Postgame: All Gomez all the time
Posted on March 7th, 2008 – 3:50 PMBy Joe Christensen
DUNEDIN — I don’t know what’s better: Watching these games, wondering which way Carlos Gomez is going to entertain me on the field. Or, talking to him in the clubhouse, wondering which quote is going to leave me laughing the rest of the night.
There is a touch of Marlon Brando in his voice, if you can imagine The Godfather saying, “Never go against the family.” Only it’s a second language for Gomez, so there’s an endearing Dominican twist.
Gomez went 2-for-5 with a run-scoring triple, two runs scored and a stolen base today in the Twins’ 4-0 victory over Toronto. He is batting .222 with three stolen bases for the spring.
After the game, I told him it seemed like he was in the pitchers’ heads.
“That’s good,” he said in that cool voice. “When the pitcher thinks only about the leadoff hitter, he doesn’t think about the other guys. Like Morneau — probably this year, he has a better year. Because [the pitcher] thinks more Gomez, Gomez — first base. He has to be quicker [to home plate], and he throws more fastballs to the catcher.
“You know, he’s scared to throw breaking balls, and I steal second easy.
“And now I’m at second. Whatever base hit, I score.
“They’re scared when I am on the base. They have to think too much, throw a lot of [pitch outs] to throw me out.
“Mauer probably hits second in the lineup. He’s got good patience, and he kill this league this year.”
So there you have it. Supposedly, there is a three-way battle for center field going on this spring. You would never guess that after spending one minute around this 22-year-old phenom.
63 Responses to "Postgame: All Gomez all the time"
Easy on the “phenom,” Joe.
Has anyone let him know you can’t steal first?
You know what, I love it. Throw a cocky goofball into this clubhouse. They have enough monotone Mauers and Morneaus. As long as they’re not going to win the division, let’s mix it up a little and have some fun.
At least we didn’t have to wait long to replace the team’s resident can-do-no-wrong quote-machine.
nobody can see the future even though a few people on here think they can so let spring training play out before giving up or buying playoff tickets. but this team sure can use some fire in the belly. we have a lot of low key guys that could use a kick once in a while.
Yah, if you can get on base you’re fast we get it… now get on base more and you’ve got it made.
Absolutely hilarious! He truly is Willie Mays Hayes in real life. I wonder if he has 100 pairs of base stealing gloves yet?
No self esteem issues with that guy!
Wow. It’s good to see confidence but that’s a little much. I would rather see Craig Monroe play CF than some cocky youngster who can’t hit.
well… I’m sold. Sign him up.
I like it!
There is such a thing as stealing first, though, in a sense — it’s called a well-placed bunt. And apparently it works well enough to induce a different kind of steal of first — the hit batsman.
I know Hunter was keen on having Span replace him in CF, and it’s not like I care what Hunter thinks, but it sounds like this Gomez kid is every bit as cocky and fun as Torii was when he started. Seems like he’d be a wholly adequate successor in the personality department.
The only question I have is one that Eddie Murray asked about a certain other center fielder long ago — is this guy for real? The answer remains to be seen.
Who wouldn’t love this guy? Yeah sure maybe he’s a little cocky but it should bring some fire to this team, and isn’t this how you want your leadoff hitter to be? Set the tone early. And if he can indeed get on base then what he was saying would sure make me think twice if i was a pitcher. Not only do you have one of the fastest players in the league standing on first, you have to pitch to a good line-drive hitter, then two guys (Yound and Morneau) who can absolutely kill the ball! Could be a few runs scored in the top of the 1st this year???
Come on Joe, they taught us better than that at Faribault Sr. High School. Gomez’s voice is likely closer to Tony Montana’s voice in Scarface as Tony Montana was from Cuba.
Other than that, great post. Keep on keeping us Faribotians looking good.
Wonderful coverage of today’s spring highlights. Thanks, Joe C.
