Burdi wants in; Gardy asks why not

To some, it sounded like hubris when Louisville closer Nick Burdi, the Twins' second-round draft pick, suggested that "if they decide to put me in the majors next year or this summer, it would be an honor." To Ron Gardenhire, it sounded like a pretty good idea.

"I'm like, 'Is he ready?' " the Twins manager said Saturday. "If he throws 103 [miles per hour], what's he going to fix in the minor leagues? Bring him, we'll take him right now."

Well, the Twins will have to wait. Burdi, whose fastball has been clocked over 100 mph several times, will take part in the College World Series next week in Omaha.

Not the gnome he imagined

The Gardy Gnome souvenirs handed out to to fans at Saturday's game aren't exactly what Gardenhire had in mind.

When the idea was proposed over the winter, Gardenhire was shown a picture of other gnome giveaways, most of them looking like elves with a beard and elf hat. "I thought it was going to be the happy one," he said. "I looked at it and said, sure, whatever."

But creativity took over from there, and Saturday's souvenirs look like an angry Santa — bald, with a long white beard, an angry look, shouting as he kicks a Twins elf hat.

"This one looks like he's in one of those [Harry Potter] movies," Gardenhire said.