Jim Thome

[j41181]

I too want to see Thome go over 600 homers! For Pete's sake, well over a century of baseball history, and only 1 white player with over 600 homers (let alone 700), and that the Great Bambino.

3 blacks with over 600 homers (Aaron, Mays, and y'know who).

To the sporting Gods, please let Thome have a solid year!

 

[PhillyBirds]

I was really hoping that Thome re-signed with the White Sox in the offseason. He would have been their every day designated hitter, instead of a bench/part-time guy. He's sitting at 565 now, and would have 600 in two years, probably even one if he was hitting every day. As it stands now, he may need to hang in there a little longer to get 600.

It's rough to see a guy who's averaged 40 home runs and 111 RBIs a season for 19 seasons sitting on the bench most days.

Good luck, Jim! Edited by: PhillyBirds

 

[white lightning]

Jim is at 570 home runs now. It really pisses me off that he rarely plays for the Twins. The guy has 6 homers on the year and he would probably have double to triple that if they would just play him more. Many games he doesn't get an at bat and usually if he does, 1 at bat at the end of the game. I like the Twins but I'm very unhappy with their treatment of the 2nd greatest white homerun hitter over a career of all time. It would be a crime to see him never reach the 600 Home Run Club because he is stuck watching the game from the bench! Still hoping he makes it. Come on Minnesota. Get Thome in the game.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/96848789.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4OW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUss

 

[Don Wassall]

Two more homers for Thome today, giving him 574 and passing Harmon Killebrew for 10th all time. He's hitting them at the rate of one every 13.9 at bats this season, but problem is he's only had 139 at bats. McGwire's next on the all time HR list with 583.

 

[white lightning]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/97740984.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUqCP:iUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUdcOy9cP3DieyckcU

 

[white lightning]

This is one of the best articles I've seen on one of my favorite players of all time.

http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2010/07/11/sports/nh2759001.txt

 

[white lightning]

Jim Thome hit home run number 578 today to help the Twins win. He has 14 on the season but he would have so many more if he got to play more. Alex Rodriguez has around 1000 more at bats in his career if I remember right. Thome should be at 600 easily already but like so many white athletes, he has not always had the same opportunity to succeed. He turns 40 later this month. I just hope he can stay with the Twins for one more year. It would be crushing to see this hall of fame legend fall short of 600 career homers. Good luck to Jim the rest of the year.

 

[white is right]

Thome's batting eye doesn't seem to be what it was in his early 30's. But his power is just as good as was two years ago. It seemed like all of sudden he wasn't good enough to start around this time last year. Strange and baffling.....

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

Jim Thome needs to finish this season with at least 585 HRs and then get one more year to reach 600.

A class act and a true pro from all I've ever read and seen.

 

[white lightning]

He hit number 579 tonight. Way to go Thome! They need to play this guy everyday. He is too talented to now be in the lineup.

 

[whiteCB]

Mr. Thome hit career HR# 581 last night in the 10th inning to lead the Twins over the White Sox in a brutally close division race. Jim also was spotted before the game wearing a Brett Favre Vikings t-shirt! It must have been good luck because Thome had a monster game going 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs. Here's a good article on Thome and the Twins...



Jim Thome and the Twins are a perfect fit
Kruk By John Kruk
ESPN
Archive
Jim Thome's worth to the Twins comes in many forms, because, simply, he's done exactly what Minnesota brought him in to do. And on Tuesday night, all he did was erase a one-run deficit in the bottom of the 10th with a game-winning, two-run shot against the White Sox.

So, yes, along with demonstrating leadership, mentoring young players and checking his ego at the door, he's also contributed 17 homers in 209 at-bats this year. Of course, none was bigger than the one he deposited well over the right-field wall against the White Sox's Matt Thornton late Tuesday at Target Field.

[+] EnlargeJim Thome
Jonathan Daniel/Getty ImagesJim Thome is the consummate professional, so he's fit in perfectly in Minnesota.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has gone out of his way to rest Thome to keep him healthy, and Thome has rewarded him for it. And the latest reward, against the White Sox, a team that decided this past offseason it didn't want him back, pushed the Twins' lead in the AL Central to four games over Chicago.

