Jim Thome Heads West; Colletti Recreates 1997 Indians

Hey, remember when current Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was the hitting coach for the 1997 Indians? Yeah, me neither! But he was in charge of two future Hall of Famers who, as of last night, have finally been reunited after nine years apart. Jim Thome was traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers where he'll reunite with Manny Ramirez. The two guys have combined for over 1100 homers in their career; this year, Thome's got 23 tater tots while Manny has 15 in about half a season's worth of plate appearances. I have no idea how Thome will be used in the Dodgers lineup; after all, the fella uses a first basemen's glove about as well as an elephant uses a harpsichord. But if Joe Torre chooses to use Thome as a super pinch-hitter in the mold of a West Coast Matt Stairs, he should have many opportunities to enter the game in the fifth inning to replace a tired Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers also plucked veteran starter Jon Garland from the Diamondback...