Jim Thome Has Done It

[andrew6586]

He hit his 599th and 600th homeruns tonight. Congrats to him. He was one of my favorite players growing up and still is to this day. More importantly, he hit these homers against the Tigers. Way to help out the team, Jimmy.

[statmasta]

The Thomenator comes up clutch again.

[RedDawg53]

The Thomenator comes up clutch again.

Fucking right. Thanks Jim!

All is forgiven for him signing with the Phills

[RedDawg53]

Where the hell were all the media coverage by all the major networks? They didn't cut in to the ball games I was watching.

I'm thinking A-rod will be mentioned by the major networks as much, if not more than Thome's name tonight and until tomorrow evening, when they'll find something about The OSU. If it's not NY/BOS/LA it's not news, it's just filler

[swerb]

I'm still bitter.

[pup]

[andrew6586]

It's funny that you post this picture because I feel that his wife is the reason he left Cleveland. She got pissed at the city when she got canned by Channel 3 and wanted out ever since. She is the reason he left in my opinion.

[DrPoove]

Congrats to Jim Thome. His wife may be a C word but that doesn't diminish the accomplishment.

I am still bitter too but I will still give him kudos.

[Dnthateonthepronk]

Congrats Thomenator. If there ever was a person who deserved to reach a milestone of this magnitude it was Jimmy.

I do wish it would have happened at the Jake ( Im not calling it the Prog) in two losses though.


He was and will always be my favorite tribe player......EVER

[Am I Here Again?]

Good for him - nice, too, that he helped his old team by beating the Tigers. In my book he's 5th on the list. Those known to have used PEDs should have *** after their names.

[Dnthateonthepronk]

Good for him - nice, too, that he helped his old team by beating the Tigers. In my book he's 5th on the list. Those known to have used PEDs should have *** after their names.

amen to that sister

[Larvell Blanks]

Put a red wig on Thome in that picture and he looks like Rocky Dennis

[Rusty]

My bitterness has faded... Thome is just too hard to dislike. I blame the union.

[The Brook]

Thome is in my top 3 to watch swing the bat. He was plain fun to watch. Congrats.

[motherscratcher]

I know a lot of Clevelanders are like Pup...they think Thome kissed his wife and turned into a big mossy rock. I guess I understand their position.

Personally, I never held much animosity toward him. Good to see him get 600. Good guy.

[peeker643]

I know a lot of Clevelanders are like Pup...they think Thome kissed his wife and turned into a big mossy rock. I guess I understand their position.

Personally, I never held much animosity toward him. Good to see him get 600. Good guy.

There is literally no one in the entire baseball community with a bad thing to say about Jim Thome. Not in the media, clubhouses or front offices.

Just here in Cleveland where people are bitter.

Personally I never felt the bitterness. No for a second. Disappointed dude didn't play his entire career here but never begrudged the guy for a second.

But 600 is amazing and there's no question dude is a 1st ballot HoFer. Look at his entire body of work. He's heads above many other members of the Hall and he's arguably been one of the 10-20 most productive players in the history of the game. Not to mention dude actually played a position for 15 of those years. Say what you will about his defensive mediocrity but it never was a case where you couldn't also have an Ortiz or Hafner type on your roster to DH and strengthen your lineup due to Thome skanking up your DH spot for the duration of his contract. Dude played 1B in Philly well enough to entitle him to the number of ABs required to hit 40+ HRs in each of his two healthy years there.

It's all been said here before. Couple legendary threads where the Thome issue has been addressed.

But I was watching MLB Network for his 599th and 600th and I'm happy for the guy. Mostly because of what was said in the very first paragraph.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

There is literally no one in the entire baseball community with a bad thing to say about Jim Thome. Not in the media, clubhouses or front offices.

Just here in Cleveland where people are bitter.

Personally I never felt the bitterness. No for a second. Disappointed dude didn't play his entire career here but never begrudged the guy for a second.

But 600 is amazing and there's no question dude is a 1st ballot HoFer. Look at his entire body of work. He's heads above many other members of the Hall and he's arguably been one of the 10-20 most productive players in the history of the game. Not to mention dude actually played a position for 15 of those years. Say what you will about his defensive mediocrity but it never was a case where you couldn't also have an Ortiz or Hafner type on your roster to DH and strengthen your lineup due to Thome skanking up your DH spot for the duration of his contract. Dude played 1B in Philly well enough to entitle him to the number of ABs required to hit 40+ HRs in each of his two healthy years there.