Keep in mind that the Twins still are without slugger Justin Morneau. Thome has had a bad back, so he has to work diligently during therapy to keep himself ready. If you put him out there every day and gave him four at-bats, even though he'd be filling the DH role, I think you'd see Thome's performance eventually dwindle. That's a big reason why Tuesday's game was only his 55th start of the year.

But a lot of teams would have panicked and just put him in the lineup every day. Gardenhire knew that wasn't the best decision for the team and Thome. Gardenhire plays Thome when he needs to in order to keep him sharp. He's obviously sharp; his homer finished off a 3-for-5, three-RBI night in the 7-6 win. Instead of fading during these dog days, Thome has raised his average from .258 at the start of the month to .273.

If the White Sox stay close down the stretch, don't be surprised if you see a lot more Thome in September. He knows his role, and will gladly step up to the challenge. Anytime you have a home run threat at DH or coming off the bench late in games, you have an instant advantage, whether earlier in the year in interleague games or now, in a pennant race.

This one really hurts for the White Sox. They decided not to keep Thome, and they've had a deficiency at DH this year, all while making their division rivals, the Twins, the team they are chasing in the AL Central, stronger.

Another part of Thome's value comes from his presence. There are a lot of guys who are great players, but they just aren't approachable, even by their teammates. There's an old cliche: If your daughter could pick someone to marry, you'd want her to pick someone like Jim Thome. It's true, because he's a great person.

When you walk in the Twins' clubhouse and you look at Joe Mauer and Jim Thome, you would have no idea which one has the chance to be a Hall of Famer. Why? Because Gardenhire upholds a strong stance on egos: Leave them at home. When Minnesota signed Thome last year, I thought it was an excellent pickup because he fits its mantra: Team first, with stats and ego coming in a distant second and third. The Twins really hit a home run when they acquired Jim Thome. And Thome hit a big one for them Tuesday night.

John Kruk is an analyst for "Baseball Tonight."

 

[JReb1]

I've always been a huge Jim Thome fan and hope he's allowed enough at bats next year to reach 600 HRs for his HOF career. Skip Bayless said this morning on ESPN that Thome isn't a HOFer, what a $#@%* MORON!

 

[white is right]

Skip Bayless is another guy that I wonder about...

When Gary Sheffield was brought up he stated he was surefire hall of famer but this guy who has more home runs and hasn't had any drug rumours isn't one? He is about to pass Big Mac and Frank Robinson. What more does he need to do...

 

[white lightning]

I'm so happy that Jim is only 19 homers away from 600. I do agree with resting him some but they need to play him a little bit more. To only play a little over 50 games at this point is too much rest. He is in the perfect situation though. The Twins are about as good a fit as there is. They are a white friendly team where everyone treats each other with respect. They also appreciate Thome and that is very important. Jim Thome is a legend and I have so much respect for him.

 

[JReb1]

Skip Bayless is another guy that I wonder about...

When Gary Sheffield was brought up he stated he was surefire hall of famer but this guy who has more home runs and hasn't had any drug rumours isn't one? He is about to pass Big Mac and Frank Robinson. What more does he need to do...

Crawford and the black lady on the show both argued with Skip that Thome is a HOF. If Thome juiced like just about every other slugger during his generation he'd be close to Bonds in career HR's. Skip's argument was that Thome was only a 5 time All-Star and never won an MVP or World Series ring...

 

[white lightning]

Skip Bayless is a moron! I put the tv on mute when he speaks. He couldn't even lift Jims bat let alone talk about his talent. Stick to sounding like a dumb ass Skip. That is what you do best!

 

[white lightning]

<H1>Jim Thome savors march to 600th homer </H1>
<DIV id=bylineArea>By Charley Walters/Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
Friday, August 20, 2010 - Added 13 hours ago

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Only seven players in major league baseball history have hit 600 home runs. Three of those players are tainted by steroids.


So, with 19 more homers, Jim Thome would join Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660) and Ken Griffey Jr. (630) in the authentic 600 Club.


