Back for more — and wanting Gomez in the lineup
Posted on October 9th, 2009 – 10:18 AMBy Howard
(I’ll be on MPR with Gary Eichten talking Twins at noon today. We’re at 91.1 FM and www.mpr.org for the webcast.)
I’m glad that Nick Blackburn is pitching because, between his excellent tie-breaker pitching last season and his gems against the Tigers in Game 1 of last Tuesday’s doubleheader (which seems like a month ago) and against Zack Greinke on Saturday, he is my big-game choice. In his last four starts, he’s given up only 5 runs in 27 1/3 innings and let barely put than one man on base per inning (28 in that stretch). Whatever his mid-season struggles were, he seems to have dealt them and I’m glad he’s the choice.
This is such a crazy series in that the Twins basically were in no realistic position to compete well in Game 1 without an extraordinary effort, which didn’t happen. Now, against the team with the best record in baseball and a stranglehold over them during the past few years, the Twins have to win three out of four.
Twins chances: slim and some.
There are so many words in motion about this game, that I want to make one suggestion and then get out:
I want Carlos Gomez in center field tonight.
There’s lot of ground to cover in the Yankee Stadium outfield, especially from left-center to right-center, and we’ve seen several balls in recent games that may have been caught if Denard Span was in right field instead of center. (There’s less ground than the old Yankee Stadium, but still a lot.) During Gardy’s late-game defensive moves, Span has made two catches — one against Detroit and one against Kansas City — that were beyond what Kubel would have made. (Kubel is a workmanlike outfielder; Span is an excellent corner outfielder.)
And the Jose Morales of the last couple of weeks isn’t hitting like the Jose Morales whom many people wanted to see replace Mike Redmond earlier this season. Morales was so overmatched against Rick Porcello on Tuesday that Gardy lifted him after two at-bats, and I don’t think that bodes well for a prime-time appearance in Yankee Stadium. In addition his 4-for-29 in the last couple of weeks, Morales has only two extra-base hits (doubles) since being recalled in September and given significant DH time. (Both of those doubles came in one game against Cleveland.) This just isn’t his time.
I’ve been telling people who wondered about the Young-Span-Kubel outfield as a daily event that it’s been worth giving up the offense to get Morales or Harris in the lineup at DH.
Now, it’s different. Big outfield, big game … and the potential for a fly ball or a line drive that may call for one of the biggest defensive plays of the season.
Start Gomez.
105 Responses to "Back for more — and wanting Gomez in the lineup"
Agreed. Young, Gomez, Span. Kubel DH. Need bats and defense. Kubel can play right when we get to the World Series and need his bat in an NL park! (yeah, I said it!)
100% agreed Howard.
Not to mention, this could be the platform where Gomez comes alive at the plate and shows us what he is really capable of offensively. Or he could go 0/4 with four strikeouts.
right there with you howard
Good idea.
Agreed. Although he should have been in there for game 1 for energy, along with Casilla and Redmond DH’ing. The chances of winning game 1 were slim, Gardy should have given guys that have had success against Sabathia, in the lineup.
Agree 100 percent. It’s not like Morales/Harris are knocking the cover off the ball. Gomez greatly improves the defense and he can cause the Yankees headaches if he gets on base.
Yeah, and if we can get him on base, Gogo can definitely run on their catchers too.
One more thing: If Gomez is in the Twins long-term plans, you’ve got to get him some postseason experience. Maybe he has a coming out party like Andruw Jones did with Atlanta several years back. I highly doubt that will happen, but he did single to start off the 12th inning against Detroit in game 163 and later scored the winning run.
I agree, but mainly because I don’t want Gardy taking Kubel out of the game for defensive purposes in the 8th inning of a close ballgame. I do like seeing our three best defensive outfielders out there late in a close game but I also can’t stand when a team just walks Joe late in a game becuase he know has Gomez behind him instead of Kubel.
Agreed. The other problem with Kubel playing RF is you lose his bat if you make a defensive substitution.
