this team isn't going anywhere with jim thome in the lineup, as sad as that is to say because he's one of my favorite players on this team, easily my 2nd or 3rd favorite

 

his OBP is extremely high figuring he never hits, like ever, and its only because when guys ahead of him get on, and steal 2nd, they just walk thome to get to a weaker hitter behind him

Yet somehow he hits homeruns more often than even Josh Fields, even with his current slump. Jim Thome is probably the hitter taken for granted the most in White Sox history. He was ragged on last season and look at the numbers. When its all said and done this year, they won't be as great as last year, but they will be pretty good. He's the least of the White Sox problems. If he is the biggest problem, this team would be a lot better than 4th or 5th place which is where they will wind up.

Yet somehow he hits homeruns more often than even Josh Fields, even with his current slump. Jim Thome is probably the hitter taken for granted the most in White Sox history. He was ragged on last season and look at the numbers. When its all said and done this year, they won't be as great as last year, but they will be pretty good. He's the least of the White Sox problems. If he is the biggest problem, this team would be a lot better than 4th or 5th place which is where they will wind up.

 

1. compare thome's first half last year, to his second half. I only ragged on him last year during the second half

first half JT = .298 .414 .651 1.065 (30HR 77RBI)

second half JT = .274 .420 .522 .942 (12HR 32RBI)

 

basically, when we finally started closing the gap between us and the twins/tigers towards the end of the season, thome was nowhere to be found

 

2. if fields put up the #'s thome has since the ASB, he'd be just as terrible as thome is right now

 

Post ASB

 

Thome: .226 / .364 / .396 (OPS: .760) (4 HR 15 RBI)

Fields : .261 / .312 / .504 (OPS: .816) (8HR 23 RBI)

 

add in the fact that Fields is making the league minimum, is healthy, and is more productive on the base paths, AND CAN HIT LEFT HANDED PITCHERS, the comparisons are finished, Fields has been the superior hitter since the middle of the season

 

this isn't an attempt to hate on JT, as I said he's one of my favorite players on this team, but as it stands right now: he isn't helping and it's probably due to some nagging injury (he's been hurt and on the DL this year AND last year, so you can sure as hell expect him on the DL next year too, you better hope it isn't as long of a stint as it was this year)

Edited August 17, 200718 yr by joesaiditstrue

How come people get so defensive about Thome?

I said and many others said we like the guy.

But you don't agree his best days appear long gone?

He has the back back, I suspect it's been bad even when he's been playing.

He's not putting up Thome-like numbers understandably on a team with many guys not putting

up numbers.

I like Thome but do you honestly believe he's going to bounce back next year and be a true

power hitter for the Sox?

The team will be weaker without him and I guess I wouldn't mind him returning, but I think it's fair to

say he's declining.

Maybe he'll have a career year next year, but there should be concerns.

1. compare thome's first half last year, to his second half. I only ragged on him last year during the second half

first half JT = .298 .414 .651 1.065 (30HR 77RBI)

second half JT = .274 .420 .522 .942 (12HR 32RBI)

 

basically, when we finally started closing the gap between us and the twins/tigers towards the end of the season, thome was nowhere to be found

 

2. if fields put up the #'s thome has since the ASB, he'd be just as terrible as thome is right now

 

Post ASB

 

Thome: .226 / .364 / .396 (OPS: .760) (4 HR 15 RBI)

Fields : .261 / .312 / .504 (OPS: .816) (8HR 23 RBI)

 

add in the fact that Fields is making the league minimum, is healthy, and is more productive on the base paths, AND CAN HIT LEFT HANDED PITCHERS, the comparisons are finished, Fields has been the superior hitter since the middle of the season

 

this isn't an attempt to hate on JT, as I said he's one of my favorite players on this team, but as it stands right now: he isn't helping and it's probably due to some nagging injury (he's been hurt and on the DL this year AND last year, so you can sure as hell expect him on the DL next year too, you better hope it isn't as long of a stint as it was this year)

He's streaky and he's been in a prolonged slump. You look at his numbers now and you can twist them to make it look real bad. Twist them when he gets hot. Konerko was brutal for a while, that didn't mean Uribe was a better hitter than him. Thome will be fine. He will miss games here and there. Just be careful what you wish for. In fact up until 2 weeks ago, Thome was second in the AL in OBP. Sounds washed up to me.

Edited August 17, 200718 yr by Dick Allen

For the Jim Thome doubters, this is what Kenny said about him at this players/ GM meeting yesterday:

"I expressed to them that the guy that's in the deepest slump right now is still the most valuable offensive player, and that's Jim Thome. Why? And you could see some eyebrows raise. Because he's getting on base 40 percent of the time, giving us a chance to win. Playoff teams, as a whole, get on base right about a .355 clip. So it's not all about batting average.''

 

I fully agree with that. In the late innings of games this yr, I've noticed Jimmy makes that pitcher work and usually, the pitcher backs down and he takes a walk. Always a good thing to be on base so Konerko or Dye or AJ has a shot to drive him in if down by a run. Jim Thome is one of the few regulars that does that (Paulie's the only other one I can think of) that has had professional ABs late in games.

I also like Thome but agree his time has come.

The shift is tiresome. He never foils it and he's not whacking home runs.

That plus his bad back makes him look like he's on the downside.

Not that losing him will help this horrible team. The Sox offense is putrid and

losing Thome won't help any. It's amazing all our sluggers are hitting about .260

with decreased homer production.

Not good.

 

 

Forget about the shift. Thome is paid to hit homers and the problem is he is not hitting them, or as many as we would like. The whole offense is in a funk this year. It is unbelievble for sure.