EXCLUSIVE: The Gardenhire/Punto Text Messages

Gardenhire talked about the stability he expects from Jamie Carroll at shortstop this season. He said he was never in favor of sending Jason Bartlett to the Rays in '07 in the trade that brought Delmon Young to Minnesota. Also, he added that he wasn't happy with the decision to not bring back Nick Punto last offseason. But he was happy to see him win the World Series with the Cardinals, and texted him shortly after the Fall Classic to congratulate him.

--Rhett Bollinger, MLB.com

GARDENHIRE: Judas Priest, Nicky, ur a world champ. Congradulations!

PUNTO: GARDY! THANK U GET MONEY LNP

GARDENHIRE: saw u getting after it out there, playing Twins baseball LOL.

PUNTO: JUST DOVE HEADFIRST INTO COMMISH SELIG LOL LOOKS LIKE HE'S HURT OH WELL

GARDENHIRE: LOL

PUNTO: YEAH PRETTY XCITED JUST SAW DON DRAPER

GARDENHIRE: whos that

PUNTO: U KNOW FROM MAD MEN, THINK HIS REAL NAME IS JOHN OR TIM SOMETHING, BIG CARDS FAN

GARDENHIRE: drawing a blank, don't watch mutch tv except for my stories

PUNTO: OH YEAH SORRY THEY CANCELD PASSIONS AGAIN

GARDENHIRE: yeah Timmy died in real life RIP

PUNTO: 2 BAD U WATCHING THE VOICE

GARDENHIRE: hell yes, luv that show.

PUNTO: ME 2 WANNA GET TATS W/C-LO AND ADAM LOL

GARDENHIRE: hey you got that playoff share spent yet?

PUNTO: GETTING A CHOPPEWR

GARDENHIRE: cool, what kind???

PUNTO: DON'T KNOW BUT IM GOANNA GET IT DETAILED REAL NICE

GARDENHIRE: baseball theme?

PUNTO: MAYBE, GET AN 8 BALL ON IT 2 MATCH MY SWEET JACKET, A UNICORN 2 LOL

GARDENHIRE: a unicorn? Chrysler

PUNTO: THERE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

[five minutes elapse]

PUNTO: HEY GARDY U STILL UP

GARDENHIRE: yup, just had 2 take a leek. Took down some Silver Bullets during the end of that game-- prett intense LOL.

PUNTO: NO DOUBT LOL HEY PROSTATE HEALTH IS IMPORTANT

GARDENHIRE: yr telling me, hows the party going

PUNTO: TARP AND PLASTIC ALL OVER THE PLACE, LUBED UP WITH CHAMPAGNE AND BUD, GONNA DO SOME HEADFIRST SLIDING

GARDENHIRE: Lol whats new

PUNTO: ALBERT SAYS IF I KEEP PULLING THAT CRAP HE'S GOING TO SIGN SOMEWHERE ELSE YEARH RIGHT BRO!!!

GARDENHIRE: hey u coming back next year

PUNTO: GET PAID LNP

GARDENHIRE: I know that LOL, just want 2 know where??!

PUNTO: OMG U KNOW I WANT 2 COME BACK!!! JUST 2 MANY HATERS IN FRONT OFFICE

GARDENHIRE: Don't think U have to worry about 1 of them...?

PUNTO: WHOA REALLY LOL?

GARDENHIRE: Din't hear it from me. What did Lew Ford always say? keep it secret keep it safe

PUNTO: HEY THATS FROM LORD OF THE RINGS

GARDENHIRE: never saw that

PUNTO: ITS PRETTY GOOD LOTS OF ACTION

GARDENHIRE: last new movie I saw was the Notebook.

PUNTO: CHICK FLICK LOL!

GARDENHIRE: I know, wife wanted to see it, I still cried like a damn baby.

PUNTO: NO WAY DUDE

GARDENHIRE: what can I say, really hit home 4 me. Anyway yeah if U want to get back here, door might B open

PUNTO: LNP DOLLAR DOLLAR BILL$

GARDENHIRE: smh