Gomez to the minors?

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Joe Christensen blogs today suggesting the Twins putting Carlos Gomez in Class AAA to refine his skills. One thing I definitely agree with Christensen about is that Denard Span should stay with the big team when Michael Cuddyer comes back from the DL. Span deserves the chance to stay in the majors and prove himself. It's time for the Twins to see what they've got with Span. He needs to show the Twins if he is a big leaguer or a big disappointment -- not Gomez. Gomez will be a major league player for several years and (given his age) has time to work on hitting in the minors.

Gomez is a major disruption on the basepaths. If he can get on base, he can alter games single-handedly. If he can get a bunt down, he can change defensive coverages. The ifs there are pretty important.

The other night Gomez struggled to even foul off a sacrifice bunt attempt when needed. That's a fundamental. In this sense, then, I agree with Christensen. Send Gomez down for a few weeks to work on a few things.

Conversely, can the Twins keep hovering near .500 without Gomez? His nine stolen bases lead the American League. His defense is reminiscent of Torii Hunter thus far. He looks like he has a lot of fun and seems well-liked by his teammates. Gomez is, if nothing, not crushing under the psychological pressure of filling the HUGE shoes of the Hunter/Puckett eras. Gomez reminds me of a young, pre-steriod Mike Cameron (who had to step in for Seattle after Ken Griffey Jr. was traded).

What to do? Here's a way to wrap our brains around Christensen's query:

• If Gomez goes to the minors, who will bat leadoff?
• Why not drop Gomez in the order and put that person at leadoff and see what happens first?
• Span isn't exactly Bob Allison out there in the field, so how much does defense matter?
• Gomez is hitting .230.
• Cuddyer comes back Friday
• Brian Buscher has four at bats
• Forget Frank Thomas -- the Twins (surprise) don't want him (idiots! Why would we even think the Twins would consider? Will we ever learn that all we get is washed up Ruben Sierras and Sydney Ponsons?)
• Jason Kubel is hitting .292 with 3 HR and 13 RBI

I'll go out on a limb and propose Buscher goes back to the minors, the Twins keep both Span and Gomez and let them duke it out for playing time, and pray the Twins were bluffing on Frank Thomas (they're not).

Big Hurt? Big Yes!

Frank Thomas was released from the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday and the time is now to replace Craig Craproe with the Big Hurt. The Twins could sure use the possible offense Thomas would bring to the team. Sure he was hitting .167 (10-for-60) with three home runs and 11 RBI in 16 games, but come on, this is Frank Thomas. He hit 26 homers last year with 95 RBI (.277 average). He has 516 career home runs.

The Blue Jays are locked into paying him $8 million for this season no matter who he signs with. Worth a shot? Not even worth discussing.

Thomas would take the place currently occupied by Craig Monroe. In addition, his signing would allow the Twins a real, viable solution to backup Justin Morneau at first base. The backup is currently Mike Lamb. Mike Lamb? Yep, Mike Lamb.

Some numbers:
Thomas: 40 years old, .167 BA, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 516 career HR, .302 career BA, .420 career OBA, 1,625 career RBI
Monroe: 31 years old, .231 BA (6-for-26), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 104 career HR, 391 career RBI, .256 career BA, .303 career OBA.

Those numbers don't compare. It's time to give the Big Hurt a shot. Heck, even if they have to move Kubel to right field and send Span down, it's time to take a chance.

Trip to Detroit creates new trends

Blowing a lead in Detroit
shows the Twins of '08
By The Bullpen Catcher

In the blowing the lead department in losing to the suddenly terrible Tigers, the Twins demonstrated their new trends of 2008:

Neshek is the new Ron Davis; Kubel is the new Cuddy; Mauer is the new Punto; Span is the new Gomez. Ugh.

Now that's how you kick ass!

Tonight was quite the night for Jason Cue-ball, who drove in six runs. It looked like winter in Chicago, but the Twins looked strong all over. Just when you start thinking the Twins rotation is bad, look at the White Sox pitching corps. 12-5: Now that's how you kick butt.

Did you notice the blurp about Matt Garza going on the DL for the Tampa Bay Rays? Garza's claiming he was injured at the end of last season ... time for the conspiracy theorists to arise and make a mess out of this thing.

Cue-Ball Isn't A Total Scratch

Kubel Not As Bad As His Rap
Twins OF/DH is pretty average for 4th OF

By The Bullpen Catcher
Jason Kubel (photo courtesy of http://www.boston.com/), the Twins scruffy left-handed outfielder/designated hitter, is the latest in a series of Minnesota players to have the tag of "we're waiting for him to play to his potential."

Sure Kubel destroyed his knee in Arizona Fall League in 2004, and sure he was a hell of a prospect then, but let's face it -- he is what he is. The tired mantra associated with Kubel (when he gets healthy, just you wait) has to go. He simply isn't the same kid who hit .347 between Class AA New Britain, AAA Rochester and the Twins in 2004 (24 HR, 107 RBI). That knee ain't gettin' any newer.

That said, let's assume he is who he is. Put away the what-ifs. Trash the potential. Look at the facts. Kubel's played 80 games so far this year -- the most in a single season during his short major league career -- and his hitting about .250 with 17 2B, 8 HR, and 40 RBI.

While not exactly A-Rod numbers, those aren't too bad to stomach, are they? Consider again that he is the fourth outfielder (Twins top three should be Hunter, Cuddyer and Rondie White) and a second-year player on a Major League roster, these aren't bad numbers. He's played 13 games as a DH, and it's safe to say he's not cut out for that role. But as someone making the Major League minimum ($387,500) he's sufficient. Frankly, we cheered these stats from fourth outfielders Bobby Kielty and Dustan Mohr. Remember when Mohr/Kielty were the ballyhooed platoon in right during the 2002-2003 seasons?

Mohr averaged 120 games, 366 AB, 95 H, .260 BA, 23 2B, 11 HR, and 41 RBI.

Rusty Kielty over the same two seasons averaged 125 G (62 with Toronto after the trade for Shannon Stewart), 358 AB, 94 H, .263 BA, 20 2B, 13 HR, and 52 RBI.

The problem simply isn't Kubel. The problem is Rondell White. The problem with Rondell White is he doesn't play -- ever. The knock on Rondie when he came to the Twins was he was oft-injured. Guess what? They were right. Kubel's doing his job. The potential may still be there for Kubel, but I don't want to hear it anymore. He's doing his job at this time. Now it's time for another outfielder to allow him to play his role and grow.