While most people appear to see the wisdom in signing Jim Thome, some are complaining that it doesn't address the Twins' issues at second and third base.

It does and it doesn't.

Adding a big bat to the lineup adds more depth to a batting order that no longer veers sharply south in its bottom third. Providing that 2009 was an ugly aberration, J.J. Hardy will be an upgrade over Orlando Cabrera. A shortstop who can hit 15 home runs and provide reasonable defense is better than the norm is the division of Yuniesky Betancourt and Adam Everett. Thome in the batting order means that if Hardy bats second (even though I'd rather see Joe Mauer there), the No. 7 hitter against right-handers will likely be either Michael Cuddyer or Jason Kubel.

Adding offense means that Nick Punto's bat becomes less of a hole. Frankly, if Punto keeps his on-base percentage around .340, where it has been the last two seasons, it would only be the hard-core, unreasonable haters (the first cousins of the Cuddyer bashers) who would be able to consider him a hole at all.

No more shock and awe when the bottom of the lineup delivers some offense. "OMG, look! Tolbert got a HIT!"

And if the Twins are indeed serious about pursuing Orlando Hudson, any kind of perceived hole in the lineup just about vanishes. Put Hudson at second base and second in the batting order and the Twins should be considered five games better than anyone in the AL Central when the season starts.

That doesn't address the issue of having enough pitching to compete in the postseason, which would become the next challenge for Bill Smith come mid-summer.

Adding Thome and Hudson would also fulfill one of my expectations for the Target Field move -- that management owes Twins fans the pursuit of such players in return for keeping the new ballpark filled near capacity. (And Thome came at a Thrift Store price.)

Here's the perfunctory disclaimer: This stuff becomes moot if the Twins don't sign Joe Mauer.

***

Three quick and unrelated notes, intended to make you feel good.

*During a tour of Target Field, a friend said that a Twins official told her group that Thome brought up coming to TwinsFest rather than waiting to be asked. Nice move. By the way, Thome may be the leader in the best Twitter post of 2010 competition: "I WOULD LIKE TO ADMIT TO THE USAGE OF HAM TO HELP ME HIT LOTS OF DINGERS." Guessing you could trade a ham for an autograph this weekend.

*This one is dicey and I'm hesitant to share. But I'd feel like I was holding out if I didn't ... and I am totally confident you all understand the difference between reporting and passing along web chatter. One of my Facebook friends posted this as his status after going to the ESPN taping with Joe Mauer at Cretin-Derham Hall las night: "Talked to Reilly after the interview and he said Shapiro (Mauer's agent) told him that everyone will be surprised at how quickly things may get done."

*I'm in the Star Tribune booth at noon Saturday. La Velle is there at 11 a.m. and Joe at 1 p.m. Stop by, see us, get ready for outdoor baseball with free lip balm.