THROWING YOU A CURVE
December 9, 2005

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

I hope this column finds everyone in good spirits and you are all getting ready for a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. I have had the opportunity to relax at home in Ft. Myers, Florida, after the Twins’ baseball season. Relaxing with the family and playing golf are the two things I love the best about the baseball off-season.

My family and I spent Thanksgiving on a cruise and we all had a great time. We usually go on a cruise every Winter and this season was our first during the Thanksgiving holiday. I didn’t gain too much weight! Right! If you have never been on a cruise, you have to try it one day. Great way to see so many interesting places in the world and you are treated like kings and queens. This Thanksgiving was spent in the Eastern Caribbean.

While we were cruising, the Twins were busy trying to find some offensive and defensive help for next season. They did acquire 3-time National League All-Star second baseman Luis Castillo from the Florida Marlins for right-handed pitchers Travis Bowyer and Scott Tyler. Castillo has also won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award three times with the Marlins. This trade now allows the Twins to concentrate on other offensive positions that need to be filled, like who’s going to play third base, play right field, and like who’s going to be the Twins designated hitter this coming season?

I‘m sure a lot of you thought the same thing as I did when Jim Thome of the Philadelphia Phillies was traded to the Chicago White Sox. How could the Twins allow this to happen because it just makes the World Series Champs better, right? Then free agent Paul Konerko resigns with the White Sox and what a one-two punch they have in their lineup, right? What do the Twins need to do to try and keep up with those guys, right? How can the Twins get back to winning their division if the White Sox continue to get better, right?

Well, the White Sox did get better if Thome is healthy. Remember though, he missed a lot of time last season with the Phillies due to injuries. Even though the White Sox didn’t resign Frank Thomas, did they get another player like Thomas who will miss time in the lineup? Only time will tell. All I know is that Mr. Thome was a Twins killer when he was with the Cleveland Indians and now he’s back in their division. What are the Twins to do?

What the Twins need to do is to go out and sign Frank Thomas, who is a free agent, to an incentive type contract. Believe me, if Frank Thomas is healthy he can really help out the Twins offense as their designated hitter. This is what needs to happen to check the Thome trade.

It will be up to Terry Ryan and his front office staff to get the Twins back to check and then go out and sign a third baseman like Bill Mueller, a free agent from the Boston Red Sox, to try and get the Twins back to checkmate. Also see in Spring training if Jason Kubel is healthy enough to take over right field and if he isn’t let Michael Cuddyer get his chance.

I heard today that J.C. Romero was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. It was a good move letting J.C. go to another club because his overall attitude was no longer needed in the clubhouse. He has great stuff and when he finds it he will be very consistent. He just fought himself too much for the Twins to stay with him any longer. Good luck J.C., except against the Twins, of course.

Thanks for reading my column and I hope and pray that all of you have a safe and Merry Christmas.

Your baseball friend,
Bert Blyleven

PS. Check out a new Web site at www.bertbelongs.com. This site was put together by some very nice people in my corner for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Thank you.