Talking shortstop

May 17, 2008 04:08 pm

— Methinks a crisis of sorts is brewing at shortstop of the Twins.

Adam Everett has hit about as well as expected — which is to say, hardly at all — but his defense has not been as strong as advertised, largely because his throws simply doesn't seem to have much zip to them. Ron Gardenhire was quoted in one of the metros to the effect that he wasn't seeing much arm strength to Everett and that he hoped that's just the way Everett plays the position — throwing just hard enough to get the outs.

A day or two later, Everett had to make a relay throw to the plate. Watching the play unfold on TV, I expected him to get the runner. But the throw, while accurate, wasn't anywhere close to being in time. i wasn't the only one taking note of that; at least one game story commented on the lack of velocity to the peg.

Now, it is certainly possible to play shortstop — and to play it at a very high level — without a terrific arm. Ozzie Smith is a legend for his defense, and he spent most of his career with a torn rotator cuff.

But if you're hitting below the Mendoza line — as Everett is — and you can't make the throw from the hole, you're in trouble.

The problem is, what's the alternative? Nick Punto and Matt Tolbert are on the DL. Punto is likely to be back soon, but there's little reason to beleive that he'd be any improvement on Everett at the plate. Tolbert is starting to make me a believer as a hitter, but he's going to be out a good while with that torn thumb ligament.

For now, the alternatives are the error-prone Alexi Castilla; the nondescript Howie Clark, best known as the guy A-Rod conned into letting a popup fall last season and a second baseman anyway; and, at least in theory, Brendan Harris, whose defensive limitations at second base shouldn't encourage anybody to shift him to short.

Another week or so and Punto is likely to return, and it will be interesting to see how Gardenhire approaches the position then.

e-mail Edward Thoma