Guillen gives Twins new nickname: Sardines

MINNEAPOLIS, June 17 (UPI) -- Chicago White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen, who dubbed the Minnesota Twins the "Piranhas" in 2006, gave them a new nickname this week: The Sardines.

Guillen paid tribute to the Twins' aggressive bunt-and-run style of play five years ago, and Minnesota quickly assumed it as a badge of honor. Guillen was just as complimentary with his new moniker, given the Twins had just taken two more games from his Chisox with an even lighter-hitting lineup, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

"They are the little sardinas," Guillen said. "The sardines. You see a bunch of midgets out there. They can play. That kid who is the lead-off guy [Ben Revere]? Pretty good."

The Twins, beset by numerous injuries to its top players, have one of the major league's worst records after winning a string of division titles in recent seasons. But they have won 11 of 13 of late with their "little sardines" style.

Still, their top home-run hitter is Michael Cuddyer with 10, no Twin has even 30 RBI and they rank 26th out of 30 teams in runs scored.

The Twins are having fun with Guillen's new name for them, though they might quibble about what type of finned foe they are -- or maybe even feathered.

"We are sharks," infielder Alexi Casilla said Thursday.

"Sharks?" chimed in outfielder Delmon Young. "Maybe remora fish. They hang around the sharks.

"We're a bunch of vultures, scavengers, this year."