Jim Souhan: Crowd control in Twins outfield

FORT MYERS, FLA. — If only baseball managers could be as innovative as football coaches, Ron Gardenhire might be hovering over a dry-erase board right now, trying to devise the outfield equivalent of the Wildcat formation, maybe with Denard Span taking the direct snap, Carlos Gomez going long and Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer dealing out crushing blocks.

If only this were softball, and Gardenhire could use all four of his "starting" outfielders at once.

If only this were the biggest problem the 2009 Twins face -- too much talent in one outfield for a franchise that not so long ago was handing at-bats to the platoon of Dustan Mohr and Bobby Kielty, an ancient Otis Nixon, or the regrettable Alex Cole.

"Right now we have an abundance of talent in the outfield, and we have to find a way to get them all at-bats," Gardenhire said. "You can get it done. They're not always going to be happy about it, but you can find matchups."

Four talented outfielders will spend this spring auditioning for starting jobs. All four bring multiple skills and short spans of big-league success to the competition. The contenders:

Michael Cuddyer

The Twins signed Cuddyer to a three-year deal worth $24 million before the 2008 season, but he has provided just one outstanding big-league season, in 2006.

"Not just get to the playoffs. Win a championship."

In 2006, Cuddyer became the player the Twins expected him to be, hitting .284 with 24 home runs and 109 RBI. In 2007, in 10 fewer at-bats, he hit .276 with 16 homers and 81 RBI, in part because he tore ligaments in his thumb, and because he suffered a rib injury after falling on the brim of his helmet while running the bases.

Last season, Cuddyer dislocated his right index finger sliding into third base on April 4. "Who does that -- gets an open dislocation?" Cuddyer said.

On June 29, he went on the disabled list again because of a strained tendon in his left hand. On Aug. 8, while on a rehabilitation assignment at Class AAA Rochester, he was on first base and tried to leap out of the way of a line drive. "Thousands and thousands of square feet on a field," he said, "and I get hit in the 1-centimeter-by-1-centimeter spot on my foot where it would break."

The Twins need Cuddyer, 29, to provide righthanded power to a left-leaning lineup. "I don't want to say I wasn't hungry or wasn't excited about seasons in the past, but I don't remember being this excited and this upbeat for a season since '98, my first year in pro ball," he said. "Last year threw so much fuel on my fire."

Denard Span

As he struggled in the minor leagues, Twins officials kept comparing Span to his mentor and predecessor, Torii Hunter. The comparisons seemed too convenient and self-serving, until the former first-round draft pick came to the big leagues in the 2008 season, played brilliantly in the outfield and took over the leadoff role.

With Gomez in center and Span in right, the Twins might have had the best-fielding side-by-side outfielders in the majors.

Last spring, Span came to camp calling the competition for the center field job a "war." A soft-spoken, friendly and religious man, Span said he hasn't changed his terminology. "It's a different war this year, but it's still a war," he said. "The thing is, all of us are friends, all of us love each other. We're all good teammates, but we all want to play."

Gomez is even faster than Span, has more power potential and held the center field job last year even when Span was outperforming him. Span, who turns 25 Friday, is smoother, more polished in the field and on the bases, and last year he took the leadoff job from ...

Gomez is quieter this spring, and so is his swing. Last year, Gomez proclaimed himself the Twins' future No. 3 hitter and said he needed to get on base for "Morneau, the catcher and the other guy."

Any other player of Gomez's youth and cockiness would have inspired hazing from veterans, but Gomez is so guileless and enthusiastic that he quickly became the team's best source of light comedy. This spring, he is still liable to slip on a towel, pretend it's a cape and mimic Superman, but his swing looks like it matured five years this winter.

Last year, whether in batting practice or in games, Gomez often swung so hard he was in danger of falling down. Friday, he spent most of batting practice carving line drives to right field. On a day when the wind was blowing in and the other seven hitters produced one home run to left field, Gomez hit three to left, effortlessly.

"That's so far ahead of last spring," Twins hitting coach Joe Vavra said from behind the batting cage.

Gomez, 23, reiterated that he doesn't view himself as a leadoff hitter for long. "I think when I get my experience, when I'm grown up, I'm going to be the power in the lineup -- the three hole or the five hole -- and move to right field. I know I'll be this kind of player."

Gardenhire said Gomez's enthusiasm brings "a glow" to the clubhouse. Gomez said he plans to keep the center field job and win back the leadoff spot. "Every time I come here, I'm positive," he said. "I talk to myself, 'You're the center fielder.' "

Gomez, Span and Cuddyer give the Twins three players for two positions, unless one of them can take the left field job filled last year by ...

Delmon Young

Last year, Gomez swung for the fences and Young flared the ball to right field, while the Twins wished they would exchange approaches.

While Gomez looks more controlled, Young, 23, has widened his stance, which could allow him to fulfill his tremendous power potential.

It was a testament to Young's talent -- and exceptional hands -- that he was able to hit .290 while displaying poor plate discipline and looking off-balance at the plate.

The Twins staff grew frustrated with Young's work ethic and stubborness. Vavra said that has a chance to change just as much as Young's stance. Asked if he thinks the lines of communication will be more open this year, Vavra said: "That's up to him. The door is always going to be open. We had our differences, he understands that. It was with more than one person ...

"I can see it being a lot better. ... There's another guy with so much tools and ability. He knows we're in his corner. There were probably times last year when he didn't think so. That's the nice thing about spring training -- we can look at him and say, 'We're pulling for you and we need you. The team needs you.' If we're going to be successful and get to the World Series, we need that type of player to be good."