Tony Oliva has been around the Twins’ organization since the early 1960’s but he told Sports Headliners no player with the local team was faster than new center fielder Carlos Gomez. He also said the 22-year-old’s base stealing potential is unlimited.
Oliva, whose roles with the Twins have included player and coach, is 66-years-old but he still spends time at the Metrodome with the players as a part-time coach. The former Cuban star talks in Spanish with Gomez, the young Dominican Republic player who has dazzled fans with his fielding, hitting and base stealing. “It’s good to remember where we came from,” Oliva said. “How hard we worked to play this beautiful game. …”
In his first major league season last year, Gomez played in only 58 games for the New York Mets, hitting .232 with two home runs, 12 RBI and 12 stolen bases. Since being traded to the Twins, the results have been dramatically different. Gomez, who covers large areas of center field, ranks fourth among Twins regulars in hitting with a .279 average. He is tied for third on the team in home runs with five and has 24 RBI despite batting leadoff.
On the bases he makes Twins’ hearts beat faster in anticipation, while jumping on the nerves of opposing teams. He leads the Twins with 18 stolen bases, and is tied for fourth in the American League.
Chuck Knoblauch set the franchise record for most stolen bases in a single season, 62 in 1997. In baseball history, players have stolen 100 bases or more in a season 20 times, according to www.baseball-reference.com. Rickey Henderson did that three times including 1982 when he stole 130 bases, second only to Hugh Nicol who had 138 in 1887.
Gomez stole 64 bases during a minor league season in 2005. What about his base stealing potential in the major leagues?
“At least 40 to 50 bases a year,” Oliva said. “I think it’s going to be better than that. …The more he plays, the more he learns about the pitchers. Because most of the time, you steal the bases from the pitchers. But if you don’t know the pitcher, it’s very hard to steal it from him. He’s been doing a very good job so far.”
How about 100 stolen bases in one year for Gomez? “I don’t say that,” Oliva said. “There’s no limit. There’s not too many people who steal 100. But if he hits .300, he may be able to steal it (that many bases). Who knows? It’s very hard to set a limit. …”