Big League Stew - MLB

Big League Stew

Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:34 am EDT

News & Notes: Jim Thome reaches 550 ... Can he pass 600?

By 'Duk

A few items to peruse while reading from our house, in the middle of our street ... 

• A big BLS head nod goes out to Jim Thome(notes), who used his 550th career 'Thomer' to help lift the White Sox back to the .500 mark on Monday night. The 38-year-old DH is currently 13th on the all-time homer list and could approach Harmon Killebrew (who's ninth with 573) if he can stay healthy and put up another 30-homer season.

Though A-Rod has 10 more career homers and is certain to pass the milestone markers before Mr. Incredible's doppelganger, I'd like to think that Thome still has another 50 homers in those forearms of his and will eventually join the six players who have already crossed the 600-homer mark.

As long as Thome's body stays as healthy as his numbers — he's only played four games at first since 2006 — who's to say otherwise? [Tremendous Upside Potential]

• Stew buddy Jeff Passan writes about a group of fans who are trying to preserve Gate 2 of Yankee Stadium as the entrance to Heritage Park. There's no doubt it would look great, but the 11th-hour plan makes so much sense that just know there's no way the Yankees or New York politicians would ever go for it. [Y! Sports]

• You thought fouling a ball off your foot is painful? Check out the spot where Michael Bourn's(notes) foul tip landed. (Fellas, brace yourselves.) [Bugs & Cranks]

• Carlos Beltran(notes) and John Maine(notes) do not have the swine flu. [NYT]

• Edinson Volquez(notes) probably doesn't either, but the Reds pitcher will undergo some test today to see why the fingers on his right hand felt numb after just one inning on Monday night. Volquez had just returned from the DL from back spasms. Now this. [MLB.com]

• Some Nats fans are starting to wonder if their less loyal Beltway brethren might start drifting  back to following the Orioles. [Distinguished Senators via Fire Jim Bowden]

• As gymnast Shawn Johnson (4-foot-10) and baller Lauren Jackson (6-foot-5), first pitch throwers can come in all shapes and sizes. [AP]

 

• Allen Chace contemplates the trade possiblities for the Red Sox, from the pipe dreams (Adrian Gonzalez(notes) and Miguel Cabrera(notes)) to the somewhat possiblie (Adam Dunn(notes)) to the likely (Jack Wilson(notes)). [Over The Monster]

• Stop me if you've heard this before: Randy Johnson(notes) has a chance to be the last 300-game winner ... to appear on The Simpsons. [Fantasy Pros 911]

Well that was quick: Some Royals fans are already starting to talk about Luke Hochevar(notes) being used as a setup man for Joakim Soria(notes). [Drive Line Mechanics via RR]

digg delicious
more

14 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. urbanlegendsrg
    1. Posted by urbanlegendsrg Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:43 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Stop me if you heard this before...Another column by Duk, starting about a player from Chicago...what else is new? And providing corny jokes suitable for 12 year olds....Actual useful information is all skin and bones...
  2. N8
    2. Posted by N8 Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:48 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    I got faith in Thome
    N8 Strikes Again!!!
  3. Matt
    3. Posted by Matt Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:13 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    As long as there's no steroid allegations that pop up for Thome in the next year and a half he'll get 600 HRs in his career and be a first ballot Hall of Famer.
  4. Saro G
    4. Posted by Saro G Tue Jun 02, 2009 11:44 am EDT

    Report Abuse

    Chris Snyder took a bigger badge of courage last year.
  5. freezy
    5. Posted by freezy Tue Jun 02, 2009 1:43 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    congrats Jim...ive follwoed you throughout your career in cleveland and have been a big supporter of yours...keep up the good work and we will see you in the HOF
  6. Michael N
    6. Posted by Michael N Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Another slugger that is all thunder and little else. Look at Thome's stats and you will see he has struck out more than he has hit safely. Is this really what the hall of fame is about? And of course he is a steroid era player so how can we be sure that he did that all with his talent and not with the help of roids?
  7. eight inches
    7. Posted by eight inches Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Another reason why the DH rule sucks. People sitting in the dugouts, nice and comfortable, don't have to lift a finger, don't have to tax their bodies in the outfied, sitting in the shade drinking water and chilling out, and come to bat 3 times a game. Hell, I could hit 500 home runs if life was that easy. Get rid of the DH and play real baseball.
  8. L G
    8. Posted by L G Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Thome can still get 600+. Without injuries, he would have been pushing for 700 now.
  9. Czheck
    9. Posted by Czheck Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:46 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Go white sox. eight inches is a hater
  10. brianw122@...
    10. Posted by brianw122@... Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:50 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    wow go thome and randy could be the lat
  11. brianw122@...
    11. Posted by brianw122@... Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:50 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    last
  12. Cotton Piquer
    12. Posted by Cotton Piquer Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:04 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Jim Thome had about 700AB in his 1st 3 seasons. Thome only hit two HR in his 2nd year with the Phillies due to injury. He averaged 46HR in the 3 years before & 2 after. Thome could have passed 600HR in April easily. Remove the HR totals of Bonds, Sosa, McGwire, & A-rod, & Thome would end up as 1 of the top 5 legit HR hitters of all time. Thomes HR per Ab is 3rd best of all-time. Hard 2 believe that half of the ESPN baseball tonight crew said in April that Thome hasn't done enough to be a HOF player yet. WTF? Didn't they think Ozzie ( I can only hit it 100 feet) Smith should have been a Unanimous HOFer?
    A-Rods HR's should not count. He averaged 52 HR in the 3 yeras in Texas that he admitted were steroid aided.
    Take away the 156 & A-Rod does not have 400HR. A-Rod started using steroids as a Mariner. A-Rod went from a deer caught in the headlights @ 18 & 19, to less than 10HR @ 20, to 40+ HR, a batting title, and over 125 RBI as a 21 year old. That IMPROVEMENT ( followed by a 40HR, 40SB season @ 23) was NOT due to maturity, or AB's.
  13. G
    13. Posted by G Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:13 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Passan is a MORON! with Texiera, A Roid, Swisher, Posada, Cabrera, Cano, I would think u should have a high number of HR's, funny how Rangers crank em elsewhere but don't seem to set any records at Yank Stadium, I hate the Yanks but I hate opportunistic sensational moronic sports journalsist worst
  14. ADisALLDAY
    14. Posted by ADisALLDAY Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:45 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    you guys are all retarded. Jim Thome is probably the most honorable and nicest man of baseball's 'nice guys'. you can't even put his name on a list of people who took steroids. and for you that think the DH is a stupid spot? yeah real exciting watching a pitcher hit isn't it. God forbid we actually give credit where credit is due. not to mention the fact that Babe Ruth struck out more than anyone else in history. anyone with any credentials anyways. Look at Thome's first years in cleveland. he came up as an increbile 3rd baseman and played a stellar first base. you can shove it, haters.
    OWNED by a 15 year old. see ya girlies ;)

Big League Stew

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

'Duk

Big League Stew is an MLB blog edited by Kevin Kaduk. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
David Brown, Alex Remington,

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]

Related Photo Gallery

More MLB Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

Big League Stew Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)