Jim Thome News

"If Ken Griffey Jr. needs any extra motivation to help him achieve his quest of winning a World Series, he only has to look at teammate Jim Thome. Falling short of a 1997 World Series title still gnaws at Thome, who, like Griffey, agreed to waive his no-trade rights to join the White Sox in 2006 with the singular intent of winning a Series. "There are important things, and there are things that drive you and you dream about," said Thome, who hasn't played in a postseason since 1998 with Cleveland. "In 1997 we were two outs away, and there's that missing little piece to the puzzle that never goes away. You never forget that, for sure." Thome is very happy to have Griffey as a teammate ..."

"Jim Thome doesn't know how the story is going to end. And the White Sox designated hitter isn't the type to peek ahead a few chapters and make a guess. All indications, however, are that Thome will have a difficult time reaching the required 664 plate appearances for his $13 million 2009 option to be automatically vested. Entering Wednesday's game, he needed 392 more. If he does fall short, the Sox would have to decide whether to pick up the option or let him go to free agency. ''That's the nature of the game,'' Thome said. ''We're not even done with June, so I'm not thinking about the end of the season."

"There was extra incentive for Jim Thome to pay special attention Sunday night against the Cubs. Opposing the White Sox was pitcher Ryan Dempster,who harnessed the Sox for eight innings and will try to duplicate his winning effort when he pitches Friday at U.S. Cellular Field. Fortunately for the Sox, they are expected to have the services of Thome this weekend after he will have served what amounts to a six-game sentence for being a designated hitter while the Sox played interleague games at National League ballparks. "I'm ready," Thome said Wednesday night."

"The numbers aren't adding up for the White Sox, especially after Sunday night's 7-1 humbling by the Cubs, which extended their road losing streak to nine games. Javier Vazquez set the tone by walking the first two batters. That led to two runs and a season-high five walks issued. The offense, without Jim Thome in the lineup for the third consecutive game, grounded into three double plays in the first five innings. Thome laced a pinch double in the eighth but, fittingly, was stranded."

"After losing Paul Konerko for at least two weeks and watching Jim Thome hit three home runs in his last 10 games, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he hasn't ruled out starting his designated hitter at first base Saturday or Sunday against the Cubs. "We'll see how we do these days," Guillen said Wednesday. "[Thome] will prepare. I'm going to let him know I don't want him doing anything at first base. Just get there and catch the ball when they throw it to you. If they hit a ground ball to you and you miss it, blame it on me.""

"White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome missed his third straight start Saturday with lower back stiffness, which means he won't have many at-bats in a two-week span because he will not be used at first base at National League parks. "He will be available [only] to pinch-hit," manager Ozzie Guillen said about upcoming games at Wrigley Field next weekend and at Los Angeles after that. "I'm pretty much, 90 percent at least, sure. Last year he played a little bit, and it took like two weeks to recover."

"Jim Thome's next home run will have special meaning for him because he will catch Hall of Fame fellow left-handed hitters Ted Williams and Willie McCovey to tie for 18th place on the career list at 521. "I remember my dad telling me when he was young that he got to see Ted Williams when he came to Comiskey Park," Thome recalled. "He's actually the first guy my dad was telling me about the shift they put on, and he would hit the ball through it.""

"Moves to pull the White Sox out of a season-long hitting malaise? Paul Konerko has a full no-trade clause, Jim Thome also has no-trade rights and manager Ozzie Guillen is signed through 2012. And while a high-level difference of opinion as to the capabilities of this year's Sox surfaced after Sunday's third straight loss to Tampa Bay, general manager Ken Williams pleads for patience while stressing the faith he has in the team he retooled last winter after a 90-loss season. Williams has repeatedly stated there are no better players available than the veteran hitters the Sox currently possess. And Williams, unlike a fed-up Guillen, envisions an offensive turnaround as long as the ..."

"Jim Thome was playing for Cleveland in 1993 when Manny Ramirez made his major-league debut with the Indians. Thome knew right away his young teammate was going to be something special. "From Day One, he has always had a knack for hitting, being relaxed," Thome said. "He made adjustments really well, when he was young and as he's gotten older. His balance is so good that you don't see him out of balance a lot. That's a sign he always was going to be really good." Ramirez became the 24th player in major-league history to hit 500 home runs Saturday, and Thome said the quirky outfielder deserves to be in the Hall of Fame."

