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.)
