Thome & O-Dog Solidify Lineup

How funny is it when an entire fan base (and the baseball world in general) gasps anytime you make a signing that actually makes it in the headlines section of sports websites?

Well the Twins have now done it twice over the past couple of weeks as they have added a future Hall of Famer in Jim Thome to beef up their bench and DH spot and now a Gold Glove winning All-Star second baseman in the O-Dog Orlando Hudson.

I have been begging the Twins to sign Hudson for weeks and even broke down their current roster options for second base and discussed how truly pathetic they were. But this changes everything. Here's a look at Minnesota's projected lineup...

1.) Denard Span, CF
2.) Orlando Hudson, 2B
3.) Joe Mauer, C
4.) Justin Morneau, 1B
5.) Michael Cuddyer, RF
6.) Jason Kubel, DH
7.) Delmon Young, LF
8.) JJ Hardy, SS
9.) Nick Punto, 3B

Bench: Jim Thome, Brendan Harris, Jose Morales, Matt Tolbert

Of course I have made it very clear I want to see Jim Thome in the lineup with Kubel in left at least three times a week including against any tough righties. But even with their normal projected lineup, that is pretty strong. The addition of Hudson clearly makes them the favorites in the AL Central over the weakened Tigers and punchless White Sox.

The bottom line is that we as Twins fans appreciate what the organization is trying to do. Not only are they trying to show our franchise player Joe Mauer that they are committed to winning, but they are also trying to show that to us. After all these years of our continued dedication to this club, after all the stupid attempts to fill holes on our roster with names like Tony Batista, Ramon Ortiz and Sidney Ponson, they are finally starting to put the pieces together to help us compete with the New York's and Boston's of the world.

2010 is going to be a fun year.

[Photo courtesy of Doug Wallick/Flickr]

Young is Getting Old

I don’t care what Bill Smith says, it’s time to start cutting into Delmon Young’s playing time. And I think he’ll eventually see that too.

Young is horrible in the field with almost non-existent range. Then at the plate he is inconsistent and doesn’t really provide any value that warrants keeping his sub-par defense in the lineup (.284/.308/.425 line). Basically what I’m saying is he should either be a part-time player or used off the bench.

Now I’m sure part of why the Twins want to state he’s still their guy is to try to validate the lopsided trade they made with Tampa Bay which sent two eventual All-Stars, Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett, packing to the sunshine state for what has become a major bust in Young and a bench player in Brendan Harris.

So with yesterday’s signing of Jim Thome to a one-year deal, this gives the Twins a great option to help faze Young out of the everyday lineup. They now have the ability to plug Jason Kubel into left field giving Thome a chance to DH. Sure Kubel isn’t a huge defensive upgrade in left over Young, but at least his offense more than makes up for it.

Now to prevent the arguments that I got into yesterday with people from happening again, I’m not saying Thome is an everyday DH at this stage in his career. I’m sure even he’d admit that. But I would like seeing him DH 3-4 times a week and especially when we face tough righties. This would stack our lineup as well as give him plenty of rest to keep him healthy over a long season.

I just don't have the patience to put up with Young's bat and glove for another full year on an everyday basis. Let's hope Smith's patience with Young becomes worn as thin as mine has and can accept that his deal with Tampa was a failure.

While I give him credit for trying, it's time to move on.

[Photo courtesy of Keith Allison]

Twins Land Thome

As it stands heading into today, the players that would essentially make up the Twins bench heading into 2010 is absolutely atrocious. Jose Morales, Matt Tolbert, Jason Pridie and someone else isn't exactly given manager Ron Gardenhire much flexibility nor is it striking much fear into opposing pitchers.

That's why the reported one-year deal between Jim Thome and the Twins makes me positively giddy.

Hopefully the Twins don't use him strictly off the bench or on rare occasion. I personally would like to see this mean that Delmon Young's playing time will get chopped off and we see Jason Kubel out in left field a lot more allowing Thome to be inserted into the DH spot.

He's a veteran, he's powerful and he makes our lineup even that much scarier.

Welcome to Minnesota Mr. Thome!

[Photo courtesy of Keith Allison]

Thome Slugging in Target Field?

I’ve seen numerous reports over the weekend popping up around the Internet that the Minnesota Twins may be close to signing the veteran slugger Jim Thome.

Not only would this type of a signing be uncharacteristic of the normally frugal Twins, but it would also make a very left handed heavy lineup even heavier. The Twins currently have an abundance of lefties including Denard Span, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Justin Kubel in their starting lineup.

It’s unclear whether Thome would slide into their DH role (which would surely bump Delmon Young to the bench) or if he would simply play a major role off their bench.

The Twins have most likely jumped in on Thome due to the declining dollar amounts in the free agent market and possibly the fact that Thome has been a Twin killer over the years. In only 662 career at-bats against the Twins, Thome has posted a .311/.410/.628 line with 57 HR and 142 RBI. Now that’s a vicious thrashing he’s given them over the years.

The bottom line is as a lifetime die hard Twins fan, a Jim Thome signing would shock me only to follow that up with a big smile.