"New Twins closer Matt Capps has a big fan in former Twins closer Eddie Guardado.

Guardado and Capps were in spring training together with the Washington Nationals this year when Guardado was released in March, ending a 17-year major league career that included 11 seasons with the Twins.

"Matt's not afraid; he comes right at guys," Guardado, 39, said from his home in Los Angeles. "You need some big (nerves) to come in the ninth inning like he did for the Nationals and do what he did.

"It's funny: The Twins seem to pick great guys ... good, quality guys. You're going to love this guy. He's not only a great pitcher but a great person. That's what I love about him."

"Everyday Eddie" wanted the baseball whenever the Twins wanted him to pitch.

Of Capps, Guardado said: "He never turns down the ball, and that's what you love to have. It seems Minnesota picks guys like that, (guys) who aren't afraid to take the ball. When the game's on the line, you want him to be that guy. He's going to help them a lot.

"And you tell Matt when you talk to him that he's in a good organization there."

Guardado said he was considering retirement from baseball until he got a call from the Nationals last winter.

"I thought, what the heck, let 'em rip (the uniform) off you," he said. "But I just didn't have it like I used to. So I just went home, and I'm a daddy. I've got three kids, and I'm having a ball."

For the rebuilding Nationals, who essentially rented Capps at a relatively low rate, they got a top catching prospect who is just 22 years old. That's because they were able to sign Capps in January when he was a nontendered free agent from Pittsburgh after going 4-8 with a 5.80 earned-run average in 2009. This season, Capps is an all-star who already has as many saves (27) as he had all last year. "