Gomez wins center field job; Tolbert makes roster

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Twins’ Notes: Gomez in CF; Liriano in Minors?
Published 3/24/2008 by Mr. Fleece at MLB Fleece Factor
... According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Carlos Gomez (acquired via the NY Mets in the Johan Santana deal) has won the Twins’ center-field job entering the 2008 season. Gomez hit .286 this spring, with 1 HR, 6 RBI, and an eye-popping 10 steals. He beat out Jason Pridie who hit .295 this spring with 4 RBI and 5 stolen bases. Pridie was re-assigned back to AAA Rochester. The Twins will also carry outfielders Craig Monroe, Delmon Young, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Kubel. ...

The Traded Twins: Gomez wins CF job
Published 3/24/2008 by Andrew V. at The 'Ropolitans :: NY Mets Baseball Blog
... Carlos Gomez has won the starting center fielders job for the Minnesota Twins, as Denard Span and Jason Pridie, Gomez's main competition, were sent down to minor league camp. ...

Gomez In Center; Bass and Tolbert to Go North
Published 3/24/2008 by Jesse <info@twinkietown.com> at Twinkie Town: Front Page Posts
From LEN III's blog. Optioned to Rochester: Pos Name RHP Phil Humber  OF Denard Span  OF Jason Pridie  IF Brian Buscher Neal also believes Liriano will start the year in triple-A, meaning Brian Bass will make the team in the bullpen and Nick Blackburn will pick up the final spot as a starter.  Pitcher Casey Daigle was reassigned to minor league camp. It's always easy or fun to sit and speculate on the future of a player, but it's always very personal to the players ...

Elsewhere In The AL Central
Published 3/24/2008 by Scott at WaitingForNextYear
Can you tell I’m getting pretty pumped about baseball? While we’ve been pretty hot on the trail of all things Tribe, I thought it would be good to delve into the rest of the division - as there has been plenty of things going on without us! The Minneapolis Star-Tribune  is flowing with info today.  With Johan Santana no longer in the Twin Cities, this team desperately needs Francisco Liriano to bounce back from Tommy John.  It’s looking like he’ll start the season off in the minors, which isn’t necessarily terrible for the long-term prospects of the kid.  Speaking of Santana, ...

Gomez in/Liriano to minors?
Published 3/24/2008 by Eric Stashin at Rotoprofessor
La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune updated his blog this morning with some interesting information (click here for the posting).  First and foremost, it appears that Francisco Liriano will not be opening the season with the Twins, but instead in the minor leagues.  Additionally, it appears that Carlos Gomez has won the Twins everyday centerfield job. He doesn’t go into great detail about Liriano, but I would have to think that this is only a short-term situation.  He was always a gamble, so if you were willing to draft him before this news, nothing should ...

Gomez The Next Pierre?
Published 3/24/2008 by Brett Greenfield at Fantasy Phenoms
La Velle E Neal III, an MLB Trade Rumor favorite during the offseason, has some up-to-date information on the Twins. Carlos Gomez, one of the prized acquisitions in the Johan Santana deal, has locked up the starting CF job. Gomez is batting .286 and most notably has stolen 10 bases already. I remember Jose Reyes suggesting that Carlos Gomez was faster than he was. Keep that in mind. If Gomez ends up batting leadoff he could be a huge bargain on draft day. His average isn't as likely to stay at Juan Pierre's normal .290 range, but .270 would be acceptable ...

Published 3/27/2008 by Aaron at AaronGleeman.com
... While Harris is merely the unofficial and perhaps temporary starter at second base, the Twins left no doubt that Carlos Gomez is the starting center fielder. Denard Span's never-ending "confidence" and a .282/.404/.385 hitting line in 16 spring games weren't enough to keep him from being sent to Triple-A along with Jason Pridie, leaving Gomez as the only true center fielder on the roster (although Punto, Craig Monroe, and Delmon Young have each played center field in the majors). ...

Twins’ Notes: Gomez in CF; Liriano to Minors
Published 3/29/2008 by Mr. Fleece at MLB Fleece Factor
... Mar 24, 9:48am (EST) - According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Carlos Gomez (acquired via the NY Mets in the Johan Santana deal) has won the Twins’ center-field job entering the 2008 season. Gomez hit .286 this spring, with 1 HR, 6 RBI, and an eye-popping 10 steals. He beat out Jason Pridie who hit .295 this spring with 4 RBI and 5 stolen bases. Pridie was re-assigned back to AAA Rochester. The Twins will also carry outfielders Craig Monroe, Delmon Young, Michael Cuddyer, and Jason Kubel. ...

OutSpanding: Denard’s rise from washout to standout
Published 8/10/2008 at City Pages - Balls! Sports Blog
... Span happy When Denard Span, the Twins' 2002 1st round draft pick, was optioned back to AAA Rochester at the closure of spring training, it was widely reported that he openly wept . It wasn’t the first time that ...