A Different Answer To A Common Question

Earlier today, my cousin Joseph asked me a question regarding the 2010 White Sox. As easy as it is for me to write his question off as a question designed not to seek answers, but rather bust my balls, I chose not to dismiss it in this case because it seems to be a question on the mind of a lot of Sox fans. The question was "Do you miss Jim Thome yet?" My brother Steven and I have shared numerous discussion on what exact value Jim Thome would bring to this years White Sox team, and we're pretty much in complete agreement on the matter. After listening to talk radio, and hearing the question asked from Joseph, I decided to share my views on the open forum that is Whitey Guccionne.

My answer to the question is still a resounding "no". I do not miss Jim Thome....not in the least, and I'll give you my reasons why. Now look, before I hear Dan Bernstein over-simplify with the "Would the White Sox be a better team with Jim Thome in the lineup?" question, let me share some numbers with you. Obviously, the White Sox started playing red hot baseball on June 9. Since June 9, they have averaged 5.05 runs scored per game. To give you an idea of how good that is, the only two teams that average more runs per game than the Sox have, are the Red Sox at 5.13, and the Yankees at 5.24. So looking at those numbers, it begs the question, how badly are the Sox really missing Thome, when they've been scoring runs at a very satisfactory clip?

Here are some other numbers that should be examined. This recent tailspin began with a trip to Baltimore on August 6. They won on August 7, 4-2 and at that time, the Team ERA was 3.84. Nine games later, the team ERA has skyrocketed to 3.97, and has given up double digit runs in a game twice! The last time I checked, Jim Thome was not a pitcher. So that's begs the other question and provides my rebuttal for the over-simplifying Dan Bernstein's of the world. What would make the White Sox a better team? Jim Thome in the lineup, or the entire pitching staff returning to form? I'd like to think the latter would be much more beneficial to the White Sox.

Right on cue, baseball-reference.com's blog has a post regarding Jim Thome's remarkable season. You can see it for yourself here.

Rk OPS+ G Year Age Tm PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA OBP SLG OPS Pos


1 Barry Bonds 169 126 2007 42 SFG 477 340 75 94 14 0 28 66 132 54 5 .276 .480 .565 1.045 *7/D

2 Ted Williams 190 113 1960 41 BOS 390 310 56 98 15 0 29 72 75 41 1 .316 .451 .645 1.096 *7

3 Barry Bonds 156 130 2006 41 SFG 493 367 74 99 23 0 26 77 115 51 3 .270 .454 .545 .999 *7/D

4 Willie Mays 158 136 1971 40 SFG 537 417 82 113 24 5 18 61 112 123 23 .271 .425 .482 .907 *83

5 Ted Williams 179 129 1958 39 BOS 517 411 81 135 23 2 26 85 98 49 1 .328 .458 .584 1.042 *7

6 Babe Ruth 161 125 1934 39 NYY 471 365 78 105 17 4 22 84 104 63 1 .288 .448 .537 .985 *97

7 Barry Bonds 263 147 2004 39 SFG 617 373 129 135 27 3 45 101 232 41 6 .362 .609 .812 1.422 *7/D

8 Jim Thome 163 81 2010 39 MIN 253 209 31 57 14 1 17 44 42 62 0 .273 .391 .593 .985 *D

9 Hank Aaron 177 120 1973 39 ATL 465 392 84 118 12 1 40 96 68 51 1 .301 .402 .643 1.045 *79


Looking at this list, and looking at the picture of Jim Thome's rookie card above, do you get the feeling that not all is right in Denmark? I'm not saying...I'm just saying.....it's REALLY amazing that at 39 years old Thome is still producing like this............REAAAAAAAAAAAAALLY amazing...

O.W. Shaddock Rule : Thanks For The Memories Jim

Surprisingly there is some pretty strong backlash at the White Sox, mainly Ozzie Guillen's, decision to not bring Jim Thome back to the South Side for the upcoming 2010 season. Admittedly, it is a tough situation to let Thome go, especially considering he performed very well during his White Sox stint, enjoyed his time with the Sox immensely, did numerous appearances for charity willingly, and will forever be remembered for his 7th inning home run in Game 163 in 2008 (pictured left). Thome's reputation among White Sox fans, and in all of baseball is impeccable. The only people who have problems with Thome are those silly temperamental and illogical Cleveland Indians fans that don't understand anything about the business of baseball, or understand that the Indians couldn't afford to keep Thome even if they wanted to. Then again Indians fans have been historically slow to grasp the obvious sometimes.

All that aside however, this is business. The White Sox have decided to go for a more balanced, versatile, and for lack of a better term "National League style" lineup with an emphasis on speed, defense, manufacturing runs, etc, in order to restore some consistency with the offensive production. Ozzie has always preferred a lineup of this variety, and there is definitely a sense that Guillen was behind every decision the White Sox made this offseason. Andruw Jones and Omar Vizquel have 21 Gold Gloves between them. While never being accused of great defense at third base, Mark Teahen does provide a line drive hitter who will put the ball in play. Coupled with Mark Kotsay, Guillen plans to have the DH position wide open so he can specifically rotate a very deep bench, and keep these and other veterans as fresh as possible.

This leaves Jim Thome (and Jermaine Dye as well) as the square peg in the round hole. He's 39 years old, and he's not what the White Sox need, even in the role of a pinch hitter off the bench. He's clearly not the same hitter he used to be, and at some point the White Sox need to let go of the past. Let's not forget that the White Sox showed the door to their greatest player in franchise history Frank Thomas, to make room for Thome to be on the team in the first place. Let's also not forget, that the White Sox did the same thing to Ozzie Guillen that they did to Thome, when Ozzie was a player for them in 1998. It's a tough business, but it is the business of baseball, love it or hate it.

As O.W. Shaddock (John Matuszak) said in North Dallas Forty : "Every time I call it a game, you say it's a business. Every time I say it's a business, you call it a game!"

Jim Thome is a Minnesota Twin now, and The Beard is sending a big "Good Luck", and "Thanks For The Memories", to him.