Agree totally. Actually would have liked to have seen in the first game. Gomez would have been one of the fresher players and could have bunted just to piss CC off.
JD beat me to it.
Only problem with this suggestion, Howard, is that it comes 2 days after we in our office were suggesting it for Game 1. Most importantly, this move protects DH Kubel from being lifted for a defensive replacement and having that backfire like it has so many times in recent weeks. Can’t take the bat out of Mauer’s hands in the late innings with Go-Go suddenly hitting cleanup.
Howard is just too smart, that is why I agree with him. Young, GoGo, Span, with Kubes @ DH. Let’s gogo get ‘em Twins…Do us proud.
Doc, Thanks, but let’s not go overboard. It’s not like my suggestion will win the Nobel Peace Prize, you know. 
Totally agree Howard. The bats of Harris or Morales are no longer that significant an upgrade over Gomez…and the upgrade on defense is huge, especially w/ a pitcher who pitches to contact on the hill tonight. I have my fingers crossed that Gardy is thinking much of the same…
I’ve been wanting this the last week or so…but, I don’t know if Gardy will budge.
YES! I just came here to suggest this exact move.
Make it happen, Gardy! Please!
I agree Howard. Twins need Gomez for his defense in CF and his energy. Just not thrilled that the bottom three of our lineup would be Gomez, Tolbert, and Punto. Gomez against Burnett’s slider could be ugly. The Yankees have the highest paid first baseman, third baseman, shortstop, catcher, starting pitcher, and closer in the game and here are the Twins needing to win 3 of the next 4. Let’s stick it to the Evil Empire! WIN TWINS!
One other thing…does Morales end of the year struggles at the plate mean that Redmond will more than likely be our backup catcher next year again. I would have to say yes…on a hunch that they want to know what they’re getting behind Mauer. I’m not agreeing with that decision…but just saying
Completely agree. Don’t forget the Teixeira/Gomez love reunion that would be somewhat entertaining to watch–man he hates that guy. You think Cliff Lee and Mark Texico (as my fiance calls him) have a “I friggen hate Carlos Gomez” group on Facebook?
Absolutely 100% agree Howard. The only person who may not agree with you though is the one who fills out the line-up card.
Better not bring back Red, unless he’ll take the minimum. They need a 3B, SS, 2B and 1-2 starting pitchers, and to re-sign Mauer. They need every penny they can get…
Agreed Howard. Gomez sucks offensively, but if you don’t have a significant upgrade at DH, then probably better to gain the advantage defensively in the outfield with both Gomez and Span.
I like your idea and would have liked to see Gomez in game 1 bunting against CC. Our outfield is way better defensively with Gomez out there and Span in right field - maybe he can save us a run or two on all those “bombs” that the Yankee’s hit (this according to the lame TBS announcers). We need Kubel to step up big in this game as the DH and for the rest of the series but we need to win one at a time. Let’s Go Twins and stick it to the overpaid Yankees.
A lose cannon is just what the Twins need in order to remember how much fun the playoffs are supposed to be. (The Yankees sure had fun on Wednesday.) Gardy should start Gomez and tell him, ‘don’t be afraid to screw yourself into the ground on a third strike, if that’s what it takes to get the boys laughing.’
Is no one against this? That has to be a first!
Gomez should just be ordered to take two pitches automatically. That way he may or may not start 0-2 (rather than always starting 0-2). The novelty is that if he somehow start 2-0 then he might get a fastball that he can fly open on (and pop out on). Still I’d rather watch him run down balls in the gap than Morales try to suddenly be a home run hitter. Where was the smooth level stroke he had earlier in the year when he was facing Porcello? I kind of rambled there.
MWW, I think its a sure bet that the Twinks trade Perkins in the off season. I don’t think we have a lot of other talent to offer up (that we don’t really need) except maybe Liriano (but I think Gardy/Andy want to try another year with Frankie before giving up).
