The sports of baseball and basketball have virtually nothing in common except the end goal of having a higher number on the scoreboard than the opponent. But there are some interesting similarities between two of the longer-tenured coaches in recent Twin Cities pro sports history: Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and ex-Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders. Take a look:
CAREER REGULAR-SEASON RECORD AND WINNING PERCENTAGE IN MINNESOTA
Ron Gardenhire: 871-767 (.532 winning percentage). Flip Saunders: 411-326 (.558 winning percentage).
TIMES TEAM MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN THE NINE YEARS BEFORE HE TOOK OVER
Gardenhire: Zero. Saunders: Zero.
TRACK RECORD OF SUSTAINED SUCCESS
Gardenhire: Led Twins to six AL Central titles from 2002 to '10. Saunders: Led Wolves to playoffs eight consecutive seasons from 1997 to 2004.
CAREER POSTSEASON RECORD/WINNING PERCENTAGE IN MINNESOTA
Gardenhire: 6-21 (.222). Saunders: 17-30 (.362).
FURTHEST POSTSEASON ACHIEVEMENT
Gardenhire: Twins advanced to American League Championship Series in 2002. Saunders: Wolves advanced to Western Conference Finals in 2004.