Tough to let fan fave Go-Go go

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Carlos Gomez .

By MICHAEL RAND, Staff Writer

Last update: November 9, 2009 - 6:00 AM

Whether it was his defensive prowess, his curious habit of sniffing his bat or his ability to speak entire sentences using only onomatopoeia, Carlos Gomez was, without a doubt, a fan favorite here in Minnesota. In his Twins debut in 2008 after an offseason trade involving Johan Santana, Gomez stole two bases, scored two runs and flashed the smile and charisma that would become trademarks. Fans were hooked from there.

As such, the overwhelmingly positive reaction to Friday's trade that brought in shortstop J.J. Hardy from Milwaukee was still tinged with sadness for many. As erratic as Gomez was on the field, and as lopsided as the trade looks in terms of prior major league production, it's still tough to say goodbye to someone like Gomez.

Indeed, Go-Go is part of a select group of local athletes from the past 20 years: the players who became fan favorites without being superstars. While the best will always rise to the top of the fan-love food chain by their sheer brilliance and, sometimes, also their personalities -- think of Kirby Puckett, KG, Lindsay Whalen, Joe Mauer and Adrian Peterson -- it is something else entirely to win over a fan base without that advantage.

Here are some of the others we consider to be in that mix:

Matt LeCroy: The dough-bodied catcher/DH brought a smile to everyone's face when he was in the lineup, even if he swung and missed or clogged the basepaths.

Eddie Guardado: His saves were often an adventure (much like Ron Davis), but he almost always got the job done (unlike Davis). His moxie resonated with fans.

Hosea Crittenden: You couldn't get through an early-to-mid-1990s Gophers men's basketball blowout without hearing fans calling for the 5-9 walk-on to get in the game. His on-court contributions were minimal, but his status as a fan favorite is legendary.

Fuad Reveiz: How many pretty good field goal kickers get so much fan love that they have a nickname (Fuadomatic)?

Andrew Brunette: The Wild -- and its fans -- missed Brunette so much that it was almost mandatory that he return here in 2008 for a second go-round. He's a go-to guy for a good quote and a garbage goal. That will endear a player to fans in a hurry.

Sam Mitchell: Among our group of friends, it was often joked that the crafty ex-Wolves forward probably called his own fouls like a guy down at the YMCA.

Gomez fits in proudly with that group. Like most, he had enough skills to be relevant on the field -- but that wasn't what defined his time here.

And now Gomez is gone. Whoosh! Zoom! But not forgotten.

MICHAEL RAND