Frank Thomas: Not a Twinkie

by The Cheat on Dec 22, 2005 1:49 PM CST in White Sox News

You cannot hurt the Twinkie Kentastic delivers the good news.

The Twins have signed free-agent outfielder Rondell White to be their designated hitter, FOXSports.com has learned.

White, 33, will receive a one-year contract worth $3.25 million with a vesting option for 2007. He likely will play the outfield only if one of the Twins' regular outfielders is injured.

And there was much rejoicing.

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He will be an

How athletic he will be is another question.

AIM: ozspengler

by spengler on Dec 22, 2005 2:01 PM CST reply actions

When healthy...

Rondell White is pretty good.

AIM: shaftr01

blog

by shaftr on Dec 22, 2005 2:05 PM CST reply actions

Remaining healthy

has been his major problem. He had surgery on his shoulder in September.

Anyone know what the injury was?

Rondell White has talent, but I would rather have Big Frank on one foot than him.

I see this signing as favorable to the Sox.

AIM: ozspengler

by spengler on Dec 22, 2005 2:29 PM CST up reply actions

Unquestionably it's favorable to the Sox

We don't have to watch Frank suit up for one of our rivals.

The Twins got a lesser offensive weapon than Thomas, who's just as injury prone, probably in the name of saving a $1M or so.

They could have traded Lohse, who's due a healthy raise at arbitration, and replaced him with Baker, who figures to match Lohse's production at a much lesser salary. They might have been able to move Lohse for something useful, or at least a prospect, leaving them room on the payroll to sign The Big Hurt. -- They could have conceivably been better at both DH and 5th starter that way.

Did I mention that Frank will not be wearing one of those hideous two tone hats? There is much joy in Soxville today.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Dec 22, 2005 2:43 PM CST up reply actions

Gleeman's take

Here

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Dec 22, 2005 10:28 PM CST reply actions

A well reasoned take

But the most interesting was following Gleeman's various morbid musings over the signing of Tony Batista.

Looking at his career numbers-- from a Twinkie fan's perspective-- the Batista signing is a veritable sabrmetric Friday the 13th. I mean why would you sign ANYONE with a carrer OBP under .300, whose career OPS is below league average & who strikes out like there's no tomorrow?

I can't explain it. For 1.25 million, you have to figure they'd find a guy who could at least put the ball in play.

I want to thank you for leading me to a reminder that the Twins have indeed signed Tony Batista as their everyday 3rd baseman. Combined with their failure to land Frank, this is very good news indeed.

AIM: ozspengler

by spengler on Dec 22, 2005 11:15 PM CST up reply actions

There is a chance

that he doesn't make it out of spring training though. And the Twins will go with Cuddyer at 3B and Kubel in RF.

In other words, hope that Batista hits the crap out of the ball in the grapefruit league. That assures him of a roster spot, and a giant sucking sound in the middle of the Twins lineup for a good 2/3rds of the year.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Dec 22, 2005 11:27 PM CST up reply actions