So…giving up that level of talent (not much) I think the best option out there to plug those infield spots you mentioned is JJ Hardy. Bad year last year, but he has shown both offensive and defensive abilities before and there is a reasonable chance he will bounce back. Plus he may have the ability and versatility to play SS or 3B…which this team desperately needs.
I agree, too, for all the foregoing reasons. I didn’t agree for the Game 1 line up because I’m a big proponent of “dancin’ with the girl that brung ya’” and “Don’t mess with a winning streak” and all that stuff. Not that I’m superstitious or anything. The time has come to make the switch. I don’t fill out the line up card, though. And you cann all be thankful for that.
Excellent article. I agree completely.
Howard,
“You are CORRECT sir.”
For next year I still say that Dan Uggla at 2nd is a better choice than JJ Hardy at SS. I would like to see Cuddyer give 3rd a try and Cabrera or Punto at SS
I agree Howard it will improve both the defense and the speed on the bases. Big game Nick is going to put a muzzle on all those Yankee fans tonight.
I won’t miss Smelmon young if gomez starts. Put Kubes in LF and let Harris DH. Kubel is better at the plate when he plays the field. I also think Morales would be playing better now if he’d have gotten 135 AB’s that were wasted in Redmond during the season.
I totally agree with most of the posters. We need Go Go’s wheels in center and Span in right. And we can’t afford to take Kubel’s bat out of the line-up late in the game.
Come on Twinkies!
Don’t forget about Valencia. I think it might be time to see what the kid can do.
agreed, however if they are hitting fly balls to gomez it will not be a good sign with blackburn being a sinker ball pitcher.
morales can do everything red can do, with some up side against red and his aging backside. all for 1/2 the money.
I sure hope so, BC.
Agreed.
Another reason is that Kubel’s bat can stay in the game and not come out late for a defensive replacement. In the Detroit playoff game, that move almost came back to haunt.
Agreed. With Cuddy at first base the outfield should always be Young-Gomez-Span with Kubel as the DH. We need Gomez out there.
I love Gomez. He’s so much fun to watch and he makes plays even Torii Hunter couldn’t get to. His speed is amazing. As soon as he learns how to read a pitcher to steal a base, he’s going to make some amazing things happen.
Well, Howard. It appears that a very strong majority of the board agrees with your suggestion. Therefore, while not being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, your suggestion and your entire article is hearby nominated for USAFChief’s PoD.
Is Go-Go any worse/better than having Morales or Harris batting? No, but he does add speed that neither have to the basepaths. Is Go-Go any better/worse than having Jason Kubel in right? YES! He is much, much better, especially when you combine him and Span! And Go-Go can certainely bring a Spark to the line-up, defense, and entire team that the other two can’t.
Charlie Murphy,
Isn’t Uggla in line for a payday pretty soon here? He would be a good addition for his bat, but I believe his defense is a cause of concern. And I think it he would take more to acquire than Hardy at this point. I lean Hardy on this one…
blakep: You may be right on Valencia, but I still think he’s a project and maybe another 1-2 years away from making any significant impact. Over that same span, much of our core players will be peaking and we need to make our proverbial run in the next couple years (before Morneau’s back becomes chronic, before Mauer/Kubel’s knees give out, before Nathan gets too old).
Valencia may or may not work out in the short run, but appears yet to be a project in the works. This team has a few too many of those, so I think if you can obtain Hardy (who might be ready to excel again) at the expense of trading Perkins and/or Liriano, I’d take the chance. Kudos to the Twins mgmt and FO for resurrecting the bullpen for the most part - But we HAVE to plug the numerous holes in the infield by next year…
Most of us agree Howard should make out the line-up for tonight, but Gardy will be filling in the blanks and I think it will stay the same, with Kubel in the outfield.
Start Gomez and his .220 average. Put him right beside Punto’s .220 average in the batting order and we call that a rally killer. You might think that sounds harsh, but it’s simple math. Over 162 games, they have hit .220. Throw Casilla or Tolbert down there in the batting order too and every third inning should be statistically easy for Yankee pitchers.
