Phillies Sign Free Agent 1B Jim Thome to One Year Deal
by WholeCamels on Nov 4, 2011 7:28 PM EDT
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PrintBig Jim is coming back.
Six years after the trade that sent Jim Thome to the Chicago White Sox, heralding the permanent arrival of Ryan Howard, the Phillies have brought the elder slugger back to Philadelphia, signing Thome to a one year, $1.25 million contract (pending physical), per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
Thome, who famously joined the 600 home run club in 2011, may serve as the lefty half of a first base platoon, possibly with John Mayberry, and will be a potent first bat off the bench for the Phillies and Interleague Play Designated Hitter. Of course, he has not played any first base since 2007. At all. And that was one game. The last time he played more than three games in the field was 2005, for the Phillies.
It's a nice low-risk move, it'll be great if he can play the field in any way, shape or form.
Thome, 41, posted a .256/.361/.477 line in 324 plate appearances in 2011 for the Twins and Indians, slugging 15 home runs. In 2010, Thome went .283/.412/.627 with 25 homers.
With Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. talking about the team's need to have better at-bats, they're getting one of the best in the business in the clubhouse in 2012 -- Thome's 14.2% walk rate in 2011 would have comfortably beaten out all of the Phillies' regular players. Teach by example, maybe?
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Seconded.
Some people don't think it be what it is, but it do.
by TheOrangeCone on Nov 4, 2011 9:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Always hated those fuckers
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Nov 5, 2011 1:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yay! Good depth move. Can't wait to see this again.
by ajay on Nov 4, 2011 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I think so. It sort of looks like him but it looks like the guy has a mustache and I don’t remember him ever wearing one of those. Then again, I generally try and forget that he ever played for the Phillies.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
Yeah, that mustache makes me think it was that POS Barajas.
by Wet Luzinski on Nov 4, 2011 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Public Broadcasting Service, Duh?
Might as well just hand them over.
by All ur Aces R Belong to Us on Nov 4, 2011 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Pat Burrell Sexual Disease. Isn’t it obvious?
"Sometimes, the balls that fall in are jam shots"...Hunter Pence, on BABIP
by Joecatz on Nov 5, 2011 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It was clearly 2005, since Charlie’s in the dugout. Here’s a list of all the white RH-hitting position players on the 2005 Phillies:
3 – Todd Pratt
4 – David Bell
5 – Pat Burrell
22 – Jason Michaels
24 – Mike Lieberthal
27 – Matt Kata
Jose Offerman was on the team that year? I have zero memory of that.
In the crowd, there’s a couple of guys wearing what looks like Red Sox shirts. In the Phillies’ 2005 interleague series with the Sox, the batters who followed Thome were: Burrell, Burrell, and Bell (and neither Burrell or Bell was pinch-hit for in any of the games).
So it really has to be one or the other, I think. And that looks a lot more like Bell than Burrell to me.
Yeah I thought a 5 as well.
Definitely 05 since that was Thome’s only year at CBP.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
It’s Bell, no doubt.
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Nov 5, 2011 10:20 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I would believe Burrell with a porn-stache, though.
Moyer for 5th Starter in 2012.
by Missing Jamie Moyer on Nov 5, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
As long as we’re playing “who is that player” let’s see if we can ID all the folks visible in the dugout. My guesses, L-R: Dubee, Lofton?, Lieber, (looks like there’s someone visible between Thome’s legs, but unidentifiable), Manuel, Rollins.
Very nice. Good money, good player.
…and we’re now only one David Bell signing away from the reunion of the 2003 infield.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
OT, but I bumped into Jimmy at a market today…seemed realistic and resigned to his free agent situation taking awhile. I’ve met him before and we have a mutual family friend, so that helped break the ice, but I was still impressed with how seemingly genuine and engaging he was in conversation.
I love him and hope he comes back.
"It seems weird but I drink. I drink when I work out. I literally hate working out. My friends ask me if I want to go hiking up Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles and I’m like, ‘Why? I have the new Kinect. Why would you want to go outside? Why would you like to climb up a mountain?’ I really do drink when I work out. I have to trick myself into thinking I’m doing something fun. I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn
I just wanted to call attention to the correct usage of “re-signs” and “resigned” in consecutive comments. Well done.
by taco pal on Nov 5, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
That’s true.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by alcatraz0109 on Nov 4, 2011 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Friggin’ sweet.
