Rand: Parallel marks at helm for Gardy, Flip

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).

MAJOR-MARKET PLAYOFF NEMESIS

Gardenhire: Twins lost to Yankees in 2003, '04, '09 and '10 ALDS, going 2-12 combined in the four series. Saunders: His best teams (51 wins in 2003, 58 wins in 2004) both lost to Lakers in the playoffs.

MVP CATCH-22

Gardenhire: Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau take up a huge chunk of payroll, perhaps taking away from the ability to add other roster pieces. Saunders: Kevin Garnett took up a huge chunk of payroll, perhaps taking away from the ability to add other roster pieces.