Joe — don’t you know you can’t say anything positive about Gomez around here? If he works out, then all of these people who’ve pilloried Smith for the Santana trade have to eat their words. Knock it off, will ya?
Yeah, he’s horrible, lets cut him.
And while we’re at it, cut Cuddyer, his OBP is lower.
You know I am no scout, but watching some Twins games and some Mets games I think I would take Gomez over Martinez actually. Gomez is lightning fast and when he learns how to harness that arm we will have the best defensive outfield in the American League. HE is big at 6-4 200 and when he puts a little more weight on this guy is going to be a 20 hr type guy. He is like a video game leadoff hitter in that every time he gets on he steals second base and you automatically have a runner in scoring position with nobody out. My only question is are the Twins going to make Mauer bunt him to third a lot or let him try and get some RBIs for once. I just we could have gotten Pelfrey instead of Humber and Mulvey and this actually would have been a pretty good deal given the circumstances.
I do think that Gomez will develop some power in a few years…however right now I am content with his speed and defense. If he can just slow down a little bit and take his time throwing, he will be much more accurate. We will have the best outfield in the Major leagues if he should make the club, Young - LF (2nd in outfield assists last year), Gomez - CF (strong arm, good accuracy), and Cuddyer - RF (leader in assists in AL)
Whoop! Lets go Gomez! Win CF! Trade Span, Basak, Punto, and Jones for somebody!!!
Gomez bunts & beats throw to 1st as 3rd baseman juggles the ball in his hurry to throw. On 1st pitch, Gomez takes off for 2n & Mauer hits perfect double play ball to shortstop…….. but wait, shortstop has gone to cover 2nd & ball bounces into left field. 1st & 3rd & no outs! Morneau & Young follow with RBI knocks. Next at bat, pitcher nails Gomez for bunting. He steals 2nd on 1st pitch. Mauer hits signature bloop single to left, Gomez scores. Next at bat, Gomez hits slow hopper into SS hole & beats it out. Attempts to steal on 1st pitch & catcher throw ball into CF. Gomez to 3rd. Scores on SF to left by Mauer. Next at bat, Gomez swings & strikes out on pitch in the dirt which rolls away from catcher & Gomez reaches 1st again. Steals 2nd & 3rd, scores on Mauer grounder to 2nd……. Speed does not go into slumps. Gomez COULD be awesome if he can put the ball in play on the ground & avoid the strike out. Let’s hope for the best.
The thing about Gomez’s “cockiness” is that he’s thinking about it as a team aspect. At least the way I look at it.
He knows his roll is to get on base, get in the pitcher’s head, and get him to lose focus on the hitters. And he knows it’s guys like Mauer and Morneau’s job to get him home.
Instead of Hunter, which seemed more like “Hey, pay me.”
So “Hey, pay me” will never ever enter Gonez’s vocabulary? How quaint. How ridiculous. First, Gomez has to show consistent production on Hunter’s level to say, “Hey, pay me.” So, maybe, he will never ever say it. It’s not for lack of desire, I am sure
I am not sure Hunter was wrong..
They have to take this Gomez kid north even if he is raw. He is a highlight reel when he connects with the ball and gets on base. He can steal second every time.
Pridie is probably the safe pick for centerfield but him and Span are just singles hitters with a little bit of speed. The Twins already have two of those in Punto and Everett.
I will be very surprised if Gomez does not go North with the Twins. All the comments from the players and coaches has indicated he is being given every opportunity to join the big club. I personally can’t wait because he is just a lot of fun to watch.
[…] Gomez clearly has a lot of promise, but he’s been making a huge number of mistakes. He needs to learn to turn the corner around the bases without falling down, and when to hit the cutoff man. But his presence on the bases is clearly disruptive. Plus, he’s hilarious. […]
AaronK,
I also can’t wait to see Gomez play every day. I would rather watch Gomez, Young, Liriano, Morneau, Mauer, Casilla,
and Everett (defense only) play and finish 4th than to watch last year’s team finish 2nd.
