Lookouts manager Doug Mientkiewicz seeks third straight league title

Doug Mientkiewicz will begin his fourth season as a minor league manager tonight when his Chattanooga Lookouts open defense of their 2015 Southern League championship in Biloxi, Miss.

Mientkiewicz (pronounced Mint-KAY-vich) added the Class AA Southern League crown to the high Single-A Florida State League title he won in 2014 managing the Fort Myers Miracle. The 41-year-old former Minnesota first baseman has achieved a lot in a short time teaching in the Twins organization, and some of the Lookouts are surprised he's back.

"His managing style is so good, and you're definitely shocked that there is not something out there that has his name written all over it," first baseman Dalton Hicks said. "At the same time, I'm not going to complain, because it's better for the Twins that he stays with us."

Mientkiewicz was a finalist for the Minnesota job after guiding the Miracle to their first Florida State League title, but he lost out to Paul Molitor, the former Milwaukee Brewers infielder who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004. Molitor went 83-79 last year, a noticeable improvement from the 70-92 mark compiled under Ron Gardenhire in 2014.

Mike Quade, who guided the Chicago Cubs for the final 37 games of the 2010 season and throughout 2011, is the manager at Triple-A Rochester (N.Y.).

"I'm like some of the pitchers we have in that we got backed up, so I understand where we're at," Mientkiewicz said. "I thoroughly enjoy the Double-A level, because I feel like it's your last chance to really develop them the way you want to."

Mientkiewicz's success so far as a manager still pales to what he accomplished as a player.

In his final season at Florida State University in 1995, Mientkiewicz hit a team-high .371 with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs to lead the Seminoles to their first Atlantic Coast Conference title. He made it to the big leagues in 1998 and won a gold medal with the U.S. team during the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Mientkiewicz's best professional season was 2001, when he hit .306 with 74 RBIs for the Twins and won a Gold Glove. He was traded to Boston in 2004 and recorded the final out of the World Series for the Red Sox, who won their first championship since 1918.

"No matter what the level is, he is one of the best managers to learn from," said Lookouts pitcher Jason Wheeler, the MVP of last September's Southern League title series. "He was in the big leagues for 12 years or something, so he's a guy who knows the game of baseball in and out - from a pitching standout to catching and calling a game to controlling the running game to putting defensive players in the right position.

"He's a guy who is going to push us to win. That's something he preaches a lot. If you can't win down here, you can't win in the big leagues."

Though the day may come when Mientkiewicz is lured away by another organization, the Twins are appreciative of the here and now.

"Doug is really passionate about the game," Minnesota player development director Brad Steil said. "He loves the competition, and he loves teaching. I think we are fortunate to have someone like Doug managing in our minor-league system, and he'll probably have some major-league coaching opportunities down the road."

Said Lookouts second baseman Levi Michael: "He obviously did a great job with us last year, and hopefully we can put together another good season. I'm glad he's back."

It was not uncommon late last season to spot Mientkiewicz in his clubhouse office with his shoulder wrapped and looking bruised and battered. Considering he made more than $13 million during his playing days, are all the bus trips to Jacksonville, Fla., and Mobile, Ala., really the best way to make a living?

"Every year is a new challenge, and it wasn't that long ago when I sat on the buses," he said with a smile. "That didn't bother me that much. This is actually not a bad league for travel compared to some.

"I just like the challenges that come with every year, and this is the first year I've had a chance to defend a title in the same league."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.