. “I enjoy the heck out of him. I love the way he goes about his business. I love the way he manages. He keeps it entertaining, and baseball is supposed to be played that way.

“For me, you know, I get my opportunity seems like 19 times and now nothing, so that kind of stinks for me, because I enjoy the heck out of him.”

Gardenhire is happy for Robin Ventura, who he knows from his days as a third base coach when Ventura was playing.

“I know Robin pretty well,” Gardenhire said. “He’s a baseball guy. He’s a great player, and he’ll be fine as a manager, I’m sure.”

The Twins and White Sox are usually among the American League Central favorites, but that won’t be the case in 2012.

“I think you have to look and see how it finishes out here and who was what [on their rosters],” Gardenhire said. “We’ll know more when we get to spring training. As we saw last year, the health of your team makes a big difference.

“But Detroit, obviously, they thumped a lot of people. They have a pretty good baseball team, and I don’t think they have done anything to hurt themselves so far. They’re probably going to add. So you look at Detroit as the best team in our division and everybody is going to try to catch them.”