Deserved farewell for Gomez

Goodbye Carlos Gomez.

The past few years you have brought us a mix of feelings.

After being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for shortstop J.J. Hardy on Friday, let’s examine the Gomez era.

The headaches: sliding over the base in the playoffs against the Yankees, swinging at those mile-outside breaking balls, the Mendoza line batting averages and despite being the clearly the fastest player in the big leagues, not becoming a threat to steal bases.

The celebrations: all those amazing web gems, the cycle, the way he gave you hope by taking over a game (first game as a Twin was amazing), the times he would replace Delmon Young in the defense, scoring the game-winner in the AL Central playoff and of course, the way he made women blush (incited the largest Twinsfest radio crowd).

But through all these times of good and bad your exit comes much needed. The Twins’ outfield is just too crowded and you have become far too inconsistent.

And don’t get me wrong I always rooted for Gomez. The scouts always hyped you as the next five-tool guy and you showed a ton of passion for the game.

And we all wanted to reap the benefit from the inevitable trade of Johan Santana.

But as the time wore on, Twins fans soon dread when you walked up to the plate.

While we once looked at your smelling of the baseball bat as a unique trademark of yours, it soon became an unnecessary gimmick that made us all sick.

While Gomez wasn’t able to live up to his billing in a Twins uniform, I don’t necessarily think it was all his fault.

The Twins organization set him up to be a boom or bust player.

Being brought in as the key part from the trading of the best starting pitcher in franchise history, (unless you include the Washington Senators era, then it’s Walter Johnson) he had a lot to live up to.

He had to make an immediate impact to please angered fans.

I mean after all, didn’t the Pohlad family promise once they got the new stadium they would be able to retain and sign big free agents?

Gomez came in with a strike against him.Then the Twins set up an “open” competition for the starting centerfield job between Gomez, Denard Span and Jason Pridie.

While Gomez had an average spring, Span had an amazing one. Span hit and played defense like a rising star, while Gomez looked promising but definitely had kinks to work out.

Of course with pressure to show immediate return from the Santana trade, Gomez got the job. Span came up shortly into the season and has been a regular stud ever since.

Then the Twins thrusted him right into the leadoff spot. And despite struggles, the Twins took forever to move him out of the spot to take away some pressure.