News
Gomez in growth process at plate
Minnesota (2-1) vs. Seattle (1-2), Thursday, 12:10 p.m. CT
By Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
04/09/09 2:38 AM ET
Carlos Gomez said all spring that he was working to be more patient at the plate. He recounted drills he did during winter ball where he just stood in the batter's box and looked at pitches. He would see 50-plus pitches before he allowed himself to swing at the pitch that he wanted. And that's why it wasn't completely a surprise to the Twins that when they needed a quality at-bat in the ninth inning on Tuesday, it was Gomez who delivered it. Gomez, who was known for his flailing hacks last year in his first season in Minnesota, worked the count to his advantage with two outs in the ninth inning. He took three straight balls before getting to a 3-2 count with a called strike and one swinging one. He then fouled off some pitches before finally taking ball four and drawing the walk that started the Twins rally. For many fans at the Metrodome, it seemed like a rare sight considering some of the fall-down swings that Gomez took in 2008. For the Twins, it was a glimpse of the more patient Gomez they saw at times during Spring Training. "Down there he had better at-bats," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "There were a lot of situations where he started off 0-2 and battled back to 3-2 counts. It's all about putting forth an effort and trying to work counts. And he's doing those things." One of the biggest things that Gardenhire took from Gomez's walk was the fact that he realized the situation the club was in at that time. When he got to a 3-2 count, Gardenhire said that Gomez shortened his swing to try and make contact. "I think he realized we needed him on the base and he got on base," Gardenhire said. "And those are the things you like to see. It's growing. It's at-bats and learning the game. He's still doing both." Gomez's fellow outfielders have noticed the difference as well. "His at-bats were a lot better in Spring Training than they were last year," Denard Span said. "I think he's matured a lot. You can see it. I can see it." The Twins now just hope as the season goes on, they'll continue to see more of that from Gomez. Pitching matchupMIN: LHP Glen Perkins (0-0, -.-- ERA)
One of the surprises for the Twins in the rotation last season, Perkins will try to see if he can duplicate that success in just his second stint as a starter in the Majors. One key for Perkins will be to limit the number of long balls that he gives up. The lefty has been working on a slider this spring to use against right-handers, which the Twins hope will be an additional pitch that he can trust in critical situations. SEA: LHP Jarrod Washburn (0-0, -.-- ERA)
Washburn (5-14, 4.69 in '08) begins the final year of his four-year contract with fingers crossed that he receives more run support. That has been an issue practically from the day he joined the Mariners, for whom he has a 23-43 record. He was 2-2 record with a 6.12 ERA in seven Cactus League outings. Tidbits
Twins bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek was back in the clubhouse on Wednesday, wearing street clothes. He's not expected back to work until at least Friday, but Gardenhire said that the team could give him extra time to make sure that he's fully healthy when he returns. That means the Twins will probably get someone to fill in as bullpen coach during the club's series at Chicago this weekend. ... Delmon Young was on the bench once again on Wednesday night but Gardenhire said that he'll be back in the lineup Thursday. Gardenhire has liked the play of Span in both the field and in the leadoff spot so far, so it seems unlikely that he'll be the outfielder to sit. It's still unclear which one it will be. Tickets
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• Friday: Twins (R.A. Dickey, 0-0, -.--) at White Sox (Jose Contreras, 0-0, -.--), 7:11 p.m. CT
• Saturday: Twins (Francisco Liriano, 0-1, 5.14) at White Sox (Bartolo Colon, 0-0, -.--), 3:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: Twins (Nick Blackburn, 0-0, 7.20) at White Sox (Mark Buehrle, 0-0, 3.60), 1:05 p.m. CT
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
