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. …”

Comments Welcome

Gus Frerotte is direct in conversations with his fellow quarterbacks.  Frerotte, 36, has 14 more years of NFL experience than 2008 No. 5 draft choice John David Booty, 12 years more than starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, and nine years more than backup Brooks Bollinger.

Frerotte said after practice on Friday he offers advice to the other quarterbacks, tells them what he thinks.  Asked for an example, Frerotte mentioned Booty.  “Footwork,” Frerotte said.  “The other day, Booty, his feet were all screwed up.  I said, ‘you gotta have your feet right.  Because if your feet are off, or whatever, that hampers your throw. That hampers everything else. …”

Frerotte said he has encouraged Jackson to be a “pocket quarterback.”  By staying in the pocket a quarterback often maximizes opportunities to make plays but it can be tempting for a gifted runner like Jackson to start running.

Jackson’s performance will be highly scrutinized in 2008 after a 2007 season in which he was inconsistent.  Frerotte predicted a “different guy” in 2008.

Frerotte was signed by the Vikings in the off-season to provide leadership and better backup play if Jackson needs to be replaced because of injury or performance.  Frerotte said he’s making progress in learning the offense and his arm is still strong.

“You see guys that are given gifts and I believe that just was my gift,” Frerotte said.  “I wasn’t able to run fast or jump as high as anybody else but I could throw the ball as hard as anybody. And as I’ve gotten older that hasn’t dissipated at all.  It’s stayed the same.  I blew out my shoulder one year in Denver and was able to have surgery on it and came back and was throwing just as strong. …”

Is the velocity as good as ever?  “Yeah, I think so,” Frerotte said.  “It’s just the other parts that don’t have much velocity on them anymore.”

There’s anticipation Frerotte’s arrival means the Vikings will release Bollinger, keeping Booty as the third quarterback.  Frerotte referred to Bollinger as a “good kid” and said he’s been helpful in answering questions about the offense.

“He’s been really open about everything so it’s been a nice relationship so far,” Frerotte said.

Comments Welcome

The Vikings’ Jared Allen is the only player from a Minnesota team who made Sports Illustrated’s earnings list of top 50 athletes.  The list was released last week and had Allen at No. 44 with earnings of over $16 million including salary and endorsements.  Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is at No. 35, with $17,350,000 in earnings.  Former Timberwolf Kevin Garnett is No. 8 at $31 million and Tiger Woods leads the list at almost $128 million.  More at https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/specials/fortunate50/2008/index.html

Larry Fitzgerald Sr., who covers the local sports scene on radio, TV and in print, is attending the NBA finals in both Boston and Los Angeles.  Fitzgerald said via e-mail he expects to be the only Minneapolis-St. Paul journalist at the finals.  Newspaper budgets are impacting out of town coverage such as the finals.

TCF Bank Stadium opens next year with a seating capacity of 50,000, meaning it will be the third smallest in the Big Ten Conference.  Gophers coach Tim Brewster said, “I think we’re going to create great demand and convince the U soon to expand the stadium.”

Brewster said the decision to initially have the 50,000 capacity is “strategically well thought out” but the football program will grow in popularity.  The stadium infrastructure is designed to expand capacity to about 80,000.

A source close to the Gopher football team predicts a 5-7 final record this fall.

Six-year NFL Vikings wide receiver Bobby Wade said on Friday at Winter Park that the team will expect a “lot more” from Sidney Rice this fall than last.  Rice, 21 , will be playing in his second NFL season and has the potential to far exceed his rookie numbers of 31 receptions, 396 yards and four touchdowns.

A knowledgeable hockey source said new Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold will be involved with the franchise and “wants to win a Stanley Cup.”

Major League Soccer was honored recently as the 2008 Professional Sports League of the Year by the SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily.  The award was based on MLS’s outstanding year in 2007 that included a new team in Toronto, two stadiums, two television partners, three future expansion franchises and showcasing of superstar David Beckham.

 

Comments Welcome