Twins' Jim Thome Hits 600th Home Run

[Jagger69]

I know there's an MLB thread going but this guy is so unheralded and unappreciated that I decided he needs his own thread there at Freeones.

1B Jim Thome of the Minnesota Twins hit his 600th home run tonight....only the 8th major league player in history ever to do so. This guy has been so under-the-radar that no one outside the baseball establishment knows who he is, yet he is one of the greatest players ever to lace up the spikes.

Story is here:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/6847957/road-600-home-runs-memorable-one-jim-thome

Here's an interesting statistical analysis of his road to 600 HRs:

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/08/statistical_breakdown_of_jim_t.html

Congratulations, Jim. You did it the right way....selflessly and as the consummate team player. A throwback guy if ever there was one. And all without ever a hint of juicing. We'll see you in Cooperstown, Jim. Well done. VERY well done!

:clap: :thumbsup:

 

[STDiva]

Thome is awesome. Good for him!

 

[The Grasshopper]

I've been out of baseball for to long, I had no idea he was closing in on 600!! :eek: A big congratulations to him he has been a favorite of mine for some time even though I rarely watch the sport anymore. :bowdown:

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

I was watching it live on FSN.

The sad thing about those "elite 8" is three of them were juicers, not the least of which is the all-time leader Bonds. I think more than anything Thome is just a class act and no one could ever say a bad word about him.

Congrats!

 

[PlasmaTwa2]

This guy has been so under-the-radar that no one outside the baseball establishment knows who he is, yet he is one of the greatest players ever to lace up the spikes.

Of course... He plays for the Twins.

(Come get me Scott)

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

Of course... He plays for the Twins.

(Come get me Scott)

Actually this year I have to concur with that. It's a shame they aren't in a Pennant race.
He still might be coming back next year. Watch out.

 

[izabelplayer]

he had a long, great career. 600 is a lot of homeruns. not sure if he that might get him to the hall of fame though.

 

[STDiva]

he had a long, great career. 600 is a lot of homeruns. not sure if he that might get him to the hall of fame though.

I'll take that bet.

 

[darkwarrior3007]

he had a long, great career. 600 is a lot of homeruns. not sure if he that might get him to the hall of fame though.

Yes it will.

 

[izabelplayer]

im just saying. His numbers don't exactly overwhelm you. he has a .273 batting average and he not top ten in any major stats besides strikeouts. He ranks 158th in hits and 50th in slugging percentage. he would probably be automatic in another era. but he played in an era where guys likes bonds, sosa and arod used steriods so the big home run numbers he put up doesn't seem as impressive.

 

[dbradford8589]

Good for him he seems like a good guy.

 

[ThatRedWing]

Fuck Jim Thome. Fuck him all to hell. God damn piece of shit.


OK, now that my Tiger fan rant is over...

As a baseball fan, Thome was one of my favorite players. He always seemed to play for the love of the game. I have never heard any rumors of juicing. All that I ever heard from him was about helping his team win. If only he could have worn a classy looking uniform, maybe something with an "Olde English D" on it. Anyhow, congrats Jim. Well earned. :clap:

 

[El Perro Mayor]

Fing White Sox let go big Jim and went out and got Dunn? WTF?!! I always liked him, seems like a solid guy, good for him.

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

im just saying. His numbers don't exactly overwhelm you. he has a .273 batting average and he not top ten in any major stats besides strikeouts. He ranks 158th in hits and 50th in slugging percentage. he would probably be automatic in another era. but he played in an era where guys likes bonds, sosa and arod used steriods so the big home run numbers he put up doesn't seem as impressive.

The biggest problem I have with him is the DH. I don't think the DH is good or even to be honest fully legal. Otherwise, amazing hitter of the long ball. Top 5 all time since he didn't 'roid up.

And yes I know he played 1st base. Just the AL needs to do away with the DH.

 

[Jagger69]

im just saying. His numbers don't exactly overwhelm you. he has a .273 batting average and he not top ten in any major stats besides strikeouts. He ranks 158th in hits and 50th in slugging percentage. he would probably be automatic in another era. but he played in an era where guys likes bonds, sosa and arod used steriods so the big home run numbers he put up doesn't seem as impressive.

Could not disagree more. I think the fact he made it to 600 (which, as Scott points out, only 5 other players in MLB history have done legitimately) makes his achievement all the more impressive. As for his batting average, his numbers both in BA and HRs are better then another Twin immortal who was a first-ballot selection to the HOF in 1976....Harmon Killebrew (.256 BA, 573 HRs).

Thome's a dead-cinch lock for the HOF IMO.

 

[Mr Glam]

This guy has been so under-the-radar that no one outside the baseball establishment knows who he is, yet he is one of the greatest players ever to lace up the spikes.

Well you've got me there...Congrats to the guy, what an achievement!

 

[Ace Bandage]

I was never a Thome fan, but I think he did it the right way. Him and Junior were probably the only legitimate 600 HR hitters in the PED era. They both have my respect for that.

Jim is 1st ballot HOF for sure. There's not even a question about it. If you think otherwise... well, you're just wrong.

 

[D-rock]

He's been around just about forever now, and a good argument that his home run numbers are as much stat padding because of that as much as being a dominate player could be made and one could point out a lot of what he's done isn't as impressive as it looks in considering the era he has played in....

...but still it's a nice accomplishment.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Fing White Sox let go big Jim and went out and got Dunn? WTF?!! I always liked him, seems like a solid guy, good for him.

There's not doubt that Dunn is having a horrible year but I don't think it's fair to label him a bust yet. Talk to me after his contract is up in four years. He could come back next year and have a huge year and everybody will forget about this one bad season

 

[darkwarrior3007]

im just saying. His numbers don't exactly overwhelm you. he has a .273 batting average and he not top ten in any major stats besides strikeouts. He ranks 158th in hits and 50th in slugging percentage. he would probably be automatic in another era. but he played in an era where guys likes bonds, sosa and arod used steriods so the big home run numbers he put up doesn't seem as impressive.

Yeah but Bonds and Sosa may never, ever be in the HOF. Can't say for ARod yet. I'm pretty sure Thome is a clear lock because of those three being in the top 8.