Just stop posting in this thread, Princess. Reading your posts is hurting, and it's just getting worse.

Edited August 5, 200916 yr by Felix

He has like a .410 OBP. I'm not worried about his average at all.

You're right on with this. Batting Average is a meaningless statistic for a player like Jim Thome. He’s still getting On Base at a spectacular rate.

Edited August 5, 200916 yr by Thunderbolt

whenever Jim comes to bat I expect a HR or Strike out

 

or a walk?

 

 

Is this the best ammo you have on a guy with a .390 obp?

We'll see if the K-rate and SLG we get out of the cleanup spot is enough for this year. Would love to be proven wrong.

 

Thome has been a member of the Sox for 3 and a half seasons. In those years, the Sox have won 90, 72, and 89 games. I believe you have already been proven wrong.

Thome has been a member of the Sox for 3 and a half seasons. In those years, the Sox have won 90, 72, and 89 games. I believe you have already been proven wrong.

 

Lets do an average of what that comes out to as wins-per-year. Then adjust for the kind of competition in Central vs. East.

 

As I stated earlier, my goal is to be better than that. It would be good to be like one of those East teams. If yr perfectly happy being what we've been the last few yrs, then I would not expect you to agree.

 

 

 

 

As far as the Balta list of pitchers, it's a good illustration of his point, yet it highlights all the mediocre names that Thome also is unable to get hits against. Found it shocking, and still believe in my point about wanting more cleanup hitter production.

 

Again, I'm not saying JT off the team. Saying that based on what our payroll is, we need a different type of cleanup hitter. And I think we may have a solution in-house, as I've listed - but few seem to be fans of it.

 

 

 

To those disagreeing with me, I again am not calling the current situation awful. But I do want better and I'll just hope to god we dont have pitchers adjusting their willingness to pitch to Thome in this home stretch.

Edited August 5, 200916 yr by Princess Dye

Thome has done what has been asked of him so far this year. He's that threat from the other side of the plate that has opposing managers with their hearts in their throats every time he takes a big hack.

Since the beginning of 2008, when most around here figure Thome has been washed up, he has an OBP about .385 and only 4 players in the AL have more homers. Yeah, he's killing the White Sox. Bring back Josh Fields.

Lets do an average of what that comes out to as wins-per-year. Then adjust for the kind of competition in Central vs. East.

 

As I stated earlier, my goal is to be better than that. It would be good to be like one of those East teams. If yr perfectly happy being what we've been the last few yrs, then I would not expect you to agree.

 

 

 

 

As far as the Balta list of pitchers, it's a good illustration of his point, yet it highlights all the mediocre names that Thome also is unable to get hits against. Found it shocking, and still believe in my point about wanting more cleanup hitter production.

 

Again, I'm not saying JT off the team. Saying that based on what our payroll is, we need a different type of cleanup hitter. And I think we may have a solution in-house, as I've listed - but few seem to be fans of it.

 

 

 

To those disagreeing with me, I again am not calling the current situation awful. But I do want better and I'll just hope to god we dont have pitchers adjusting their willingness to pitch to Thome in this home stretch.

Thome gets on base nearly 40% of the time. That means almost 40% of the time, he's not making an out. That doesn't even mention his power, which is incredibly underrated around these parts. What more do you want?

 

If you can improve on that, while not hurting the team financially or parting with plus prospects, then you're a genius.

Edited August 5, 200916 yr by Felix

The question is relevant because at the end of the year, the sox have to decide upon Thome or Dye for DH next year and beyond. Do you go with Thome's OBP, or Dye's higher avg, factoring in the age difference, and the sox lack of Lefty power hitters?

well since 07 that is

 

Wrong. It's higher than last year.

 

 

Obviously we all like the OBP, but with his specific spot in the lineup, you need a little more handiness with the bat than he's providing.

 

No you don't. His job as the cleanup hitter is to drive in runs. He has the third most RBI on the team and the best RBI per AB rate (around 4.3). He's also third in HR, first in OBP and second in OPS. He also is a left handed bat to break up Beckham, Dye, Konerko and Quentin.

 

How much has it hurt us?

 

Clearly, it hasn't.

 

Also who here would advocate lowering him in the lineup?

 

Probably just you.

 

Seriously, this argument is ridiculous. You're trying to point to Thome's low BA. You can't just look at that for a player like Thome. He's doing fine right now for us, stop complaining for the sake of it.

Edited August 5, 200916 yr by ChiSox_Sonix

My point should have been the following, said more simply: I dont want my cleanup hitter's best attribute to be drawing walks.

 

Why not? Should Thome move up to #3 in the order then?

 

I fail to see how drawing walks is a bad thing. If nothing else, it just means more guys on base for the #5 guy, Konerko, who seems fully capable of driving in runs.

Derrrrr, what?

Thome is a pretty damn solid hitter. You can take a little bit of an average drop, because it doesn't seem to be hurting his OBP or SLG.

 

2 dingers already tonight with 4 RBIs.

well since 07 that is

 

 

 

 

Obviously we all like the OBP, but with his specific spot in the lineup, you need a little more handiness with the bat than he's providing.

 

 

How much has it hurt us?

Also who here would advocate lowering him in the lineup?

 

 

I definitely tripped over myself on that line.

 

 

 

 

My point should have been the following, said more simply: I dont want my cleanup hitter's best attribute to be drawing walks.

 

 

 

 

SLG is on the decline as well, each year he's been here, again with the biggest drop off being post 07.

 

Yup, Jim Thome needs to be dropped down in the order no question. I'm sold.

Looking forward to being proven wrong on this and many more days

 

 

Looking forward to being proven wrong on this and many more days

I don't mind you being wrong if it means Jim Thome hits more home runs.

Can you make a thread suggesting someone else isn't performihg?

you guys can thank me for Gavin. At least when I criticized him his ERA was one of the worst in the majors, not like Thome's OPS.

 

Where does Thome ranks amongst DH's in offensive categories?

you guys can thank me for Gavin. At least when I criticized him his ERA was one of the worst in the majors, not like Thome's OPS.

 

Where does Thome ranks amongst DH's in offensive categories?

Robin Ventura's best season with the Sox he hit 34 homers and drove in 105 with a .368 OBP. Thome is on pace for 32 homers 107 RBI and a .392 OBP and every other week there are 20 posts mentioning his demise and how the Sox must get rid of him. I guess some must keep posting these ridiculous thoughts because he is pushing 40 and some day they will be right.

Actually the HR-or-nothing aspect to this debate is left untouched bytonight

Edited August 6, 200916 yr by Princess Dye

Actually the HR-or-nothing aspect to this debate is left untouched bytonight

 

There was no debate. Pretty much everyone acknowledges that Thome is Homerun/walk/strikeout for the most part.

No doubt that second bomb was huge tonight. And the first was dandy as well.

Love it when Jimmy is connecting and getting it up in the sky instead of the shift.

There was no debate. Pretty much everyone acknowledges that Thome is Homerun/walk/strikeout for the most part.

This season Thome has as many doubles as Alexei Ramirez in far fewer PA.

 

Jim Thome does everything but hit singles.

Jim Thome does everything but hit singles.

 

His triples are down a little this year.