Entertaining, but I bet Span and Pridie hate him.
Oh well, get it together Carlos… we could use some excitement this year if we are going to struggle to be .500
I will say this now and on April 1st please play Gomez and Casilla. I think it will be entertaining to see speed and power in this lineup. They both need work but look at cuddyer how long they bounced him around and when he got the opportunity he produced. I hate the lack of agressiveness twins have some times. Get NICK PUNTO and SELL him. I dont want him near the metrodome unless he is selling hot dogs. Lets see the next couple of years NOW not wait till next year to roll them out. If we win with the younger guys more power to us and if they struggle are any of us going to lose too much sleep especially losing Johan and Hunter. Same with pitching. Remember sometimes we have to take steps back before we can move forward. Right now with core guys and some young guys gomez, casilla, harris and young pitching we should be competitive. Rockies won with young talent. Hope your listening or reading Gardy it may save your job one day. Especially my advice on PUNTO. Later I can not wait for opening day!!!
How bad will Punto have to hit before they finally send him to triple A or release him?
Gardy loves him (”because he plays the game the right way”) and because of that Punto will be in the lineup at least three times a week even if he is hitting .190.
I hope Bill Smith just pulls the plug on Punto like he had to with L-Rod, Ford and Tyner. That’s the only way to move on with the younger guys like Casilla, despite his mental errors.
bmick, would you rather have Casilla play once a week in the ML this year or play every day at SS in AAA?
Since we will need a starting SS in 09, I would rather he plays every day…
I will probably die at 95 thinking the Twins screwed up by not getting Ellsbury, but I am loving Gomez more and more. That is a fabulous attitude. IF he learns how to get on 1st base 35% of the time in the majors he is going to be the biggest nightmare since Vince Coleman. If he ever matures past that… I’d have to cross myself like I was going up against the little chick from the Exorcist, or her sister Anne Coulter (I could not resist so the the BC Beneke haters… come get me).
RyanW,
Yes because he can play more than once a week. Gardy just has to put him in the lineup instead of hotdog selling PUNTO. Get rid of Punto(like HASTA LA VISTA Get Lost ticket out of town) and play Casilla. Why cant casilla be our 2b and Harris be utilty? Sick of this growing up in AAA crap!!
By the way, Jaacoby Ellsbuy is hitting .063 this spring and Lowrie, the other player mentioned in the Santana to Boston deal, is hitting .175. Gomez is looking pretty good right now, especially if Guerra pans out.
bc-I’m not a bc hater but you might regret the things you said about Gomez when the trade was made.He might actually get better after age 22.
Geno,
I thought what I said about Gomez was quite nice. I am honestly starting to like him more and more and more. See that’s the problem I have… no one thinks I’m serious when I say something nice because I’m always so difficult.
And as for the Springtraining numbers… I’m not so worried In either Ellsbury, or Lowrie’s case. I’m arrogant, but I know when I see a hitter that has the potential to be great, and those two both have it. Gomez is surprising me, and is better than I expected. God knows I can’t dislike him more than I use to dislike Hunter (before the 2005 season, as I thought he was the most overrated player in baseball). But I seriously think that watching Gomez on the bases is about as good as it gets right now stealing bases… If he learns how to get on base… he is going to have a shot at 100 steals a year and that era is long gone so that’s a pretty wonderful thing!
bc-I not sure what your Ellsbury reference is all about.When we started posting about the Johan trade speculation,i said that we could never know if Ellsbury,Hughes or any one else was ever really on the table.We can’t compare the trade that was made to any spwculated packages.
Pridie may be more consistent and more advanced than Gomez.
And the Twins can play the BEST Centerfielder when I am NOT watching.
BUT WHEN I GO TO THE GAME, I’d rather see Gomez in CF even if his throws are flying over my head while I’m in the seats.
Gotta love the excitement of watching him run, hit with power and throw -
uh-oh!!!! LOOK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!DUCK!!!!!!!!!!
Sane.