"It seems weird but I drink. I drink when I work out. I literally hate working out. My friends ask me if I want to go hiking up Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles and I’m like, ‘Why? I have the new Kinect. Why would you want to go outside? Why would you like to climb up a mountain?’ I really do drink when I work out. I have to trick myself into thinking I’m doing something fun. I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn
This. Zero downside. All upside.
Except for Ross Gload’s family. And for the Phils team UZR in the unpleasant case they decide he should get lots of PT at 1st.
GMAT verbal section question, Philadelphia sports version.
In 2015, which one of the following will prove to be a better investment?
a) Ilya Bryzgalov's contract b) Ryan Howard's extension (c) Mike Vick's extension (d) Greek bonds from 2009
Cool beans.
Might as well just hand them over.
by All ur Aces R Belong to Us on Nov 4, 2011 10:13 PM EDT reply actions
At long last, lineup protection for Hunter Pence.
I dig how the Phillies find/re-find bit players who tend to be decent fellas, as opposed to a certain football team whose personnel folks have at times gone off the rails these past two seasons.
Yeah, I prefer a comeback I can root for, as opposed to one where I’m, like “yay, guys?”
"It seems weird but I drink. I drink when I work out. I literally hate working out. My friends ask me if I want to go hiking up Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles and I’m like, ‘Why? I have the new Kinect. Why would you want to go outside? Why would you like to climb up a mountain?’ I really do drink when I work out. I have to trick myself into thinking I’m doing something fun. I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn
Glad to see him back, though I’m nervous to actually see him in the field. Still, no real risk in this.
Michael Bourn will flip a coin to see which baseline he’ll bunt towards.
by Wet Luzinski on Nov 4, 2011 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions
And, generationally speaking...
I’ll just throw out there to the universe that, pending this spring’s comeback attempt, there be a new fortysomething-themed “Baseball Friends” featuring Thome and Moyer.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This makes me super happy. Now all Ruben needs to do is resign Moyer.
Phase 1. Sign Thome and Moyer
Phase 2. ?????
Phase 3. Profit!
Diehard Flyers fan living in the heart of Penguins country
by Legion of Bullies on Nov 4, 2011 11:24 PM EDT reply actions
I was just going to suggest this.
Moyer for 5th Starter in 2012.
by Missing Jamie Moyer on Nov 5, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
also in serious pursuit of cuddyer....
good move?
I wanted the Phils to try and trade for Cuddyer at the deadline last year, but I’m not sure I would’ve wanted them to sign him to an extension. I guess it depends on the money, but he’s no spring chicken and although he can play corner OF, 1B, and 3B, he is a terrible defensive 3rd baseman. If they do sign Cuddyer, you can say goodbye to at least one of Rollins/Madson and I also think that would make Pence a trade candidate a la Werth’s last season.
I also think that would make Pence a trade candidate a la Werth’s last season
You’d be trading him with diminished leverage though. The whole world would know that you’d have to trade somebody.
From the time Howard comes back in June or so, through the end of 2013, the Phils would have five guys under contract at 1B/LF/RF – Howard, Pence, Brown, Mayberry, Cuddyer. That’s a bad way to allocate resources.
I wouldn’t mind Cuddyer if he is brought in to be a 5th OF, and back up at the Corner INF spots.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
HEY GUYS THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
I love the “Dugout”-style picture caption. This is probably my favorite one. (might wanna right-click the link to be sure it opens in a new window)
Let's go Hawks! Detroit sucks!
Bear down, Chicago Bears!
Thome = nice guy. Thome = better than Gload. Thome = good DH option for ILP and (plz?) WS. Thome != answer to 1b problem, even as part of a platoon.
The obvious answer here is Mayberry at 1b and Brown in LF. Can the Phillies just get on with it? I’m really not that scared of the possibility.
