Jim Thome

[Don Wassall]

How can Thome not be in the home run contest???? He's on pace to hit close to 60 homers and will join the 500 club next season. He hit one in the Allegheny River just last week during an interleague game. He's close to being one of the all-time greatest home run hitters ever and is still at the height of his slugging ability. Simply unbelievable, even for the Caste System it's unbelievable.

 

[speedster]

Don't look now but Thome is at 497.There were a couple of injuries this year but he has hung in there and is about to join the 500 club.This was a tough year for the Sox but this is a fine way to end it.

 

[white lightning]

Jim hit number 499 tonight. They call him "Mr. Incredible" in Chicago. I'm very happy that he is finally getting some publicity for an amazing career.
Thome always did it the right way. He is built more like the players from the 1960's to the 1980's! I'm hoping he can play around four or five more seasons and make a run at 600 homers. That would be the exclamation point on a hall of fame career and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

 

[white is right]

He will need 550 plus to be a lock for the hall, those low 500 guys are now going to be treated like 450 guys before roids. If the writers like you will get in, if they don't you better have friends in the veterans committee. He doesn't look like a juicer to me but neither did Ankiel...

 

[white lightning]

Jim hit the magical number #500 tonight. It was incredible as he won the game by doing so in the 9th inning. He was having a bad game up until the point. I am so happy for Thome and his family. He is the type of guy that every boy should look up to. They carried him around the field as the crowd applauded. Congrats to a guy that I have rooted on for a very long time. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

I hope he has alot more homers to come. Way to go Thome!

 

[Don Wassall]

Congratulations to one of my favorite players. Thome reached 500 home runs in the fourth fewest at bats (6,809), behind only McGwire (5,487), Ruth (5,801) and Killebrew (6,671).

 

[Gary]

Thome is one of my favorite players in the game today-I remember when he played for Cleveland. I used to like to watch McGwire bat, he was exciting even when he struckout,Mantle was the same way.
It would have been interesting to see how many homeruns Mantle and Gehrig would have hit had they stayed healthy.Ralph Kiner was another great long ball hitter so was Harmon Killebrew.
I just got a video of the HR Derby from 1959-Mantle beat Willie Mays and Ernie Banks.

 

[Solomon Kane]

Congrats to Jim Thome! A classic white slugger in the tradition of Mantle, et. al.

 

[whiteCB]

Congrats to Jim!! I've been watching him since he was a rookie with the Tribe back in 1994 and to see him progress as a player has been a sight to see. Thome is a classic example of how a guy can get muscles and become bigger through weight lifting and training(NOT STERIODS!!!). If you look at a picture of Thome from his early days with the Indians he looks so skinny compared to what he is now. Also does anyone think Thome will get to 600 career HRs. He's only 36. I'd say if he stays healthy its money in the bank.

 

[white is right]

He is really on fire. He just tied "Steady Eddie" at 504 last night. It will be interesting to see what totals he amasses over the next couple of seasons and to see whether the writers consider him a lock for the hall.

 

[white is right]

I think this went unnoticed on this board but he passed "The Big Jerk" and Teddy Ball game and McCovey's cove. Next up is XX .

 

[Bear-Arms]

He batted a lot better in the month of June. There were rumors in May that maybe he was washed up and would retire at the end of year. Chicago is kind of like a mini New York so every slump is blown out of proportion. It wouldn't be the first time a player had a slow start or a bad month. He actually has more HR and RBI than he had at this point last year and last year he finished with 35 HR and 96 RBI.

The balls at U.S. Cellular usually don't come alive until mid-July. I expect Thome to be making a lot of fireworks soon.

I think this went unnoticed on this board but he passed "The Big Jerk" and Teddy Ball game and McCovey's cove. Next up is XX

I remember watching that game.He hit the ball so hard it might have broke the fans hand that tried to catch it.

 

[white lightning]

JIm hit his 535th home run tonight. Congratulations to him. He is having a solid year with 28 homers at the moment. My biggest wish is for him to at least play two more years so he can make a legitimate push for 600 homeruns. That would guarantee him a spot in the hall of fame! Keep it up Jim!

 

[Bear-Arms]

Barring injury, he's playing next season. He wants to reach 600 as much as you want him to.

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

Jim Thome passed some of the greats on the all-time HR list this season, and is currently at 539 career roundtrippers.