On this team that won’t have any right to compete with the big boys… the only way they can is by playing the potential, and seeing if they are panning for gold, and have a nugget, or if it’s fools gold, and Bill Smith needs to be sent to Siberia with Brad Childress (and the vikings braintrust), and Kevin McChump, Randy Wittless, and Taylor’s Tee Party… heck even Risborough has a reservation for Siberia after the Chris Simon deal.)
Of all of them… Gomez is the only one that provides me hope and optimism towards the future. I want to see more of the three pitchers, and all of that as well though too.
And back to the comment on Ellsbury. Yes, I know we can’t know what was, and what was not on the table unless someone speaks. I just judge talent, go with my heart, and my gut, and when my head, heart, and gut are all in agreement I’m a tough person to get to change my mind or admit I’m wrong. I’m pretty sure that I won’t be wrong with Ellsbury, and Lowrie being amazing major league ball players in the not too distant future. But I have to worry about the Twins guys, and try and figure out what the idiot GM of my Pittsburgh Pirates is thinking… He makes Bill Smith look like Ghandi or Christ!
By hope I mean Gomez provides me with the hope of the SPECIAL… THE POWER TO BELIEVE that anything is possible. Pridie might be better right now, and Span may have a better spring. Gomez has IT. The other two don’t have that.
imo-Gomez will be better served learning from the Twins coaching staff.Cassilla on the other hand should be installed as the shortstop at Rochester,with the understanding that he will be our SS in 09.Get him away from Gardy’s doghouse for a year.Does any have a feel for how Harris turns the pivot at 2b.
So “Hey, pay me” will never ever enter Gonez’s vocabulary? How quaint. How ridiculous.
I’m saying that’s not his mentality now. In other discussions on other days I’ve commented on my concerns that me may become another Hunter-type mindset.
Because, you know, I’ve made more than one comment in my time here.
GENO- I agree, Casilla’s numbers show that he excelled when he was at age level, but when we rushed him in 2006 (really just as a pinch runner for the playoffs) then didn’t let him return to AA to take the minor league track so that he could make the needed adjustments, he struggled. Last August and Septemeber he was just flat out awful. Besides he started as an SS, then we moved him to 2b to take over after Castillo left, now we arnt sure where he should play. Lets get him back to SS, let him get 300-500 more atbats to get his bat back to putting up the great numbers he was in A and AA ball. Get him ready to play every day next year.
Harris is having a rough spring. I think he is a good player though, maybe just pressing a little. I think he will settle down and start putting good swings together and get more comfortable at 2b… if not, god help us with Punto at 2b all year.
I don’t get where all the “he can’t hit” stuff is coming from. I’ve seen it from a bunch of uniformed posters in the past couple of months. I’m not saying he’s another Delmon Young or something, but he does have some aptitude for hitting. So again, where is that coming from?
I suppose people look at his major league line from last year and conclude that he can’t hit from an injury plagued year in which he only had 141 sporadic at bats. The only time he played regularly–in the month of June–he hit .299/.351/.403. That would be plenty good with his defense and speed on the bases.
cmathewson,
The knock on Gomez’s hitting is coming from multiple prospect evaluating sources including Baseball America which surveys (both Mets and opposing) scouts.
That doesn’t mean his problems with breaking balls can’t be (or hasn’t already been) corrected.
It does mean those problems existed at the time of that scout’s evaluation.
That being said, I am a huge fan of Gomez and I hope the Twins keep him at MLB where we can watch him play and he can get big league batting instruction.
Yes, BA says he needs to work on recognizing and adjusting to off-speed pitches. And I agree with BA and most of the scouting reports. He swings too hard, which makes him susceptible to off-speed pitches. But that doesn’t mean he can’t hit. It just means he can get better if he doesn’t swing quite so hard and waits a little more. It’s something Vavra and Carew are working with him on. And he’s a pretty quick study. With his short compact swing, he should improve in this area as he matures. We just need to be patient.
