The Minnesota Twins are left without a center fielder after Torii Hunter left via free agency. There are 3 possible replacements: Denard Span, and two players the Twins brought in from trades: the Dominican Carlos Gomez and Jason Pridie. The three are competing during spring training to see who will be the Twins starting center fielder. You wouldn’t think that there is a competition after talking to Carlos Gomez.
A reporter asked Gomez how he thought he could play in the Metrodome:
“If Torii Hunter can catch the ball there, why can’t I catch it there?”
But wait, there’s more.
“They don’t have no speed like me. I know I can help this team. Especially when I hit ahead of Morneau and the catcher and the other guy.”
He’s referring to some catcher named Joe Mauer and another guy named Michael Cuddyer.
“They will all have more RBIs,”
Gomez gets his speed from his dad:
“My dad was fast,” Gomez said. “When I was a kid and I worked out with my older friends, they all worked out so hard for their running. I do nothing. They say, ‘Why are you so fast when you don’t do nothing?’ I tell them that my dad was fast.”
On Friday Gomez had two hits, including a triple, two runs, and a stolen base.
After the game, Twins beat reporter 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.”
Baseball 2010 Predictions
14 years ago
2 comments:
Tim, nice blog! How come you didn't tell any of us about it! I have a question: it sounds like both Gomez and Young are pretty cocky. Any idea how well they'll fit in on the Twins, personality-wise?
Gomez, like most Dominicans, is very cocky, but I think he will be the team's most entertaining player, if he makes the team. I think Delmon Young has grown up now.
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