Section 219: How much playing time should Revere get?

This is not a case built on statistics because choosing between below average numbers and really bad numbers isn't really much of a choice.

Maybe Ben Revere in the lineup on an almost-daily basis is what the Twins need.

That's a tough case to build on 65 plate appearances, one extra-base hit, an OPS+ of 79 and a below-average arm.

But when the Twins are healthier -- with Jason Kubel and Jim Thome returning from their injuries -- the place for Revere could be left field as a replacement for Delmon Young, whose play has been a source of amazement and distress based on the breakout season he appeared to have in 2010. Six extra-base hits after having 68 last season? A .271 slugging percentage from a guy not in the lineup for his defense?

I will not take the cheap route and look up Nick Punto's numbers for a comparison.

If you want to, though -- go ahead.

A day game on Wednesday gave the office people a chance to talk baseball while we pretended to only follow the game with one eye. When Revere came up, someone asked: "With their arms, can you afford to have an outfield with Revere and Span playing together?"

Well, yes.

Runners may be more likely to take an extra-base on Revere and the Twins in some situations. But there are times when a "minus-arm" is easier to compensate for than an inaccurate one. The short version: It means that Twins infielders will need to go further into the outfield for relay throws in some situations. And if it keeps the infielders that much more on their toes, that may not be entirely a negative. And Revere brings more range to the outfield than the others -- except for Jason Repko -- who play in left and right.

There are tradeoffs at play, and if Revere can establish himself as a credible offensive player -- slapping singles, drawing more walks and stealing bases -- he may be the best available option to go with Span and the Cuddyer/Kubel tandem. For now, with Span out of the lineup, Revere should get regular starts in center.

When Span returns, Revere's presence should tell Delmon that left field is not his birthright -- in the same way that the versatile Luke Hughes was used this week as a two-game replacement for the struggling Danny Valencia, who returned to the starting lineup with two hits Wednesday while Hughes went over to fill in at first base.

For now, think of Hughes and Revere as "enforcers" to keep their teammates from getting too comfortable with mediocrity.

If nothing else, it's better to chew through stuff like this than write about meltdowns.