Woolhouse…basically agree with you - except for “is Go-Go any worse/better than having Morales or Harris batting?” Unfortunately, he is worse than either of those two. If he can’t bunt to get on, his batting average is well below .200
Go-Go should be AAA next year to learn the hand-eye coordination thing. Far from 5 tools as touted. Some guys with great physical talents just can’t ever quite get the bat squarely on the ball enough and Carlos appears to be in that category. He needs 4-500 plate appearances next year to try to develop a good eye/swing and I don’t think that’ll happen with the big ball club.
Valencia seems to have stepped back into the ‘next group’ of players. Sano, Kepler, those guys. He could be their Cuddyer.
Uggla would be a big grab, particularly if he could shore up 3B. I still think it would be foolish not to give another low cost at Crede, with Valencia waiting and Cuddy as plan C.
Gomez might need to spend some time at AAA, but that couldn’t hurt him at this point. If he’s tearing it up, but there’s no room at the inn, a July 31 trade might be possible then to a contender who has a need for speed.
I don’t know how you guys can focus on next year at a time like this but the Uggla v. Hardy thing is interesting. Uggla hits for power and is a good obp guy, but he’s got rocks for hands. Plus he’ll cost a lot ($7-8 million?). On the other hand, he’s an arb 2 guy whereas Hardy is already an arb 3 guy, albeit Hardy’s cheaper right now. At the end of the day, the Twins, imo, need to extend Mauer and get a true #1 (neither of which will be cheap) more than they need either Uggla or Hardy.
I like the idea of starting Gomez. Have fun at noon, Howard!
I couldn’t agree more Howard. Even before game 1, I thought Gomez over Kubel in fielding is worth a whole lot more than Harris over Gomez in hitting. I thought this was especially true for game 1 since Gomez could help get in CC’s head with some bunts. Game 1 was not to be, but let’s get ‘em tonight!
I would definately agree. It looks like nobody wants to win more than Go-Go. He just needs not be so anxious and to be a bit more selective with pitches with A.J. Burnett on the mound. He’s probably not going to offer up too many good pitches to hit. Hopefully we can get some free baserunners tonight and coax some walks out of him as well. Key win for the Twins tonight. If they win, it virtually becomes a best of 3 - with dome field advantage!
What are the splits for Gomez / Young against Burnett anyway?
Howard, I’m totally on board with Gomez in the lineup in this game. In fact there’s really absolutely no legitimate reason NOT to go that direction. That doesn’t mean that Gardy will do it, of course. “We’re going with what got us here,” might be the reason given… but that’s simply not legitimate at this point.
As for the Nobel Peace Prize… don’t hold your breath. After all, it’s not enough to simply have a great idea, you have to actually DO something to get that award.
Oh… well… maybe not.
Carlos is 1 for 7 with a walk. Only two strikeouts though.
Delmon is 3 for 10 with a double.
Pretty dire numbers overall, not much extra base hitting. Only OC and Harris have taken him deep.
I dont think Howard is suggesting Gomez in place of Young.
JC: Right on - especially when the guy that won the award may be doing more in the long run to prevent world peace.
i can only hope gardy agrees with howard, and everyone on this blog! gomez NEEDS to be in there tonight
It only makes sense to start Gomez so we will see if that is what happens. I really don’t know what to say if it doesn’t.
I think I’m going to apply for that Nobel Prize thingy (they’re … like … just giving away the $1 million). I too claim “hope” for all.
5,000% agreed on this one….Need that spark right now from Gomez.
AND MORE BUNTS TONIGHT PLEASE!!!
At the very least, get this Burnett cat rattled by showing some bunt and actually doing it once in a while. He seems like the kinda guy who will get flustered by it.
Did you hear about the farmer who won the Nobel Prize? He was out standing in his field.
Rim shot.
That was awful, BC. The opposite of the PoD.
Sorry i couldn’t resist.
You are right Howard. And JD made a good point: you put a defensive replacement in for Kubel in the late innings with this bullpen and sometimes you end up needing his bat again. Of course, it worked out in game 163.
