Thome's walks breed confidence

[SSH2005]

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws

Notes: Thome's walks breed confidence

Contreras off to All-Star start; Lopez battered, not too bruised

 

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com

 

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Jim Thome has knocked out 24 triples over the course of his 15-year Major League career. So, his third-inning, stand-up three-bagger against the Mariners on Thursday came as a bit of a surprise.

 

Thome isn't ready to supplant Scott Podsednik or Jerry Owens in the leadoff spot of the White Sox order, although he once again showed himself to be in good physical condition by scoring from first on a Paul Konerko double during Friday's 11-6 loss to the Giants at Tucson Electric Park. Thome also is feeling much closer to where he needs to be offensively.

 

That increased level of confidence isn't really associated with the towering drive he hit off the monstrous green wall in center field at Tucson Electric on Thursday. Instead, it has more to do with the free passes he has been receiving over his past three Cactus League contests.

 

"When I'm swinging really well, I start walking a lot," Thome said. "I'm seeing more pitches, seeing the ball and starting to be more patient.

 

"I felt really good. Even from the first couple of days to the last couple of days, I can tell there is a big significant difference as to how I feel."

 

San Francisco starter Brad Hennessey walked Thome twice on Friday, before Thome took a called third strike on a full-count pitch with pinch-runner Robert Valido on second and two outs in the fourth. Thome now has walked a team-high six times, with five coming in his last three games.

 

His on-base percentage in the middle of the order and his ability to work the opposing pitcher deep in the count stands almost as important as Thome's ability to launch 35 or 40 home runs per season. He holds the same sort of presence as Frank Thomas did in the third spot of the White Sox order.

 

While some veterans get their work in and leave after five innings during Spring Training, Thome usually has been hitting through the entire game. It's all about the extra at-bats for someone who only had 193 in 2005, in an attempt to fulfill his goal of being ready to go on the Opening Night of April 2.

 

"It's important to get those repetitions and that feel, for sure," Thome said. "I'm really starting to get a lot more comfortable in the box."

 

Health above numbers: Take a look at Jose Contreras' statistics through three spring starts, and he appears primed for an All-Star campaign in 2006. The big right-hander has allowed 14 hits over 10 innings, but of greater importance are his 12 strikeouts and no walks.

 

If Contreras continues to locate his pitches, as he did during an 11-2 finish after the All-Star break in 2005, then he could be in line to challenge for a 20-win season. But that pitching milestone doesn't seem to concern Contreras, at least not at this early stage.

 

"Twenty wins is not important," said Contreras, through a translator, after striking out five and giving up one run over four innings during Friday's loss to the Giants. "Most important is to stay healthy, and the rest will come. If I stay healthy, stay in the zone and keep getting the hitters, the results will come around.

 

"I feel very good. If I stay where I'm at, physically and mentally, I've never been happier than I am right now."

 

Competitive wrinkle: Javier Lopez appeared to have the inside track on the final spot in the White Sox bullpen, entering Friday's contest with five consecutive scoreless innings over four appearances. The sidearming left-hander was touched for four runs in the ninth Friday, but the Giants' outburst doesn't exactly knock Lopez back behind left-hander Armando Almanza or right-hander Tim Redding in the ongoing battle to become the team's 11th pitcher.

 

Joey Cora, who served as manager in Ozzie Guillen's absence Friday, thought Lopez's final numbers were a bit misleading.

 

"He had a blooper and a seeing-eye single and a fly ball there," said Cora of Lopez. "He didn't pitch that bad. He struck out a couple of lefties. He threw strikes, that's the key. He walked a guy, but he was pitching a little bit around him. He didn't get hit hard at all. He just wasn't lucky."

 

Lopez, who has struck out seven and walked one this spring, is scheduled to pitch again Monday in Phoenix against Oakland. Almanza and Redding pitch Saturday in Peoria against San Diego, weather permitting.

 

Third to first: Tadahito Iguchi broke an 0-for-16 start to the spring with an RBI double in the third, scoring Jermaine Dye. Iguchi also made a stellar defensive play in the first inning, diving onto the outfield grass for Abraham Nunez's hard-hit grounder, and then throwing him out at first. ... Joe Borchard's first home run came as a left-hander, but he took the ball the opposite way -- an approach he found success with at the end of 2005. "I got enough of it," said Borchard with a smile, when asked if he got all of it. ... Guillen is scheduled to return from Venezuela in time to manage Saturday's game in Peoria. There is a 90 percent chance of rain in the Peoria area Saturday. ... Josh Fields and Ryan Sweeney entered Friday a combined 13-for-25, with six home runs and nine RBIs this spring. They finished a combined 1-for-5 against the Giants.

[SouthPaw]

Man I have a feeling Jim Thome is going to be incredible this year.

[rventura23]

yeah, Im liking the Thome acquisition more and more every day

[RockRaines]

Man I have a feeling Jim Thome is going to be incredible this year.

I agree man, his at bats have looked awesome to me. Watch the difference between him a Borchard, and observe who sees the pitch better going to the glove. its night and day.

Edited March 11, 2006 by RockRaines

[iWiN4PreP]

Thome will be awsome to watch this season

[DBAHO]

Hopefully Konerko can hit better with RISP as well, especially if Thome gets on base a lot.