I have a bunch of notes and observations from camp today.

Carlos Gomez is quite a player when he puts the bat on the ball. He needs to show the Twins that he can make adjustments at the plate or they will consider having him start the season in the minors.

Gomez needs to be more balanced in the batter’s box or he’ll always struggle with breaking balls. He’s a very confident young man, which the Twins don’t want to take away, but he also needs to respond to coaching suggestions. Friday, in which he was 2 for 5, was a good day in that regard.

People in the organization feel that Denard Span has risen to the occasion in camp. He’s batting .227 but five walks has his on base percentage at .393. However, he’ll need to boost that average to make the Span-or-Gomez decision tougher.

I don’t understand why Pridie has been taken out of the running so early. He’s the type of player whose skills won’t jump off a scout’s card but will grow on you over time. And he went 2 for 4 Friday to up his average to .310.

Joe Nathan looked real good Friday. “His fastball had a lot of life,” Gardy said.

Gardenhire also was impressed with Phil Humber’s three hitless innings of work (he did walk a batter). Humber could force a tough decision with a couple more outings like the one on Friday.

At this point, you have to believe Nick Blackburn deserves a spot in the rotation, with Kevin Slowey, Glen Perkins, Humber and others in the hunt. That would make the rotation Livan, Baker, Boof, Liriano and Blackburn.

By the way, expect Liriano to go into the season still trying to let the slider go like he used to. That’s the mental hurdle that must be cleared after Tommy John surgery. 

Matt Macri, who was cut today, has the size to develop power and should be worth watching at Class AAA Rochester. Gardy said Macri will be moved around the Red Wings infield.

Make sure you check the gas gauge when picking up a rental car.
Twins lefthander Dennys Reyes switched rentals Thursday night but didn’t realize that the car given to him was low on fuel. Reyes was driving on Interstate 75 about 9 p.m. when the car ran out of gas and stopped.
Reyes left the car on the shoulder of the freeway to walk a mile to a gas station to purchase a gas can and fuel.
“I was walking back, and cars were coming at me going, `beep! beep!’ ‘‘ Reyes said.
Reyes said he got about 300 yards from his car and noticed a squad car was behind it. He began to run toward the vehicles but the squad car pulled away by the time he got there..

Twins owner Carl Pohlad, in Fort Myers for a few days, visited the club before the game. Confined to a wheelchair, he stuck out a hand and said, `how you guys doin’’ as he rolled by Brian Buscher and Garrett Jones.
Delmon Young walked up to Pohlad and greeted him with a handshake, but wasn’t aware who Pohlad was until Nick Punto introduced him.
“He’s the boss.’’ Punto said.

Pitching coach Rick Anderson has the flu and wasn’t at the park on Friday. Minor league pitching coordinator Rick Knapp filled in for him. Lefthander Carmen Cali was sent home with the flu too.

Matt Tolbert is a batting cage rat. I think he’s taken more swings in the cage than anyone in camp. He has little chance of making the team (Craig!) but should debut sometime this season.

A couple observers at camp feel that Delmon Young has the fastest bat on the team.

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