It's all been said here before. Couple legendary threads where the Thome issue has been addressed.

But I was watching MLB Network for his 599th and 600th and I'm happy for the guy. Mostly because of what was said in the very first paragraph.

Couldn't agree more.

Dude is going into the HOF with a Tribe lid anyway.

[Dnthateonthepronk]

But 600 is amazing and there's no question dude is a 1st ballot HoFer. Look at his entire body of work. He's heads above many other members of the Hall and he's arguably been one of the 10-20 most productive players in the history of the game. Not to mention dude actually played a position for 15 of those years. Say what you will about his defensive mediocrity but it never was a case where you couldn't also have an Ortiz or Hafner type on your roster to DH and strengthen your lineup due to Thome skanking up your DH spot for the duration of his contract. Dude played 1B in Philly well enough to entitle him to the number of ABs required to hit 40+ HRs in each of his two healthy years there.
.

Its funny because I got in an argument with a guy in a fantasy league of mine a couple of years ago when Jim was closing in on 500 HR's who said Thome was average and wasn't a HOF and he compared him to Jim Rice calling him a poor man's Jim Rice.

I then pointed out that Thome's #s at that time were already far superior to that of Rice and Rice was in the HOF. The guy even after seeing his numbers at that time just responded saying dumb stuff like he just isn't special and all that garbage and saw him play and he doesn't feel like a HOF.

The general public just doesn't get how good his numbers really are. Hell I wear my Thome jersey down here in Va Beach all over the place like the city, to minor league games and even up to Orioles games when they play the Tribe, and more often than not i'll get at least 3 or 4 people asking me who is THOME pronounced like it rhymes with PHONE.

They just dont know who he is. It's kind of sad. Somebody so great is so unknown.

If anybody didnt hear the Twins feed of the game. Bert Blyleven went off on how there was no hype surrounding Thome's 600 th homer. It was awesome.

[gotribe31]

But 600 is amazing and there's no question dude is a 1st ballot HoFer. Look at his entire body of work. He's heads above many other members of the Hall and he's arguably been one of the 10-20 most productive players in the history of the game. Not to mention dude actually played a position for 15 of those years. Say what you will about his defensive mediocrity but it never was a case where you couldn't also have an Ortiz or Hafner type on your roster to DH and strengthen your lineup due to Thome skanking up your DH spot for the duration of his contract. Dude played 1B in Philly well enough to entitle him to the number of ABs required to hit 40+ HRs in each of his two healthy years there.
.

Its funny because I got in an argument with a guy in a fantasy league of mine a couple of years ago when Jim was closing in on 500 HR's who said Thome was average and wasn't a HOF and he compared him to Jim Rice calling him a poor man's Jim Rice.

I then pointed out that Thome's #s at that time were already far superior to that of Rice and Rice was in the HOF. The guy even after seeing his numbers at that time just responded saying dumb stuff like he just isn't special and all that garbage and saw him play and he doesn't feel like a HOF.

The general public just doesn't get how good his numbers really are. Hell I wear my Thome jersey down here in Va Beach all over the place like the city, to minor league games and even up to Orioles games when they play the Tribe, and more often than not i'll get at least 3 or 4 people asking me who is THOME pronounced like it rhymes with PHONE.

They just dont know who he is. It's kind of sad. Somebody so great is so unknown.

If anybody didnt hear the Twins feed of the game. Bert Blyleven went off on how there was no hype surrounding Thome's 600 th homer. It was awesome.

If someone told me Thome was a "poor man's Jim Rice," I would have completely ceased talking sports with her. That's like saying Joe Namath was a poor man's Otto Graham.

[motherscratcher]

If someone told me Thome was a "poor man's Jim Rice," I would have completely ceased talking sports with her. That's like saying Joe Namath was a poor man's Otto Graham.

Other way around, right? That's like saying Otto Graham was a poor man's Joe Namath. Right? Or do I have that backwards?

[Love child of shawn kemp]

Should make my two autographed rookie cards more valuable. He sure looked skinny back then.

[peeker643]

Should make my two autographed rookie cards more valuable. He sure looked skinny back then.

My High School homecoming date was skinny back in 1991 too.

I ran into her at Cedar Point a couple weeks back.

