Thome Is A Twinkie-Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
Joni Mitchell-Big Yellow Taxi
So long, Buzz Lightyear. We'll miss that big grin, those huge ears and that flat top. We'll miss that veteran presence you brought to the lineup. We'll miss that work ethic. And, we'll miss those majestic bombs.
The Chicago White Sox have moved on and so has Jim Thome, signed yesterday by the rival Minnesota Twins. The White Sox are convinced that their "DH by committee" is going to propel them to the ALDS and beyond, while handing the rival Twinkies, the one team in the division they can't beat on a regular basis, a player who was a valuable piece of their puzzle for the last four seasons.
Lost in all of this is Thome's past against the White Sox. While a member of the hated Cleveland Indians, Thome hit .320 career against the Sox with 41 homers and 107 RBIs in 420abs. Now, he's lining up against the Sox again and being motivated, he'll probably inflict even more damage. It's bad enough to let a slugger walk, but having him walk into the camp of your most hated enemy could be a mistake of epic consequences.
Had Thome signed with Oakland or Texas or even theDevil Rays, this would not be a discussion. But White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen stubbornly and arrogantly stuck to his committee approach with the full knowledge that Thome was going to sign with Minnesota if Guillen didn't change his mind.
This decision will bite the White Sox, bet on it.
One other thing: I hope that White Sox fans have enough class to realize that even though Jim Thome is wearing the uniform of an enemy, this situation was never about him wanting to leave the Sox. I hope when he comes to bat at U.S. Commiskey Park that you extend him every courtesy, stand up and show him that you at least think Ozzie has made a terrible mistake.
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
So long, Buzz Lightyear. We'll miss that big grin, those huge ears and that flat top. We'll miss that veteran presence you brought to the lineup. We'll miss that work ethic. And, we'll miss those majestic bombs.
The Chicago White Sox have moved on and so has Jim Thome, signed yesterday by the rival Minnesota Twins. The White Sox are convinced that their "DH by committee" is going to propel them to the ALDS and beyond, while handing the rival Twinkies, the one team in the division they can't beat on a regular basis, a player who was a valuable piece of their puzzle for the last four seasons.
Lost in all of this is Thome's past against the White Sox. While a member of the hated Cleveland Indians, Thome hit .320 career against the Sox with 41 homers and 107 RBIs in 420abs. Now, he's lining up against the Sox again and being motivated, he'll probably inflict even more damage. It's bad enough to let a slugger walk, but having him walk into the camp of your most hated enemy could be a mistake of epic consequences.
Had Thome signed with Oakland or Texas or even the
This decision will bite the White Sox, bet on it.
One other thing: I hope that White Sox fans have enough class to realize that even though Jim Thome is wearing the uniform of an enemy, this situation was never about him wanting to leave the Sox. I hope when he comes to bat at U.S. Commiskey Park that you extend him every courtesy, stand up and show him that you at least think Ozzie has made a terrible mistake.
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