No need to apologize, BC. I’m just wondering if we need the equivalent to a Razzie now.
BC,
I liked it.
LOL BC that should be the POD !!
It makes no sense at all to start Gomez. You can’t play “small ball” against these guys and you can’t have a guy in the lineup who is going to make an inning of outs, who has no discipline at the plate and can’t bunt, steal bases, or move runners along. Yankee home runs will beat the Twins. The Twins have to pitch well, keep the ball down to force ground ball outs and keep the Yankees from hitting the ball out of the park while beating at them own game…power. They have a few guys now who can do that.
BC, I yield to the masses . . .
I just bounced a couple of things off some co-workers. Regarding Howard’s idea that Gomez start in CF tonight, I got blank stares. Regarding BC’s joke, I got laughs. BC, I apologize all over myself. The defect is apprently with me, not the joke.
Corny jokes are my specialty, glad to bring a little levity to this nervous crowd.
Nothing really for us to be nervous about. The Twins need to win. Simple!
OK, I’m just a LITTLE nervous about whether my favorite bar will still have seats available by the time I get there after work. But other than that…
“”BC of ND says:
October 9th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Corny jokes are my specialty, glad to bring a little levity to this nervous crowd.”"
I hate levity, I’d rather have fun.
Joe C just posted the Twins lineup. Go-Go is in CF batting 7th. Kubel is DHing. Love it!!!
As evidenced by their locker room celebration Tuesday night, the Twins have, in their minds, won their World Series for this year. Nothing to see here, except the Yankees yawning their way towards their first real challenge in the ALCS.
I’ve been lobbying for this for quite some time. Of course, it would have really made sense in game one, with Baker (extreme fly-ball tendencies) on the mound. Blackburn is the one Twins pitcher that actually yields a high percentage of grounders.
I had to laugh (actually, I probably swore at the tv) when Ron Darling said “The Twins have an excellent defensive outfield- Young, Span, and Kubel.” When Gomez is out there, they have an incredible right half of the outfield. When he’s not, they have a decent CF, and that’s it.
Looks like we got our wish. PATIENCE tonight boys.
I can’t agree with you more.
Hightower says:
October 9th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Joe C just posted the Twins lineup. Go-Go is in CF batting 7th. Kubel is DHing. Love it!!!
I think that this is proof that Howard is really just another one of Gardy’s guys who gets after it every day. Good call Howard.
speaking of baseball, tarps on the field and corny jokes …
player a: i hope the rain keeps up.
player b: why’s that?
player a: so it doesn’t come down!
That was a funny link, CharlieMurphy. Go Twins!
I didn’t have time to read all the posts, but it seems like overwhelming support for this plan. If this is going to happen though they better get Harris out in right field today taking fly balls in case they find themselves in need of a run late and Gomez is up. In that case, with Kubel as the DH you can’t put him in right without giving up the DH. Who is left to play the outfield?
“”Bill Brimner says:
October 9th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
As evidenced by their locker room celebration Tuesday night, the Twins have, in their minds, won their World Series for this year. Nothing to see here, except the Yankees yawning their way towards their first real challenge in the ALCS.”"
Let us not forget that the latest issue of Sports Illustrated has already said the Yankees in 3 games. A lot of good the week before SI did Detoilet about the big boom. The Twins laid the big Boom on the Tiggers. gotta love the SI JINX!!!!!!!!!
I’M LOVING IT JERRY! As Kramer would say…
Nice call, Howard. Got your wish. Of course, I can’t agree with you enough. Also, while Gomez is usually a liability on offense, he does have the x-factor potential of putting together a huge game. We’ve seen it before…
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN200809250.shtml
SI, short for Sell Issues, any way they can? As any other fan (not to sound petty, but if the shoe fits) just tired of all the Big Market Kowtow in the media. Somehow the media has found a way to make me want to apologize for being a lowly Twins fan?
I just wish that Gomez wasn’t such a free-swinger. Worse than Delmon.