To put it in context, Torii Hunter still has that problem, especially with sliders. And I have never seen Jacque Jones hit a breaking ball that was not a hanger. So it’s not like having something to work on means you can’t hit.
Also, as long as you’re citing BA, even with the hole in his game, BA rates Gomez atop the Twins system as far as prospects go. I believe Pridie is rated 10th and Span is rated in the late teens. Some of that is upside rather than ability right now. But a big part of it is ability. I expect if you ask John Manuel–BA editor–who he thinks will win the CF job this spring, he would say Gomez. And he’s higher than anyone on Pridie.
It’s fun to watch. And if Pridie or Span beat him out, fine. He’ll go down and get plenty of opportunities to hit breaking balls in the junk-ball IL. But if I were a betting man, I’d say Gomez is still the favorite.
Mathewson.
Watch the youtubes of his batting stance, and his long swing. He has a pension like most young players, especially young latino hitters that will swing at just about anything, and he will chase sliders… He honestly looks like a super charged Torii Hunter when Hunter was a kid. Gomez is amazingly fast, but I don’t see him as being a .280-.300 hitter, and I don’t see him with a .350-.375OB% either. Not anytime soon at least. As he matures I could see him being a 30/10/15 with 70 RBI, 120 Runs, and 75 steals a season which is awesome, but he’s not going to mature overnight, and I think he’s going to be a major work in progress that will do better in the majors than in the minors.
I like Pridie as a the 4th outfielder, but Monroe being a Veteran brings a power dimension off the bench we haven’t had in forever.
When were those YouTube videos shot? Most of the ones I’ve seen are from his time in the FSL as a 19 year old that match your description. But he’s made leaps and bounds in his approach since then. I saw it in a few YouTube videos from his time in the majors last year and he appears to have shortened his stride and swing. I’m not saying he doesn’t have stuff to work on. But the improvements he’s made, evidenced from the last half of his AA season as a 20 year old and his time in the IL last year, suggest that he is developing, and rather quickly.
Gomez gives the Twins so much more than Pridie will as the starting CF. He needs to be on the opening day roster with Pridie as the backup. Gomez will learn everything else he needs to in the MLB. He was good enough to play for the Mets last year right? I bet if compared in total bases over a season Gomez would have 2 for everyone Pridie gets, even if Pridie hits for a bit higher average. Span is looking good too, maybe swing a trade, Span for something…..
If we have to suffer through a rebuilding year,we might as well have a little excitement.Young and Gomez will at least provide a little of that.
I fear the build up of Gomez by the press is going to backfire, as he needs a lot of work defensively and with the bat. I understand we have to be positive about him as otherwise it looks like the front office dropped their pants to complete the Santana deal, but we can be positive about Gomez without losing impartiality. I bet he gets the starting spot in CF but it’s going to be a painful 1st year or 2 if he continues learning the game in the majors. I do like his confidence, but if confidence = ability Span would actually be an above average player.
“I understand we have to be positive about him as otherwise it looks like the front office dropped their pants to complete the Santana deal, but we can be positive about Gomez without losing impartiality.”
I don’t care how the Santana trade looks. The FO did what they had to do and nothing Gomez will do this year can possibly make that trade look equitable.
I want Gomez to play because he is exciting to watch run(a blur),throw and hit with power.
Span and Pridie are yawners.
If Monroe gets his 33HR-102RBI stroke back from 2006, I want Monroe to get the job - and that won’t improve the Santana trade at all.
If Monroe gets his 33HR-102RBI stroke back from 2006, I want Monroe to get the job - and that won’t improve the Santana trade at all.
It was 28 homeruns, nearly as many homers as he had walks (37), while amassing a craptastic OBP of .301. This doesn’t even touch on the fact that for his career he has been downright dreadful against right-handed pitching. He would be alright in a platoon against lefties, but anything more than that would likely hurt the team offensively.
