was in Spring Training, one of the very first games in 2008 against the Red Sox. First inning, Pedroia was on second. Ortiz hits a ground ball up the middle and into center for a base hit. Pedroia wheels around third and heads for home. Gomez charges the ball and comes up throwing, a laser, right to the plate and Mauer tags out Pedroia sliding in.

Everyone on the field looked around like, “What the fuck was that?”

Later Gomez scored from first on a bloop down the right field line, running like the wind around third in that gallop-horse style of his. He’s an exciting player.

But, you know what? That throw he made in ST of ‘08 was the best throw he made his entire career. In fact, I never saw him even make even a good throw after that. His throws were erratic, and he crow-hopped like a Vaudeville performer. Whether he got too excited and squeezed the ball or just tried to do too much, Gomez’ awesome outfield arm potential never really came through for the Twins. And that includes this year’s ALDS Game 2 in NY when Nathan chucked it into CF trying to pick off Brett Gardner, who was the winning run at that point. Gardner got up and headed to 3B. A good throw from Gomez and Gardner would have been toast.

So maybe that’s my ultimate take on his stay in Minnesota: a ton of potential, a world of talent, a boatload of excitement, but in the end, precious few special moments, especially when it counted.

Cuz otherwise he was a blast. I’m no scout, but watching him over the last two years I came to the conclusion that he’s just not a major league hitter and isn’t likely to become one. If swinging really hard was the key, he’d be golden, but he just didn’t seem to have anything else besides that. He doesn’t seem to have improved at all from his first-year with the Mets. I’m ready to give up on him, fun-factor and all.

But he’s young I guess and if the Brewers get through to him he’ll be an impact player. Just putting the ball in play consistently would make him a force with his speed.