As I posted on another article, game 2 winners are 22-5 in the AL division series since 1995, irrespective of who wins game one. Game 1 is house money. Game 2 is money money.
Also, looking at game 1 internals, the Twins outhit the Yankees, and almost got to their closer. Mr. Hughes threw like 20 pitches to two worn-out batters. The Twins bats were heavy, their legs were gone, and they clearly were out of gas, but they still were a couple hits away from at least being in the game. No one should be surprised if they scratch out a win tonight 4-3 or something. Then the Yanks will have to come to the dome which may be part of one of those runs teams get on.
“Twins chances: slim and some.”
I remember intensely looking — both mathematically and analytically — at the Twins chances when there were 3 weeks, 2 weeks, 1 week, 4 days, 2 days left.
In both cases (math. and anal.), the chances were constantly slim and none.
There’s a reasonable chance, however, that Blackburn could win tonight.
If that’s the case, the Twins chances of taking this series remain long-shot, but very much in the realm of possibility.
Your wish is Gardy’s command. Go-Go, how about a few drag bunt attempts on Burnett to mess with his head? Unless of course you’ve decided to swing at just strikes a plan on drilling a couple into the gap. Wishful thinking I guess.
Ok, but, LNP can play the outfield if Gomez is pinch hit for. He’s played CF before and it wouldn’t require shifting Span or Young around. Also, don’t forget Cuddyer could play the OF as well, although that would create huge problems at 1B. Btw, if something did happen to Cuddyer, who on the roster has played any appreciable time at 1B? Has Harris? LNP? Stay healthy, Cuddy.
Gomez was the “odd man out” when Gardy went with Morales as DH (Kubel in right). That hasn’t worked out too well, since Morales stopped hitting singles and there have been several balls hit to right that Span would have caught that fall with Kubel in the outfield. If Gomez can get on base, steal or force a misplay, then the gamble will have paid off.
The other choice Gardenhire made in mid-September has paid off. Tolbert hit over .300, and had an OPS over .800 from then until the end of the season. He’s played good defense, as well.
Gomez is a waste..showed it again tonight,,
Ya. Gomez in the lineup. That worked well, huh? Words fail me. I can’t quite find the proper obscenity.
You still want Gomez? He didn’t do anything to merit him playing again this series.
Terrible plate appearances, terrible base running. He should be in the minors just like Reusse says.
Howie, still excited about Gomez? Surprised by that call by you, you seem to know what you are talking about, but totally wrong about Gomez. What has he done? He has done more bad than good. All of us know the only reason he beat out Span was to protect Billy Smith. WE know Gomez cannot play in the bigs and should be sent down. This will allow us to move Young to right and Span in Center with Cuddy back at third and finding a new left fielder and another pitcher.
That worked out pretty well.
Gomez should have been benched for his baserunning gaff, why doesn’t gardy discipline these players?! This is the playoffs, you aren’t supposed to work on developing players during the playoffs. Gomez is indeed a work in process, an extremely wild swinger, so why the hell would you start him against a hard throwing right-hander like Burnett??? Also, when Gardenhire put Mahay against Matsui, it didn’t bite us in the butt, but it was still a questionable move. Matsui was batting .380 against left-handed pitchers in the postseason vs. .270 against right-handers. And Gardy needs to stop playing favorite, Harris showed that he’s far more worthy of playing than Tolbert. And here’s some more proof that Gardenhire doesn’t look at stats: Casilla was a career 9/13 against Sabathia, and he doesn’t get the nod at 2nd base. Don’t give me that “he’s been struggling crap”. His last two hits (in only a few at-bats) were a double off the wall in the late innings at Comerica, and the game-winning hit in game 163. Go Twins!
Good one, Michael. The final battle between the forces of good and evil (American Heritage Dictionary). That will be preceded by Favrergnügen, the “driving enjoyment” Brett will have on long posessions ending in touchdowns.
Favrergnügen: It’s what makes a car a Volkswagen. Oops. I guess that doesn’t make sense.