Someone suggested that Gomez is a defensive liability. That’s just garbage. He’s a natural out there. Most scouts you talk to say if he can just hit a little, he’ll be a quality center fielder because of his defense. I would not want Monroe playing out there at all. He has little range and not much of an arm. I don’t care how much he hits, he’ll give up more runs than he creates in all but the DH spot.
And I don’t care about value for Santana. It was greater than two draft choices and that’s really all I care about. I want to see Gomez because he’s the future of the position. And I want the future to start as soon as possible.
I agree cmathewson I want to see future now. Let Gomez and Casilla run and steal all bases they can. If we are going to struggle let them learn. Who knows we may better than we thought with youngsters(look at rockies last year) Does anyone know if Nick PUnto has been cut? That probably would be the best move they can make right now. I am very sorry for Punto lovers but really has to go.
cmathewson, This whole thing with Gomez needing work on his defense started during that ESPN Spring game against the Yankees. He was just overly amped and made a couple bad plays and that eliminates all of the special plays he has made defensively. Just because that is the game most people got to see.
He is special defensively and Gardy, staff, and his teammates already know that.
bmick, If Punto was used as a utility player like he should be you would like him. He has a lot of value, just not as an everyday player. He has nice speed and a terrific glove for 2nd, SS, and 3rd. Very handy to have in late innings and on the bench in case of emergency.
snepp,
Monroe’s 33-102 HR-RBI totals include post- season.
And if he can duplicate those numbers, I will accept any OBP totals vs RHP.
If Morneau, Mauer, Lamb and Kubel(DH) are regulars, the Twins will face enough LHP’s to get Monroe a ton of PT even in a platoon with Pridie or Span.
My bad!
It was 33-101 HR-RBI for Monroe 2006 including postseason. (5HR,9RBI in postseason)
I guess I gave him an undeserved RBI.
If he can drive in 101 runs, I don’t care if his OBP is .288 (ala Gomez 2007 with the Mets) instead of .301.
If you wouldn’t care about having players with sub .300 OBP’s, then you don’t care about having quality baseball players. Players that make outs 70% or more of the time are going to have a negative impact on a team’s ability to score runs.
For his career Monroe has the following Everett-like line against righties.
.249/.296/.425
Hideous.
cmathewson,
I agree.
Gomez should be the CF, and the Santana trade is not a factor
But if Monroe relives 33-101, he should get a lot of AB at DH-OF wherever.
snepp,
There is no negative offensive impact if you have a higher OBP than the alternative candidates at your position.(plus 101 RBI)
I’m all for Monroe being our 4th OF and nothing more. He can play against lefties at DH or outfield from time to time I guess.
Punto- if only Gardy didn’t have such a love for this guy he’d be great to have on the team in a utility role as AaronK said. However Gardy’s gonna keep playing the damn guy too much I have a feeling and that’s good for nobody.
It’s still too early to be talking about who should be for sure winning CF. However, I like sane and cmathewson am really pulling for Gomez to ignite and win the job.
2009 Lineup
CF-Gomez
C-Mauer
LF-Young
1B-Morneau
RF-Cuddyer
DH-Kubel
3B-Lamb/Buscher
2B-Harris
SS-Casilla
If Gomez by himself drives pitchers nuts, just think how Casilla & Gomez being on base in the mid to late innings. Could be the return of the Pirana’s. I think B Smith should send Casilla to AAA and move him back to SS, bring him up in August or September to finish the grooming process then let him go next spring.
Saw this 2008 Twins team outlook! Solid read all the way through. Analyzes everyone in the order, rotation and pen.
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/03/08/the-2008-minnesota-twins-dawn-of-a-new-era/
BC:
How are you doing. I tend to agree with you about Gomez - but time will tell. Remember, Alfonso Soriano had that long lopping swing and still does.. He has some bat speed and fairly good hitter lol.. That’s not to say Gomez has that upside but he’s young and you never know..
I am sure hanging out with Delmon Young will help Gomez forget the Lastings Milledge influences 
