Toe-me-fa-so-la-ti-doThe prime example took place at the trading deadline when Cliff Lee's deal with the New York Yankees went south ... live, on Twitter. I felt like one of the people that would sit on a neighboring hill and view a Civil War battle.
With the hot stove league and the Internet, you see a hint turn into an idea turn into a rumor turn into talk turn into a deal.
Two weeks ago, pundits were simply floating Jim Thome's name out there as a possible addition for the Texas Rangers. It was below a whisper.
Over time, the connection's gained steam and now it's as if Thome and the Rangers were a foregone conclusion.
As we all know, this isn't the case. Too much can happen for it to not happen.
Outside of just disliking Thome as a person or if you think the Rangers will spend too much money that could be given to Josh Hamilton or C.J. Wilson in an extension, I don't see how you could hate Thome joining the Rangers.
First of all, fans would love him. Not in the same way we loved Vlad Guerrero because he'd be a part timer and Guerrero had a certain attitude that emanated into the stands. But he's a likable professional that bashes. People dig the long ball.
Two, although it seems the Rangers have an excess of lefty bats, they don't have any real "impact" bats outside of Hamilton.
I love David Murphy. I think he's way better than people give him credit for at the plate and in the field. However, I also think he's an everyday player and needs regular at-bats to build a rhthym. I don't think he's a strong bench or pinch-hit candidate. Frankly, if the Rangers found a trade partner for Murphy, I wouldn't be against this as much as I like him as a player. I don't think he fits here.
Julio Borbon's not proven himself, yet.
Thome is a guy that scares the bejesus out of your opponent any time he's at the plate. Bases empty or full. He hit .301 against righties a year ago with 19 home runs and 14 doubles. With the right-field porch at the Ballpark, he could post some pretty great numbers for 300 or so at-bats. He's an impact lefty bat.
More than anything, and as Evan Grant asutely points out, Thome is an insurance policy. If Mitch Moreland, Borbon or Murphy struggle, there's Thome.
If anyone gets injured, there's Thome. And this is due to Michael Young's adaptability. If Ian Kinsler goes out for a month, Young is the starting second baseman and Thome gets a bulk of the designated hitter swings. If Adrian Beltre gets hit by a grounder in the nuts, Young swings to third and Thome is your almost everyday DH.
Also, he fills a hole in the line-up. Let's say someone's struggling or Nelson Cruz or Beltre fail to protect Josh Hamilton, Thome could be inserted there, although I doubt this is optimal as Ron Washington would probably prefer to go lefty-righty in the middle of his line-up.
The key here is Young. He allows you to go out and bring in a pretty one-dimensional player in his current state like Thome. Also, I think finding a new home for Murphy might be in order.
Either way, it's tough not to like Thome to the Rangers.