Thome is proportionately sized for his age. Either that or my homecoming date used roids.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

If someone told me Thome was a "poor man's Jim Rice," I would have completely ceased talking sports with her. That's like saying Joe Namath was a poor man's Otto Graham.

Other way around, right? That's like saying Otto Graham was a poor man's Joe Namath. Right? Or do I have that backwards?

Otto Graham was a high quality German, so you shut up.

[Symbolic47]

"They will have to rip the jersey off my back"

Next day "Peace suckers!"

Still bitter, but good for him. Great player.

[gotribe31]

If someone told me Thome was a "poor man's Jim Rice," I would have completely ceased talking sports with her. That's like saying Joe Namath was a poor man's Otto Graham.

Other way around, right? That's like saying Otto Graham was a poor man's Joe Namath. Right? Or do I have that backwards?

Otto Graham was a high quality German, so you shut up.

Best German QB out of Northwestern, ever.

And yes Mother, you're way is correct. But even calling Namath a poor man's Graham is an insult to Graham.

[motherscratcher]

Yeah, exactly.

Graham >>> Namath
Thome >>> Rice

[FUDU]

I know a lot of Clevelanders are like Pup...they think Thome kissed his wife and turned into a big mossy rock. I guess I understand their position.

Personally, I never held much animosity toward him. Good to see him get 600. Good guy.

There is literally no one in the entire baseball community with a bad thing to say about Jim Thome. Not in the media, clubhouses or front offices.

Just here in Cleveland where people are bitter.

Personally I never felt the bitterness. No for a second. Disappointed dude didn't play his entire career here but never begrudged the guy for a second.

But 600 is amazing and there's no question dude is a 1st ballot HoFer. Look at his entire body of work. He's heads above many other members of the Hall and he's arguably been one of the 10-20 most productive players in the history of the game. Not to mention dude actually played a position for 15 of those years. Say what you will about his defensive mediocrity but it never was a case where you couldn't also have an Ortiz or Hafner type on your roster to DH and strengthen your lineup due to Thome skanking up your DH spot for the duration of his contract. Dude played 1B in Philly well enough to entitle him to the number of ABs required to hit 40+ HRs in each of his two healthy years there.

It's all been said here before. Couple legendary threads where the Thome issue has been addressed.

But I was watching MLB Network for his 599th and 600th and I'm happy for the guy. Mostly because of what was said in the very first paragraph.

Wow I didn't think you felt this way, not sure why.

I agree on all points, 1st ballot without question. Heck only Ruth got to 600 in fewer ABs right?

Plus Jim's play at 1b was actually better than mediocre, not stellar, but more than solid most of the time.

You know what else, only the slightest of whispers about him and steroids, never a substantial claim from MSM. Not the end all be all on the subject but it does say something of the reputation of his natural ability.

[scrambler]

Thome had a very nice career. He should be in the HOF as should all steroid users if they were great players. Not saying Thome was or wasn't...have no idea. But put them all in....Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Sosa. Who cares. It was what it was.

[motherscratcher]

Thome had a very nice career. He should be in the HOF as should all steroid users if they were great players. Not saying Thome was or wasn't...have no idea. But put them all in....Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Sosa. Who cares. It was what it was.

If I had to bet, I would bet that Thome didn't use. But your right, we don't know. Just like we don't know for a huge amount of players.

I'm with you. Put them all in. Starting with Big Jim on his first ballot.

[FortheWin]

Who will Thome go into the HOF with? Cleveland?

[peeker643]

I know a lot of Clevelanders are like Pup...they think Thome kissed his wife and turned into a big mossy rock. I guess I understand their position.

Personally, I never held much animosity toward him. Good to see him get 600. Good guy.

There is literally no one in the entire baseball community with a bad thing to say about Jim Thome. Not in the media, clubhouses or front offices.

Just here in Cleveland where people are bitter.

Personally I never felt the bitterness. No for a second. Disappointed dude didn't play his entire career here but never begrudged the guy for a second.

But 600 is amazing and there's no question dude is a 1st ballot HoFer. Look at his entire body of work. He's heads above many other members of the Hall and he's arguably been one of the 10-20 most productive players in the history of the game. Not to mention dude actually played a position for 15 of those years. Say what you will about his defensive mediocrity but it never was a case where you couldn't also have an Ortiz or Hafner type on your roster to DH and strengthen your lineup due to Thome skanking up your DH spot for the duration of his contract. Dude played 1B in Philly well enough to entitle him to the number of ABs required to hit 40+ HRs in each of his two healthy years there.