"Jim Thome saw something special in Manny Ramirez way back in 1993, when they were up-and-comers with the Cleveland Indians. So when Ramirez joined Thome and 23 others on the ever-growing 500 career home runs list Saturday, it was another "Aw, shucks'' moment for Thome. ''No question, no question,'' Thome said when asked if Ramirez, a two-time World Series winner with the Boston Red Sox, was now a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. ''I mean, he's done a lot of great things in the game. That just secured it right there."

"The climb back to respectability will take weeks and perhaps the remaining four months in the regular season. That's why White Sox slugger Jim Thome appreciates the support manager Ozzie Guillen gave him last week in the wake of his season-long struggles."

"When Paul Konerko returns from his thumb injury Monday or Tuesday in Cleveland, it will give the White Sox two aging sluggers who are struggling to keep their batting averages above .200. While Thome, 37, has shown signs of getting out of his season-long funk, he has been dropped from fourth to fifth in the lineup. And Konerko, 32, has been battling soreness in his right hand for which he received a cortisone shot Friday. The two received strong endorsements from Walker and manager Ozzie Guillen as the Sox's homestand ended Sunday night."

"Jim Thome has had bad Aprils before. Just not as a 37-year-old. But the White Sox' designated hitter has been around long enough to know how it works. What very well might be the same type of slump he had at age 25 or 30 now is going to be blamed on the fact that his skills are diminishing because of age. ''I just think that's going to be very common,'' Thome said. ''It's always out there. You as a player have to block that out."

"Still, when Thome’s career statistics are dissected and debated, he is not universally considered an automatic Hall of Famer. Of the 16 players with at least 500 homers who are eligible for the Hall, 15 have made it. Mark McGwire, who has been suspected of using steroids, is the one player in the 500 club who does not have a spot in Cooperstown."

"Growing up in Peoria and going to Wrigley Field as a kid, Jim Thome knows exactly what his 513th home run meant Thursday night—he had passed Ernie Banks, as well as Eddie Mathews, for sole possession of 19th place on the all-time list."

"Baseball to Jim Thome is about the players his dad always talked about and the players he revered while growing up in Peoria."

"Jim Thome wasn't about to panic, and neither was manager Ozzie Guillen. Thome continued his power surge in historic style Sunday, hitting his 512th homer to tie Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews for 19th place on baseball's career list to help the White Sox beat Tampa Bay 6-0."

"Jim Thome has gained much of his notoriety for his slugging, but the White Sox's designated hitter takes pride in another category. "I'd say walks, to be honest," Thome said Thursday night before drawing two bases on balls that moved him into 18th place on the all-time list with 1,465, one more than with Hall of Fame center fielder Willie Mays."

"Two hours before the White Sox' game Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles, manager Ozzie Guillen defended his lineup, specifically his decision to keep slumping veteran Jim Thome in the No. 3 spot. ''If Jimmy was somebody else, [Carlos] Quentin or a kid, I would worry about it,'' Guillen said. ''He knows what he's doing.'' Apparently, so did Guillen. In his first at-bat, Thome ended a string of 43 consecutive at-bats without a home run. His third homer of the season gave the Sox a 3-0 lead. In his second at-bat, he doubled off the wall."

"Slumping White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome was already set to sit out Tuesday afternoon's game against the Oakland Athletics. Thome used the day off to serve a one-game suspension, which resulted from his ejection during last Friday's game against the Detroit Tigers. The 37-year-old DH was tossed after arguing with home-plate umpire James Hoye over a called third strike."

"Jim Thome didn't want to know the exact number, he just knew it was bad. Eleven previous official at-bats against Cleveland Indians left-hander C.C. Sabathia and 11 outs."

"Even the familiar parts of the White Sox' lineup might look a little out of place once the season starts. Manager Ozzie Guillen said Saturday that he wants to drop No. 3 hitter Jim Thome to fifth against left-handers, with switch-hitting Nick Swisher likely taking the third spot."

"Jim Thome makes so many runs from the dugout to the bullpen during exhibition games at Tucson Electric Park that coach Harold Baines imitates him."

"Jim Thome's storied career is reflected in his milestones. But the White Sox slugger politely declines to dwell on his future with the team, as it could be dictated by numbers. Specifically, plate appearances will decide whether his $13 million option for 2009 will become vested."