"That would be a great thing, absolutely; I can't say it's not," the Twins' future hall of famer said. "But I've tried to keep it in perspective. The main thing right now, obviously, is winning. And then, if 600 comes, great.
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"But you can't try to hit home runs. If you get wrapped up in hitting home runs, that's when you go the other way."


Along the way, Thome is collecting his home run balls.


"I've got a lot of them," he said. "They're personal. I'll give them to my kids or other family members one day. It's been pretty cool."


At Target Field, Thome said the Twins have personnel who retrieve his home run balls for him. If a fan ends up with one, Thome offers a trip to the clubhouse, a chat, a photo opportunity and autographed equipment in exchange.


In Chicago last week, Thome hit homer No. 579. He couldn't recover that ball -- a spectator wouldn't give it up.


"That's what I was told," he said.


In order to reach 600, Thome, who turns 40 in a week, probably would have to play next season. The Twins would be his top choice.


"I love it here, I do," he said. "But the one thing I've learned, as you


play the game, is you can't worry about next year because this is still this year. Look, I think everybody knows I enjoy it here. They've treated me wonderfully, from the fans to the media to the organization, all around. Hey, it's been a wonderful experience.


"At the end of the year, if they want to sit down and talk, we'll talk. But I don't think there should be any pressure to do anything now. We're trying to get what we want accomplished."



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<DIV ="PhotoCredit">Photo by AP
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<DIV ="ArticleSummary">Minnesota Twins' Jim Thome (25) follows through on a two-run home run off Chicago White Sox pitcher Matt Thornton during the 10th inning, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, in Minneapolis. White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is at right.
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<H1></H1>Edited by: white lightning

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

Jim Thome is at 582 with a month left in the season. If he can get past 585 by the end of the year, 600 will definitely be doable, even with reduced playing time.

 

[white lightning]

I really would like to see him stay with the Twins. He seems like he really likes it there and they love having him on their team.

 

[white lightning]

Thome ties, passes McGwire on homer list
Twins slugger rips 583rd, 584th dingers, now ninth all-time
MINNEAPOLIS -- Jim Thome blasted career home runs No. 583 and No. 584 on Saturday afternoon against the Rangers, passing Mark McGwire for ninth on the all-time home run list.
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Thome led off the third inning by driving an 0-1 pitch from Rangers starter Colby Lewis deep into the upper deck in right-center field to tie McGwire at 583 homers. The distance on the home run was estimated at 449 feet, making it the longest in Target Field's brief history.


One inning later, Thome came up to the plate with two runners on and two outs. On a 3-2 pitch from Lewis, Thome belted a shot into the bullpens in left-center field. It was Thome's 20th of the year and earned him a curtain call from the cheering home crowd.


It was the second time this season that Thome has hit two homers in one game to take over sole possession of a spot on the all-time list. Thome tied and passed former Twins legend Harmon Killebrew for 10th place when he belted Nos. 573 and No. 574 on July 3 against the Rays at Target Field.


Next on the home run list is Frank Robinson with 586.
<A name=14275434></A>Edited by: white lightning

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

You beat me to it, white lightning.

 

[white lightning]

You guys have to watch this home run that Thome hit today. It was estimated at around 500 feet and it was the longest one ever hit at that stadium. He is now 1 away from Frank Robinson.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100906&amp;content_id=14364688&amp;vkey=recap&amp;fext=.jsp&amp;c_id=mlb

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

#585

 

[jaxvid]

Jim Thome is now the 2nd best white career home run hitter after Ruth.

 

[white lightning]

You know what would be really cool. If he some how could just keep playing into his mid 40's. Hank Aaron played forever and that is why he beat the Babe for the homerun record before PED Bonds broke it. Babe Ruth was and still is the best baseball player ever. He has the 3rd most homeruns and the 2nd most rbi's of all time. He also did this in a far shorter career than the other guys.

If Thome can stay with the Twins, he may just make a run at 700. He wouldhave to keep getting 25 to 30 homers a year but it's possible. 600 is almost a virtual lock now. Sometime next year he will be in very rare company.

That homer tonight was special. He just killed that ball. Amazing display of hitting on what was actually a tough pitch to hit out. He just crushed it! Way to go Thome!