It's all been said here before. Couple legendary threads where the Thome issue has been addressed.

But I was watching MLB Network for his 599th and 600th and I'm happy for the guy. Mostly because of what was said in the very first paragraph.

Wow I didn't think you felt this way, not sure why.

Dunno. Just never felt a bit of bitterness.

And I'd bet Thome goes into the HoF as an Indian. Not that it matters to those with their minds made up but that's my bet.

[motherscratcher]

Who will Thome go into the HOF with? Cleveland?

Without a doubt.

11 years in Cleveland.

8 years split between Philly, Chicago, And Minny.

Has to be Cleveland.

[scrambler]

Who will Thome go into the HOF with? Cleveland?

Without a doubt.

11 years in Cleveland.

8 years split between Philly, Chicago, And Minny.

Has to be Cleveland.

Plus he played in what--2 World Series, and 5 or 6 post seasons with the Tribe? He played in no post season games with Philly, Chicago or Minny. He did play in one with LA. His best years were with Cleveland and that is where he did his best work. It's cleveland, with Charlie Manuel presenting!! It's always entertaining listening to Charlie talk!

[Am I Here Again?]

If someone told me Thome was a "poor man's Jim Rice," I would have completely ceased talking sports with her. That's like saying Joe Namath was a poor man's Otto Graham.

*ahem!!!*
In case you didn't notice exactly who D-Pronk attributed this piece of stupid talk to I've highlighted the gender for you:

Its funny because I got in an argument with a guy in a fantasy league of mine a couple of years ago when Jim was closing in on 500 HR's who said Thome was average and wasn't a HOF and he compared him to Jim Rice calling him a poor man's Jim Rice.

Not all women are sports stupid. I never would have said something that dumb. Not only did I have the pleasure of being in Cleveland during Thome's entire stay but I had more than enough of all the Jim Rice coronation crap that went on up here in Beantown during his last year of eligibility. Every time they would talk about how "great" he was I always thought "really? I mean REALLY?" So please don't disparage all women when it comes to sports. If we're ever at the same party I'll be the one female talking sports with all the guys around the beer cooler (Tribe glass from home in my hand).

[gotribe31]

If someone told me Thome was a "poor man's Jim Rice," I would have completely ceased talking sports with her. That's like saying Joe Namath was a poor man's Otto Graham.

*ahem!!!*
In case you didn't notice exactly who D-Pronk attributed this piece of stupid talk to I've highlighted the gender for you:

Its funny because I got in an argument with a guy in a fantasy league of mine a couple of years ago when Jim was closing in on 500 HR's who said Thome was average and wasn't a HOF and he compared him to Jim Rice calling him a poor man's Jim Rice.

Not all women are sports stupid. I never would have said something that dumb. Not only did I have the pleasure of being in Cleveland during Thome's entire stay but I had more than enough of all the Jim Rice coronation crap that went on up here in Beantown during his last year of eligibility. Every time they would talk about how "great" he was I always thought "really? I mean REALLY?" So please don't disparage all women when it comes to sports. If we're ever at the same party I'll be the one female talking sports with all the guys around the beer cooler (Tribe glass from home in my hand).

I apologize...that was an inappropriate generalization. You've more than proved your sports knowledege here on the boards, so please dont take it as a shot at you personally

[Love child of shawn kemp]

Should make my two autographed rookie cards more valuable. He sure looked skinny back then.

My High School homecoming date was skinny back in 1991 too.

I ran into her at Cedar Point a couple weeks back.

Thome is proportionately sized for his age. Either that or my homecoming date used roids.

Haha, they do tend to increase breast size, so maybe??? I was not trying to imply roids. I will have to scan the picture and put it up on here. Probably should have just said he looked really young.

[peeker643]

Should make my two autographed rookie cards more valuable. He sure looked skinny back then.

My High School homecoming date was skinny back in 1991 too.

I ran into her at Cedar Point a couple weeks back.

Thome is proportionately sized for his age. Either that or my homecoming date used roids.

Haha, they do tend to increase breast size, so maybe??? I was not trying to imply roids. I will have to scan the picture and put it up on here. Probably should have just said he looked really young.

