When Michael Cuddyer is ready to come off the disabled list, which could be as soon as Friday, the Twins will have to send someone to the minors. Until this week, it looked certain that Denard Span would be the guy, getting a two-week look at life in the majors before being returned to Rochester.

However, the struggles of Gogomez are likely causing the front office to think this one over.

A quick argument for keeping Gomez here is that he has had some electric moments, has played very well on defense (including two extraordinary catches) and should only get better by being around the majors. Is it really any different than having today’s starter, Francisco Liriano, on the roster after his Tommy John surgery?

A quick argument for sending Gomez down is that he has been totally painful to watch at the plate, with only 6 hits in his last 45 at-bats and no walks. His attempts at bunting are horrible, both in execution and sometimes when he decides to try one. In addition, he appeared to take his batting struggles into the field on Tuesday with a careless error.

Click here to vote … and add your thoughts below!

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My startribune.com colleague J Pinkley is going to Florida to shoot spring training video … and wants our help. Needless to say, those of us left behind can be wickedly jealous that Pinkley is getting paid to do such a thing — or we can aid her quest by providing haiku that will be used in her report from Florida.

Enamored by Section 220’s use of haiku, Pinkley wants you all to offer up your best efforts to accompany the sights and sounds of Twins baseball in Ft. Myers.

Like this:

Boof has slimmed down now/Auf Wiedersehen to flab/Make it work, Bonser.

or

Delmon Young hits well/That’s why they traded Garza/Don’t mind Carl Crawford

There is a payoff to having your haiku chosen that I can not disclose at the present time. But it will be worth it. Trust me.

We need ‘em sooner rather than later. Post ‘em today, OK?

Next Thursday (March 6) marks the second anniversary of Kirby Puckett’s death. On that day, I’d like to post your recollections, memories and thoughts about Puckett. Send them to me at section220 (at) startribune (dot) com by Tuesday, March 4, and I’ll put ‘em on the blog.

Thanks, Howard

“Some of the things you told us with great earnestness appear not to be accurate.” — Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., to Roger Clemens on his office visits to members of Congress before today’s hearings.

I’m watching the House committee hearings with Brian McNamee and Roger Clemens, and Clemens has created a word that I hope never, ever, ever becomes a part of the language.

In response to an aggressive interrogation from Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., Clemens explained on several occasions that Pettitte must have “misremembered” their conversations about steroids and Human Growth Hormone.

At one point, Clemens explained that “I think he misremembers of our conversation.”

At another time, soon after stammering his way through several answers and vouching for Pettitte’s honesty, Clemens said: “Andy’s a fine gentleman. I think he misremembers.”

Cummings sternly told Clemens to “keep your voice up” and didn’t look impressed.

“I have helped taint our national pastime,” McNamee admitted in his opening statement.

Later, McNamee explained why he supposedly held on to physical evidence: “While I liked and admired Roger Clemens, I don’t think that I ever really trusted him.”

A few minutes ago, the guys were differing over whether Roger bled through his dress pants after an injection in 2001.

Update: McNamee is being asked about his contention that Clemens attended a barbecue at Jose Canseco’s house. Many, including Canseco and his ex-wife, have said that McNamee has misrecollected that glorious afternoon.

Oh, golly: When Roger said he learned what he knows about HGH from watching TV, it reminded me of Wade Boggs saying back in the day that he learned he was a sex addict from watching Geraldo.

The Hoosier plays hardball: Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., went through McNamee’s acknowledged inconsistencies and asked, “You just lie when it’s convenient for you?” And later: “You’re here as a sworn witness. You’re hear to tell the truth. And we have lie after lie after lie after lie … I know one thing I don’t believe, and that’s you.”

And in closing: Burton tells McNamee, “Roger Clemens is a baseball titan and you, with all these lies, are destroying him and his reputation.”

Rep. Tom Davis, the committee’s ranking Republican, to McNamee: “Why did you [inject players] when you knew it was illegal?”

McNamee to Davis: “It was something I shouldn’t have done and I’m ashamed of it and that’s why I’m here today.”

Words of wisdom: On coming before the committee and expressing his frustration with all parties (including the decision to not have Chuck Knoblauch and Pettitte testify), Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., said, “It’s better not to talk about the past than to lie about the past.”

You learn something new: When Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Ia., ticked off a list of conditions that would lead to treatment with Vitamin B-12 (dementia, for example), he asked Clemens whether he’s even been a vegan. “I don’t know what that is,” Clemens replied.

It’s your turn: Gotta go tend to other matters. Feel free to add your own highlights.

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Yesterday’s post and many, many of the comments make for an interesting give-and-take on the Section 220 quest to SIGN JOHAN. I am especially intrigued by the comment from self-proclaimed blogaholic Jim Crikket that ends the discussion, and have decided that it makes a worthy post for your consideration and reaction.

Here it is:

I must be in an uncharacteristicly optimistic mood, because the more I read and think and talk to people about this, the more convinced I become that Santana will be re-signed to an extension before the season starts.

The Twins certainly haven’t ruled it out. They haven’t spent the money they’ve already got committed to Santana for 2008 nor taken on commitments for 2009 and beyond that would make a long term deal for Johan impossible to absorb. They didnt sign or trade for any of the high priced CFs or 3Bs that have been available or traded.

They made an offer of a 4 year, $80 million extension. Johan and his agent felt this wasn’t enough to make it worth his while and the Twins agreed to make him available on the trade market… if they could extract an appropriate ransom from someone who was also willing to give Santana the $120-140 million his agent thinks he’s worth.

But that ransom hasn’t materialized and the potential trading partners have all (I believe) expressed public reluctance to give more than a five year deal to Santana even if they DO make a deal.

If I’m the Twins and I was willing to shell out $93.5 over the next 5 years ($13.5 already committed for 2007 plus the $80 extension), I have to think very seriously about trying again. I can afford to rip up his 2007 deal and give him $100 for that 5 years, given the loss of Hunter’s salary, or I could keep that $13.5 in place and offer $100 for the following 5 years. That essentially is a $113.5 million deal over 6 years. Risky… yes. But not THAT much riskier than what I’ve already offered.

If I’m Santana, I’d have to think REAL hard about taking either of those deals. Yes, I can just play out the year. If I have another CY-ish season, I’m almost certainly going to get a $140 deal over 6-7 years from someone. But if I prove to be mortal or I tweak my elbow… or shoulder… I may never see that huge payday. I’m betting $100 million that I won’t get hurt in 2008 and hitters won’t figure out how to pick up that change-up. And if I DO continue to be SuperJohan for the next 4-5 years, I’ve got another even bigger contract waiting for me when this contract expires sometime around my 34th birthday.

If I’m him, yes, I would have told the Twins to see what they could get for me and see if I could get my $140 million this year. But if it’s clear that’s not going to happen, I’m not going to throw a pitch in 2008 while I’m leaving $100 million on the table.

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