He has slowed down a little at the plate at age 38, but still smacked 32 HRs here at the tail end of the season.

Can we hope for 600 before he calls it a career?

 

[Don Wassall]

Thome hit number 550 on Monday and is up to 13th on the all-time HR list.

I hope he makes it to 600. He has 9 so far this year, on pace for 30 or so. At the very least it would be great to see him pass Mark McGwire's 583 and be the most prolific white slugger after Babe Ruth.

 

[Deadlift]

After a 2 HR night (leading the Sox to victory), Thome has 20 for the season.

 

[white lightning]

So he has 561 which is only 22 away from tieing Mark McGwire. Way to go Thome. I would be very disapointed if he doesn't make it to 600 homers. Even if it takes two more seasons. It puts him in ultra rare territory and he would be the only white guy other than Babe Ruth to do it.

 

[white lightning]

I'm pissed off. This is the Caste System doing it to us again. This time in Baseball. Jim Thome(sure hall of famer) is traded to the L.A. Dodgers. They will only use him as a pinch hitter. So now he will be lucky to get 1 at bat per game. Alot of times he won't even get that. His chance of 600 homers is over thanks the the Chicago White Sox trading him. What a complete slap in the face to a legend. They could have at least traded him to an American League Team where he could still be a des.hitter.

The greatest home run hitter in the game gets screwed over. That is how it goes in todays America. This makes me sick to my stomach. The guy deserves better!

 

[celticdb15]

WL with the way Baseball rosters change so frequently I would not be surprised if he is withanother ball club next year. Maybe a return home to Cleveland could be an ideal fit?

 

[Bear Backer]

I'm pissed off. This is the Caste System doing it to us again. This time in Baseball. Jim Thome(sure hall of famer) is traded to the L.A. Dodgers. They will only use him as a pinch hitter. So now he will be lucky to get 1 at bat per game. Alot of times he won't even get that. His chance of 600 homers is over thanks the the Chicago White Sox trading him. What a complete slap in the face to a legend. They could have at least traded him to an American League Team where he could still be a des.hitter.

The greatest home run hitter in the game gets screwed over. That is how it goes in todays America. This makes me sick to my stomach. The guy deserves better!

From what I understand, it may be more of a physical issue with Thome. Apparently he told the Dodgers that he was not able to be an everyday player or contribute at first base, but was still ok with coming in to be pinch hitter, DH type role for the playoffs. He is obviously at the stage in his career where he wants a shot to get a world series ring. Something that is a long way off for either Chicago Team. I disagree with this philosophy, championships have a high luck factor attributed to them. Some of the best players in history in all sports, never won championships. If I were a pro athlete, being a rent-a-player in order to get a chance to wear a ring would hold no interest for me whatsoever, but to each their own.

If he is healthy he will be back in an everyday role next year for some AL team, unless he decides to retire. His bat is too valuable, that someone in the AL will want his services, and if he can't physically play defense, he would hold no value for an NL team for next season. I am sure he is thinking about 600, so I would be very shocked if he did not hang around at least a year or two to try to reach that goal, unless his numbers fall off the map next season. If he does decide to hang around, someone will give him a shot.Edited by: Bear Backer

 

[white lightning]

I hope you guys are right. He is one of my favorite players. He passed Reggie Jackson just recently on the career home run list. He is a class guy on and off the diamond.

 

[whiteCB]

Maybe a return home to Cleveland could be an ideal fit?

Haha I wish Cleveland's ownership is way too cheap. Heck they traded away DeRosa, Cliff Lee, and Vic Martinez and they all had another YEAR left on their contracts. Thome coming back to the Tribe is a pipe dream.

 

[jaxvid]

I'd like to see this dude in Detroit next year. They could use some left handed power and I'm sure they will be dumping some salaries as well.

 

[white lightning]

Jim Thome is now a Minnesota Twin. I think this is the perfect fit for him. They are a serious World Series Contender who appreciates his talent. His teammates and the manager love the guy. I want him to get to 600 homers so bad! Jim has always played the game the right way unlike so many others who have cheated with peds. After his latest homerun, he is approaching H. Killebrew for the 10th All Time Career Home Runs Hitter. I hope he has a good year. Go Twins. Go Thome!

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_14852708?nclick_check=1Edited by: white lightning