Comments on: If they can’t get Thome, the Twins have a plan B http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Mon, 20 May 2013 15:58:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Jeremiah Graves http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-104051 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:43:55 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-104051 I’ve gotta agree that Vlady/Manny should be plans B and C here before you ever roll around to Glaus or Cantu.

Vlady and Manny have SIGNIFICANT upside and can be major right-handed forces for a team in dire need of some right-handed thump.

If Morneau has a setback, you’ve got plenty of at-bats if not you work in some sort of platoon DH, occasional OF, emergency 1B duties or something.

Glaus and Cantu?!

…really?!

The White Sox and Tigers keep looking better and better…

]]> By: Ari Collins http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-104044 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 02:37:48 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-104044 A) You don’t let Kubel keep you from getting an actual bat at DH.

B) I have no idea why plan B for Thome isn’t Manny or Vlad. They play the same position, have approximately the same production, and will probably cost approximately the same. Their plan B/C/D is like going to buy a roast beef sandwich, finding out it’s too expensive with green olives on it, and instead of getting a roast beef with black olives, you buy a hat.

]]> By: BC http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-104008 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:37:11 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-104008 But they’re scrappy. You can’t teach scrappy!

]]> By: kander013 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103977 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:49:17 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103977 how about developing some young power hits instead of clones of tolbert, plouffe, casilla, punto, harris….

]]> By: BC http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103962 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:13:08 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103962 Or Manny, depending on what the price tag is.

]]> By: BC http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103961 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:12:13 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103961 Cantu isn’t a bad play. Probably cheaper than Thome, and they can stick him at 1B if Morneau has issues. I don’t think Thome has played the field since the Clinton Administration.

]]> By: Andrew http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103955 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:04:26 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103955 The Twins needed a righthanded bat last year as well, it’s just that when Thome’s asking price turned out to be $1.5 million, there’s no way the Twins could say no.

By the way, the current Twins bench is Drew Butera, Jason Repko, and likely two backup infielders (Luke Hughes, Trevor Plouffe, Matt Tolbert, etc.). Only Hughes could be considered a decent bat from the right side, but I’m not sure the Twins would want to rely on a rookie, especially one that missed significant time in 2009 due to injury.

]]> By: The Common Man/www.platoonadvantage.com http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103954 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:02:57 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103954 I’m voting for Marcus Thames, since they really don’t need a full-time player. And, yes, we’re largely disappointed with how the offseason has gone. Weirdly, none of us are disappointed in the same way.

]]> By: wintwins http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103953 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:02:33 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103953 I agree w/ AK47. Gleeman’s post earlier today is frightening. Saying that the Twins are “increasing his workload” and the team is “optimistic he will be ready for spring training” are the sort of non-committal statements that they have been making all along…right before there is another setback.
I guess I was hoping that he would be fully recovered by this late in the off season, but there is still lots of time before spring training.

]]> By: missthemexpos http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103951 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:01:04 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103951 How about Vlad for some thunder from the right side.

]]> By: spudchukar http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103948 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:55:49 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103948 Unlike most teams the Twins aren’t exactly hurtin’ for left-handed thunder. Mauer, Morneau and Kubel give them thump from that side of the plate. With Span and the switch-hitting double play duo of Casilla/Nishioka the need for another southpaw swatter isn’t crucial.

]]> By: AK47 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103946 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:54:03 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103946 on this very site today, i saw this (http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/twins-are-optimistic-that-justin-morneau-will-be-ready-for-spring-training/) “optimistic” doesn’t sound great.

]]> By: WhenMattStairsIsKing http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103942 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:49:31 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103942 Good point, this must mean Morneau isn’t expected to be 100% for awhile yet.

]]> By: AK47 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103941 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:47:12 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103941 I think the Twins are worried that Justin Morneau isn’t gonna be ready for the start of the season, and as a Twins fan, that is downright scary. Otherwise, why would they even care so much about bringing in a DH spot when they have more than enough people (when Morneau is playing) to fill that role. They have Cuddyer, Kubes, Young and Span for 3 outfield spot, leaving one to DH, preferably Kubel.

]]> By: WhenMattStairsIsKing http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103940 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:44:00 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103940 Glaus is worthless. Cantu’s a backup 1B/3B at best.

]]> By: sknut http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/12/if-they-cant-get-thome-the-twins-have-a-plan-b/comment-page-1/#comment-103938 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:41:18 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=34870#comment-103938 As a Twins fan those names make sense. I think you don’t want to lock into Thome and overpay for a limited role that he has. I wonder if they re-sign Thome if they might look to trade Kubel, or Cuddyer for bullpen arms. Its been a quiet offseason, but they have done more with less before and by waiting the market out they might be able to get a bargin or two and leave flexability for mid season moves.

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