Twins coaches to return; Gardy extension in the works

Last update: October 8, 2008 - 11:30 PM

The Twins will bring back their entire coaching staff in 2009.

Bench coach Steve Liddle, pitching coach Rick Anderson, hitting coach Joe Vavra, first base coach Jerry White, third base coach Scott Ullger, and bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek are expected to receive 2009 contracts during the next few weeks.

"We hold our coaches in high regard,'' Twins General Manager Bill Smith said. "I think they all did a tremendous job this year. We had a lot of new players, we had some young players and lost some key players but they did a great job.''

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is under contract through 2009 but is expected to meet with Smith during the offseason about an extension. Smith could begin locking up the coaching staff -- and open negotiations with Gardenhire -- during the organizational meetings scheduled to begin next week in Fort Myers, Fla.

• The Twins have until two weeks after the World Series to pick up the $950,000 option on Mike Redmond's contract, which is expected to be a formality.

LA VELLE E. NEAL III

Former Cardinals coach dies

George Kissell, a former major league coach who had been with the St. Louis Cardinals organization since 1940, has died following a car accident. He was 88. Kissell died Tuesday night at Tampa General Hospital, Pinellas Park, Fla.

Police said Kissell's daughter was driving her parents Monday night when she apparently ran a red light and was hit by another car. Kissell's daughter and wife, who also was in the car, were not seriously hurt.

Kissell, a major league coach from 1969 to '75, currently was a senior field coordinator for player development.

Etc.

• Rich Harden's $7 million option for next year was exercised Wednesday by the Chicago Cubs, one day after a test showed the hard-throwing righthander had no structural damage in his pitching shoulder.

• Dr. Craig Morgan, who recommended that Curt Schilling have a shoulder operation last winter, said the Red Sox righthander probably would be pitching in the playoffs if the team had followed his advice. The Red Sox decided instead to have Schilling try rehabilitating his shoulder, and he did not have surgery until June.

• Plans for a closing ceremony at Yankee Stadium have been scrapped. The New York Yankees had discussed organizing a charity event on the weekend of Nov. 8-9 that would have included remembrances of many of the nonbaseball events at the 85-year-old ballpark, such as football and boxing.

Spokesman Howard Rubenstein said Wednesday the Yankees realized that "the final event at Yankee Stadium should be a baseball game, which in fact took place on Sept. 21. Accordingly, rather than having a fundraiser, the Yankees will be donating $500,000" to charity.

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