"Welcome to Jim Thome's dirty little secret. Sure, it's hard to believe one exists, considering he uses the word ''neat'' more often than a 1970s sitcom and shakes hands like he's running for office. But the White Sox slugger let the world know Monday morning that his "Mayberry R.F.D." persona might not be exactly what it seems."

"Jim Thome admits there's one goal that still eludes him — winning a World Series."

"Is Thome a Hall of Famer? That will be up to qualified members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America to decide after Thome has been retired for five years."

"Jim Thome, a baseball gentleman of the first order, solidified his stature as one of the game's signature sluggers Sunday when he walloped the 500th home run of his distinguished career, becoming the 23rd player in baseball history to reach the milestone."

"More importantly, it landed in the stands in left-center field for Thome's 500th career home run -- and a 9-7 victory to boot."

"After Darin Erstad singled leading off the bottom of the ninth inning, Thome squared up a 3-2 sinker from Angels relief pitcher Dustin Moseley, hitting a 2-run walk-off homer into the seats in left-center field. Thome becomes the 23rd player in history to hit 500 home runs, and the Sox win 9-7."

"But for Jim Thome to come up on his own bobblehead day -- after the White Sox had erased a 7-1 deficit -- and hit a walkoff shot as his 500th career homer? Nah. No one's buying it. Too corny. Except, somehow, some way, that's exactly what happened Sunday in the Sox's 9-7 win over the Los Angeles Angels in front of 29,010 shocked fans."

"Jim Thome hit home run No. 500 of his career in style, blasting a two-run shot to left-center field in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Chicago White Sox a dramatic 9-7 walk-off victory over the Angels at U.S. Cellular Field, on Jim Thome Bobblehead Day, no less."

"After the White Sox tied the game by scoring four runs in the seventh off Chris Bootcheck and two in the eighth against Scot Shields, Thome blasted a 426-foot shot to left-center field off Dustin Moseley in the ninth to give Chicago a 9-7 victory and become the 23rd player in major league history to hit 500 home runs."

"Jim Thome's Hall of Fame chances could hinge on how many home runs the White Sox slugger tacks on to No. 500, which Thome hit in the ninth inning Sunday to give Chicago a 9-7 walk-off victory over the Angels."

"Sluggers generally come with baggage. But not Jim Thome. He carries it. He can't help himself, really. It's just how he's wired, and wouldn't it be great if more people were that way?"

"Phil Rogers: Jim Thome's got my vote for the Hall of Fame, and not just because he has 500 home runs. He has approached the game the right way, doing almost everything a player can do."

"Chuck Thome, father of Jim Thome, might have been the happiest man at U.S. Cellular Field on Sunday."

"As unreal as the situations were surrounding Jim Thome's 500th career home run, Will Stewart's presence Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field was almost as bizarre. An accountant from Austin, Texas, Stewart arrived in Chicago at 10 a.m. Sunday and went straight to the ballpark to catch the White Sox-Los Angeles Angels game."

"As it turns out, the fan who caught the historic 500th home run ball Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field was just as classy as the man who hit it, Jim Thome."

"Jim Thome describes his move from third base to first base before the 1997 season as "really the best thing that ever happened to me." But what Thome did for the man who replaced him at third with the Cleveland Indians hasn't been forgotten."

"As it turns out, good things can happen to bad teams. Good things like Jim Thome. As the White Sox played out the string on Wednesday at sun-drenched U.S. Cellular Field, Thome continued his feel-good run toward 500 career home runs."

"The expectation intensified when Thome swatted his 499th home run in the Sox's 7-4 victory over Cleveland with a liner off Jake Westbrook's a 2-0 pitch inside the right field foul pole in the fourth inning."

"Heading into the three-game series against the Indians, the White Sox' designated hitter had 3 home runs in as many games, running his career total to 498."

"Jim Thome was already on his second bounce between Cleveland and the minors when he saw Manny Ramirez hit for the first time. Charlotte, N.C., the Indians' Class AAA team, was in Columbus to play the Yankees' top farm club."

"Ponder this. Jim Thome was batting sixth and Manny Ramirez seventh in Mike Hargrove's Opening Day lineup for the Indians in 1995. This year, if all goes well, Thome and Ramirez will each reach 500 homers - Thome for the White Sox and Ramirez for the Red Sox."