You're right. It's night and day seeing him in his first call up as compard to today though. He looked like a rail when he was a kid.

[tecs]

Thome had a very nice career. He should be in the HOF as should all steroid users if they were great players. Not saying Thome was or wasn't...have no idea. But put them all in....Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Sosa. Who cares. It was what it was.

Take it or leave it, but from all reputable sources involved with the various investigations of steroid use and the reporting of it...Thome's name hasn't come up once.

I never quite understood the old cliche about hitting a screaming baseball until I personally saw Thome hit one out against Twins back in 96. That ball sounded like the devil himself had lite a fire in it's ass and was chasing it.

Thome is a first ballot HOF'er.

[scrambler]

Thome had a very nice career. He should be in the HOF as should all steroid users if they were great players. Not saying Thome was or wasn't...have no idea. But put them all in....Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Sosa. Who cares. It was what it was.

Take it or leave it, but from all reputable sources involved with the various investigations of steroid use and the reporting of it...Thome's name hasn't come up once.

I never quite understood the old cliche about hitting a screaming baseball until I personally saw Thome hit one out against Twins back in 96. That ball sounded like the devil himself had lite a fire in it's ass and was chasing it.

Thome is a first ballot HOF'er.

He was a GREAT offensive player. His defense at both 1st and 3rd was nothing to write home about. but 600 home runs AND a career OBP over .400 is remarkable and simply HOF worthy. Period.

[Am I Here Again?]

.....please don't disparage all women when it comes to sports. If we're ever at the same party I'll be the one female talking sports with all the guys around the beer cooler (Tribe glass from home in my hand).

I apologize...that was an inappropriate generalization. You've more than proved your sports knowledege here on the boards, so please dont take it as a shot at you personally

I wasn't taking it personally, just defending my gender. No offense taken. I'll admit most females don't know much about sports because they aren't interested. That's why I'm in the kitchen with the boys and the beers while all the other women are in the living room talking PTO and raising kids. Been there, done that, now time to kick back.

[skatingtripods]

I find it highly appropriate that Thome hit 599 and 600 to the opposite field. Guy has some of the best oppo power I have ever seen.

[redneckofsc]

Guy is a definite first ballot HOFer.

600 HR club is definetly impressive, considering there is only 8 there, and 3 of those 8 juice. Mays, Aaron, Ruth, and Griffey is impressice company.

Pujols should get there, and and Fielder has an outside shot.

I still hate his wife though.

[Am I Here Again?]

Had WEEI on this afternoon while the "Mut and Merloni" (Yup! Lou is on the radio) show was on. They were talking to Harold Reynolds from MLB Network about Thome's 600th home run. Lots of talk about how it didn't get the press it deserved and stuff. AND both Lou and Harold said that Thome was the absolute best guy they have ever known in the game. Kinda made me proud that he came up through the Tribe's organization...and that none of Albert Belle's "Joeyness" didn't rub off on him.

If you're bored and you want to listen to the clip go here: http://audio.weei.com/a/43902896/harold ... etwork.htm

[noles1]

Is a compliment from Harold Reynolds a good thing though?

http://deadspin.com/189733/was-this-why ... ot-the-axe

Is a testament to Thome though you can't seem to find anyone to ever say anything bad about the guy and if anything people go out of their way to praise his classiness.

[peeker643]

I find it highly appropriate that Thome hit 599 and 600 to the opposite field. Guy has some of the best oppo power I have ever seen.

601 last night same place too. He's locked in. You could always tell when he was taking the ball that way that he was on a two week bender that would carry your offense.

[FUDU]

I find it highly appropriate that Thome hit 599 and 600 to the opposite field. Guy has some of the best oppo power I have ever seen.

IINM I think it is been confirmed by some (maybe most) swing experts/science that hitter's true power alleys are the opposite CF. IOW Thome's true power alley is LC, Albert's RC.

Just sayin.

[leadpipe]

I find it highly appropriate that Thome hit 599 and 600 to the opposite field. Guy has some of the best oppo power I have ever seen.

IINM I think it is been confirmed by some (maybe most) swing experts/science that hitter's true power alleys are the opposite CF. IOW Thome's true power alley is LC, Albert's RC.

Just sayin.

Doesn't take a swing expert or scientist to confirm power to center - just look at the field dimensions.