Hartman: Ryan finds some positives in Twins' latest lost season

The Twins have three games left in the season, and Twins General Manager Terry Ryan knows that while his team is again out of contention it still has a role to play.

"We're in a situation where we're trying to play spoiler here," said Ryan, who recently announced that his health is improving and he would like to be back next season.

And look for manager Ron Gardenhire to return since he has one more year left on his contract.

It would be a big surprise if Twins CEO Jim Pohlad decided to fire either Ryan or Gardenhire because of the number of young offensive players who improved this year and also with an $85 million payroll, there will be an opportunity to add some free-agent pitching.

"It has been disappointing, but we are getting a look at some of these younger players, in particular a guy like [Kennys] Vargas and [Danny] Santana are getting an opportunity," Ryan said. "A couple of younger pitchers have gotten an opportunity to play. You can look at it a couple of ways, but we are going to learn a few things. There are some things we can accomplish here, but it's very disappointing."

The Twins opened a four-game series at Detroit on Thursday with a 4-2 loss. Gardenhire has said all along he will put his best team on the field when the games are meaningful, and these games still mean a lot to the Tigers, who are trying to hold off Kansas City for their fourth AL Central title in a row.

Ryan said he believes there are signs of improvement, even though the Twins have lost at least 90 games for the fourth year in a row.

Ryan said there is one main issue the team has to address.

"Starting pitching is our problem once again, and it has been for the past four years," he said. "We keep shuffling that back and eventually we're going to have to solidify the rotation to give us an opportunity to win more games. … There are areas of concern here as far as who is going to be able to give us 200-plus innings, which is what you want out of your rotation, and we haven't been getting that."

There have been problems in the Twins organization outside of the major league club as well. Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano, two of the top prospects in all of baseball, essentially both lost a full season of development to various injuries.

Ryan believes those two are going to come back at full strength by spring training.

"Buxton is down in the Instructional League right now and doing fine," he said. "We still have to get him cleared through Major League Baseball with the concussion symptoms. He is doing well and participating in the Instructional League, and we think everything should be a go and he should go report to the Arizona Fall League about October 5th in Phoenix.

Ryan was asked the question on a lot of fans' minds: When will there be a decision on Gardenhire's future?

"As soon as the season concludes," said Ryan, who last month indicated to me that Gardenhire would be back before saying a day later that no one's job was guaranteed, including his own. "We had this discussion and I got out there prematurely, but everything will be decided upon. There are areas that I'll have to do as we approach the end of the season on a lot of things. Then the manager and my status will be two of the things that come to the forefront."

If the Gophers are going to beat Michigan, one of the key battles will be between the Gophers' young defensive line and the Wolverines' young offensive line.

Michigan is starting freshman Mason Cole at left tackle, sophomore Erik Magnuson at left guard, junior Jack Miller at center, junior Graham Glasgow at right guard and sophomore Ben Braden at right tackle. It's hard to remember a Wolverines offensive line that didn't have a single senior starter.

Meanwhile, the Gophers defensive line has been playing four freshmen, including starter Steven Richardson. If they are going to win they are going to have to dominate the line of scrimmage on defense.

Gardner has started for two consecutive years, but this year he has been terrible, averaging only 173.5 yards per game. He has thrown six interceptions in the past three games compared to just two touchdowns.

• One of the first coaching candidates then-Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi and company approached to replace Tim Brewster was San Diego State coach Brady Hoke. He wasn't available because at the time the Wolverines job was open and he was the leading candidate, and he did get it. Now Hoke is under fire at Michigan.

• You would think that the Vikings might consider trying to make a deal with Jacksonville for Toby Gerhart. However, the former Vikings running back, who has rushed for 50 yards on 25 attempts, has too rich a contract, calling for $3.5 million a year for two years with $4 million guaranteed, for the Vikings to consider.

• While there has been little talk about improving Mariucci Arena and the Les Bolstad Golf Course, there is a good chance of both being remodeled. Gophers hockey fans are doing a good job of contributing the funds needed to remodel Mariucci. And Les Bolstad GM Greg Jamieson told the Minnesota Daily that the course will undergo reconstruction for the 2015 season. Like hockey, there are golf boosters who will help provide the money.

• Maybe one of the best players on the top-ranked Eden Prairie football team is J.D. Spielman, son of Vikings GM Rick Spielman. J.D. plays both ways for the Eagles and has performed well enough that college recruiters are looking at him for both football and lacrosse. His brother Ronnie is a freshman on the Ohio State lacrosse team.