Why look'st thou so?' -"With my crossbow
I shot the Albatross."
by RememberthePhitans on Nov 5, 2011 12:03 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
This. 110%
Diehard Flyers fan living in the heart of Penguins country
by Legion of Bullies on Nov 5, 2011 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes. Although it’s possible that spending some time in AAA will be better for Dom. It could also help create a new Hero’s Quest narrative for the idiots in the fan base. That would be annoying but I wouldn’t want him to have to put up with fans always on his back, and having a Hero’s Quest narrative take hold out there in WIP-land could go a long way toward dissipating the negativity.
Imagine keeping Thome around as a hitting coach!!
Though there was an idea of keeping Moyer around as a ptiching coach, and I think Thome is a lot like Moyer. Not going to stop playing baseball until they can’t move.
It's in his wheelhouse!!
Carlos Ruiz, My Nickname is Chooch.
by Dr. Steve on Nov 5, 2011 1:06 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Interesting...
Yesterday we learned that the Braves are open to moving Jair Jurrjens and Martin Prado, and that they’ve already had trade talks with the Royals. Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star reports that talks have stalled however, likely because Kansas City does not want to include top prospect Wil Myers in the deal.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
Trade Brown/May/Howard for Jurrjens
/WIP’d
Moyer for 5th Starter in 2012.
by Missing Jamie Moyer on Nov 5, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Smart move
He can teach Hunter Pence how to play the game the right way…
Average age of team approaching 35, however. OK. That’s an exaggeration .
"I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." Groucho Marx
Sadly, FTFY
Average age of teamapproachingwill be exactly 35, however.OK. That’s an exaggeration.
If the Phils sign Rollins, Utley and Polanco are healthy and Thome plays (yikes) then the average age will be 35 (actually, slightly less than 36). No joke.
GMAT verbal section question, Philadelphia sports version.
In 2015, which one of the following will prove to be a better investment?
a) Ilya Bryzgalov's contract b) Ryan Howard's extension (c) Mike Vick's extension (d) Greek bonds from 2009
FAIL
Fixed quote (hmmm, sounds like a bond trader) was supposed to be:
Average age ofteam approachinginfield will be exactly 35, however.OK. That’s an exaggeration.
GMAT verbal section question, Philadelphia sports version.
In 2015, which one of the following will prove to be a better investment?
a) Ilya Bryzgalov's contract b) Ryan Howard's extension (c) Mike Vick's extension (d) Greek bonds from 2009
Many of the people complaining about this signing (not all, I won’t generalize like that) have been outing themselves as bandwagon fans. I’ll admit to not having understood all the implications of our first Jim Thome deal back in ’02 at the time, but this is the guy who kicked off the Golden Age of Phillies baseball. From what I remember, they were still in the Vet that first year of his contract, and someone like him was desperately needed at the time for the fanbase to get excited over.
I’m loving this signing. They can get him out in the field in spring training, see what he can still do at first base, and platoon him with Mayberry until the Big Piece returns. Full circle.
I could care less about the World Series, all I want at this point is for us to take the division in 2012 and have another shot at the World Series. But for a guy like Jim Thome, who SHOULD have four or five rings by now, I desperately want it for him.
Welcome back, Jim. Be ready for a lot of love on Opening Day.
Believe it or not, I’ve seen (and heard) some complaining. Mostly about his age and the fact he hasn’t played defensively in a few years. Of course, a lot of those people I actually know (friends, mostly) also ignored what we gave up in the Hunter Pence trade and want Howard gone ASAP. Dumbasses.
I think people are bitching because they don’t understand the role Thome is going to play on the team.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
I think most of the people are bitching because they really don’t understand the sport.
"It seems weird but I drink. I drink when I work out. I literally hate working out. My friends ask me if I want to go hiking up Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles and I’m like, ‘Why? I have the new Kinect. Why would you want to go outside? Why would you like to climb up a mountain?’ I really do drink when I work out. I have to trick myself into thinking I’m doing something fun. I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn
by doubleh on Nov 5, 2011 1:33 PM EDT via iPhone app up reply actions 1 recs
Crossing Broad does not like it.
/so Slappy’d
Editor at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
Crossing Broad is worthless.
I post there to point out their stupidity.
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