Jim Thome: Someone Should See Some Value in Him

Jim Thome is one of my favorite players ever, certainly current players withstanding.

It is painful to see his apparent value diminish to a pinch hitter's role with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Thome loves Chicago, considers it home, and would love to come back to the White Sox. They would like to have the slugger back. White Sox GM Ken Williams has not discounted the idea of re-signing Thome, after having traded him to the Dodgers for their playoff run in 2009.

Jim needs only 36 home runs to reach the 600 milestone which would place him seventh on the all-time list. He is currently rated 12th in career home runs.

With his physical maladies throughout the latter portion of his career, Thome is destined to play on an American League squad in order to be a designated hitter. His defensive days are apparently over, and he certainly will not reach that pinnacle in a pinch-hitting role.

The consensus by most knowledgeable fans is that Thome will be a clear lock for the National Baseball Hall of Fame if he can mount that summit to 600. He could still be enshrined with the number he has now, but it is an “iffy” situation. He has lived an apparent clean life, no drugs, no bar-hopping for whores, his reputation is spotless.

A couple years ago, a poll was published by players as to whom they thought were the most likable players in the league. Thome came in runner-up, just behind the “Mayor” Sean Casey.

At 39, Thome is not “old” by baseball standards today. I am sure he realizes there isn’t much sand left in the upper chamber of the hourglass. I am sure he also realizes that he would be avoided like the H1N1 flu by National League teams. Hopefully, we will see at least one more season for the big slugger. What is your opinion?

The career averages for Thome, based on 162 game seasons, are as follows:

	AB	RUNS	HITS	HR	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS+
CAREER	7706	1486	2138	564	1565	.277	.404	.557	146
162/AVG	547	105	152	40	111	.277	.404	.557	146

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