Span and Gomez. Nap time.

This race, as it were, isn't exactly heating up as the Twins website likes to encite. Any little show of brilliance from Carlos Gomez is captured in print, 20 different ways. Twincities.com even manipulated truths about one game, saying he "once again showed off his arm," gunning out Robinson Cano at second... Uh, no. He had another horribly inaccurate throw that Justin Morneau, had to snatch, and lob to second base, where Cano just gave up on the play and was tagged out. Good writing. pfffft

I want this kid to succeed so badly, but apparently he wants the same, because Gardenhire thinks he's trying too hard. The one thing that is said with every consistency, is that he steals bases at will. Doesn't matter who's pitching, slide-step, none of that nonsense. That's something we cannot say about Denard Span, who I think has taken the lead in this boring race, that's highlighting who can wiff the least, more than who can perform the most.

Span walked 4 times in that same game against the Yankees and how many steals did he have? Zero. That's disturbing. How is he a threat? You're telling me, that because we were down by a certain amount of runs, that we couldn't take a spring training chance at getting him to second? Great.

I am going to vote for Span to win the job, Gomez to go to AAA to work on hitting. Hope that Span has a Reggie Willits type of year, so that we can trade him and bring up Gomez. Won't happen that way, but that's the GM... in me.

Z

You're probably right Minny... something just irks me about Denard Span. I think it's his sense of entitlement rubs me wrong. Although, I think he's absolutely right in that people shouldn't have criticized his previous year because he did do well in the second half, but he needs to catch fire. Needs to! I can't stand the thought of mediocrity in that position. I couldn't stand it when Torii Hunter was out those couple times in '05 and '06. 

I like what they're doing with Jason Pridie and how he's done so far. I was high on him, but after watching him twice on tv, I think he IS another Jason Tyner, but with decent power. I'm sure his arm is a little better as well. I admit I was probably wrong on his ability to be everyday. So, he'll backup quite a bit this year, I anticipate. I think if one of these guys falters at all, Pridie will get a shot at coming in a doing something, before the Twins automatically flip-flop Span and Carlos Gomez at MLB and AAA.

I think no matter what, all three see a major league at bat this year, somehow, someway. Might bring up Gomez at the end of the year, if Span makes it... and viceversa.

Meanwhile, Adam Everett is all but a lock for SS. Alexi Casilla has a better chance of beating out Brendan Harris than Everett. Oh well... Casilla gets one more year to figure himself and the bat out... he needs to take a diaper off I think. Just like one of these center fielders.

Z

Yeah, I think it's more the developing of the players than it is the scouting of the players. I think the Twins have always excelled at the formula for producing MLB ready pitchers. They have never excelled at producing MLB ready batters, however. Kinda odd the huge difference between the two.

I'm not sure how many more position players we can throw away first round picks on... I'd just assume pick pitchers every year, develop the hell outta them and trade them for bats that other teams produced. There's my plea, haha.

Z