FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Tony Oliva wasn't overly confident that the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee would elect him to Cooperstown this year.

But the former star Twins outfielder was flabbergasted after learning Wednesday that none of the 25 candidates up for consideration received enough votes when balloting results were announced.

"I know that I had a good shot this time but I didn't get my hopes up too high," Oliva said. "I know these things happen because it's happened before. But it's ridiculous that they did not pick [anybody]."

With 83 of the 85 Veterans Committee members casting ballots, Oliva finished in third place by receiving 45 votes for 56.3 percent of the ballot. Gil Hodges and Ron Santo tied for the most votes at 52, or 65 percent.

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"They showed exactly that it's almost impossible to get into the Hall of Fame the way the system is right now," Oliva said.

Candidates needed 75 percent of the vote to be elected. In the previous Veterans ballot in 2003, Oliva finished second when he received 48 votes and had 59 percent. No one received admission to the Hall that year either.

"I think [MLB Commissioner] Bud Selig has to do something about it," Oliva said. "Two years is too much to wait. A lot of players are 60 or 70 or so. You don't want to go to the Hall of Fame when you're dead. I told my wife very clear, if I'm dead and they put me in the Hall of Fame, don't go. They can eat it if they want. I want to go when I'm alive."

Oliva, a community ambassador for the Twins and in camp as a Spring Training instructor, played 11 full seasons between 1962-76. He batted .304 with 220 home runs, 947 RBIs and 870 runs scored. Now 64 years old, he is the owner of the 1964 American League Rookie of the Year Award and three batting titles.

On the Veterans ballot for the first time this year, former Twins pitcher Jim Kaat finished fourth with 43 votes. Oliva and Kaat's next opportunity for election will be in 2007.

Mauer update: Twins pitchers and catchers have been through 11 days of drills, fundamentals and throwing. So far, so good for catcher Joe Mauer and his surgically repaired left knee.

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Entering camp, the Twins planned to keep a close eye on Mauer so as not to overwork him. They were prepared to hold him out of drills or catching live batting practice, if needed.

It hasn't been needed.

"It feels good," Mauer said Wednesday. "My body is sore like anyone else's. I'm trying to get ready for the year. I've been doing everything."

Mauer is scheduled to play his first exhibition game Friday vs. the Blue Jays.

Concordia game: The Twins played their annual "B" scrimmage with Concordia University of St. Paul on Wednesday morning, losing 6-1. But, the two sides switched pitchers and catchers for the six-inning game so Twins pitchers would face their own hitters.

Rule 5 pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith and young hurlers Scott Tyler, Travis Bowyer and Boof Bonser all saw action in the game. There was a close call when Twins first baseman Garrett Jones tripped and fell retrieving a pop fly as a still photographer got in his way taking action shots on the field. Jones and the photographer were not injured.

"That was the only scary moment," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Injury report: Shortstop Nick Punto was scheduled to undergo an MRI for his strained lower back. Results were still pending, but the club wanted to make sure last week's injury wasn't more serious. Punto has yet to participate in full workouts.

Dead ball: There will be a new ground rule for Twins opponents to know when they play at the Metrodome this season. The club decided that balls hit into the roof's speakers above foul territory will be considered dead and automatically out of play.

"We will not have any more balls playing Ping-Pong up there, bouncing back, and having great catches by Eddie Guardado," Gardenhire said. "We'll just say they're dead. That eliminates me sitting me up there for 15 minutes with each new umpiring crew that comes in and explaining it to them, and having them have a heart attack when a ball does get hit up there."

Guardado, the former Twins closer, made a spectacular diving catch in 2003 on a foul ball that ricocheted off a speaker and back into play.