Twins breakdown: Go-Go Gomez

My first post of the year dedicated solely to the Twins will focus on their new center fielder, Carlos "Go-Go" Gomez. I think he has the potential to be the most exciting player on the team since the young Cristian Guzman, or the most infuriating player on the team since Pat Mears. Or both, probably.

The good: I love the way the kid handles himself on the field. He just looks comfortable -- even a little cocky, but isn't it about time the Twins had a player who held his head up high and didn't play the whole "I'm just happy to be here" game with his body language? He's got amazing speed, and despite his role as their leadoff hitter, I kinda like the fact that he'll swing from his heels from time to time (OK, always). He's got power potential, so all of the idiots who think he should be chopping at the ball like Guzman always did need to grab a clue. He's got 20-HR potential, and lots of power to the gaps.

The bad: He seems to be operating under the mistaken impression that Twins center fielders are contractually obligated to swing at every slider in the dirt over the outside corner, or even in the left-handed batters box. Torii Hunter eventually figured out how to lay off those -- perhaps Gomez will catch on more quickly. Somebody needs to get through to him that when you're asked to lay down a sacrifice bunt, you lay down a sacrifice bunt -- you don't try to drag bunt three times in a row. And he needs to be a bit less carefree with his drag bunts. Bunt at strikes, and find a baseline -- with his wheels, the only way he'll fail is if he bunts it right back at the pitcher or pops it up, both of which have been happening far too frequently for my taste. Take the extra half-second to get down a good bunt, Go-Go, because you've got the speed to beat out any throw from a third baseman or pitcher covering the line.

The ugly: We heard all through spring training that he's got an amazing arm, and I agree, there's some power behind his throws, but I can't remember a Twins outfielder with a less accurate arm than Gomez. Everything he throws seems to veer to the right (his left) -- the opposite of a tail, so I guess you'd say it's a hook. I haven't watched his form that closely, but that kind of throw happens when a player is throwing across his body. Let's hope Jerry White is working with him on throwing more overhand. Cuddyer had to make that transition when he moved from the infield to right field. Gomez has always been an outfielder, so he's got no excuse. I just hope he doesn't start thinking about footwork and release points, because then we could have the second coming of Jacque "Worm Burner" Jones on our hands.

The verdict: Future all-star, atypical leadoff hitter who will drive the ball, could wind up like Ichiro but hitting about 70 points lower at his ceiling.