http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/629 Recent articles about Jim Thome en-us I’ve written on previous blogs as well as this one, that I believe the crowd reaction in Cleveland to Jim Thome is a travesty to say the least. I will fully admit, I am in the tank for the big man. The Thomenator is my all time favorite Indian, a class act both on and [...] Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:30:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/My_Condolences_Gentleman_Jim/1415935 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/My_Condolences_Gentleman_Jim/1415935 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/My_Condolences_Gentleman_Jim/1415935 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/f/cf982e2c4cc88c1d7ba15f483886ce1a6edf5326/small/Jim_Thome_bf17.jpg We’re a little late to the party here, but by now we’ve all heard the super-secret whispers about Jim Thome wanting to return to Chicago: “I’ll be honest, I would still love to come back,” Thome said, tightening the blue batting gloves on each hand. “I still care about the city. I mean, we’re going to [...] Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:59:01 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/On_the_Theoretical_Dawn_of_a_Second_Jim_Thome_Era/1361626 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/On_the_Theoretical_Dawn_of_a_Second_Jim_Thome_Era/1361626 http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/On_the_Theoretical_Dawn_of_a_Second_Jim_Thome_Era/1361626 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/3/237948d0cd8e381f59566e65c86920d8343d0370/small/82614346.jpg Sporting News staff reports Though he was traded from the White Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers in late August, Jim Thome told the Chicago Sun-Times he "would still love to come back" to Chicago. Thome, 39, will be a free agent after this season, and a return to the AL is likely because he can contribute as an everyday player only as a DH. The Dodgers have used him exclusively as a pinch hitter. If the White Sox opt not to bring him back, the newspaper speculated he could b... Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:21:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jim_Thome_open_to_returning_to_White_Sox/1352284 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jim_Thome_open_to_returning_to_White_Sox/1352284 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jim_Thome_open_to_returning_to_White_Sox/1352284 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/6/5662492ef3eb17b32d0249f4c72625c0efaf6065/small/Jim_Thome_7a7d.jpg (For the last few weeks, I've been profiling some of the best free agents on the market this winter. At the end of each piece, I made a prediction regarding the type of contract the player could be in line to see. Obviously, these predictions have to be fluid because the season is still in progress. So which players have seen thier value change over the past few weeks? Let's take a look...starting with Jim Thome )Initial Prediction: (1 year/$8.5 million)When I posted my original piece... Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:20:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_Adjustments_Jim_Thome/1258609 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_Adjustments_Jim_Thome/1258609 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_Adjustments_Jim_Thome/1258609 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/0/20250fcb7e384f028bdca2ec7755ba448fc73414/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f72478428.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193DADD97B58D4678D0CD851E5EDE66E071.jpg Okay, this NL West divisional crown is a done deal, home field advantage for the playoffs is as good as locked as well, and we've got eight games left against a bevy of last place teams: the Washington Nationals (34.5 GB, NL East), Pittsburgh Pirates (31.5 GB, NL Central), and San Diego Pirates (technically in fourth place, but still 22.5 GB, NL West). We've been using the opportunity to tune up the offense and give live-action bullpen starts to Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw... Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:30:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Rollin_With_The_Thome/1231030 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Rollin_With_The_Thome/1231030 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Rollin_With_The_Thome/1231030 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/9/4928db3c649f76eac3d3329cd5212b1d45b7b5d1/small/Jim_Thome_25_aed8.jpg As most of us know by now, Jim Thome was dealt from the painfully mediocre White Sox to the NL West leading Dodgers two days ago. What I'm most interested in is not how this trade impacts the Dodgers, but instead, how this deal possibly impacts Garland's value on the open market. Let's take a look:"No way in hell."..."That's a freakin' lie..."Yes, those are just a few of the possible responses you would have gotten from me if you told me on Sunday that ... Wed, 02 Sep 2009 07:15:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jim_Thome_Trade_Impact_on_Free_Agency/1097651 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jim_Thome_Trade_Impact_on_Free_Agency/1097651 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Jim_Thome_Trade_Impact_on_Free_Agency/1097651 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/3/b371699134aff9b6c67991eb29b19ea7da68896b/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f72530108.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193DADD97B58D4678D00F68B1FAC24ECF6C.jpg The Dodgers acquired Jim Thome from the Chicago White Sox yesterday in a somewhat baffling trade with the Chicago White Sox. Why? Because Thome spent nearly all of his time on the south side as a DH, and hasn’t been in the field since he played first base for one game in 2007. But LA [...] Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:04:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/JIM_THOME_IS_STILL_ALIVE/1092137 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/JIM_THOME_IS_STILL_ALIVE/1092137 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/JIM_THOME_IS_STILL_ALIVE/1092137 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/9/4928db3c649f76eac3d3329cd5212b1d45b7b5d1/small/Jim_Thome_25_aed8.jpg Jim Thome has had an awesome career, and is completely loveable, but for the last few years, Twins fans had to hate him because he was the enemy. Well, rejoice, baseball fans, he's out of the AL again! (Well, rejoice, unless you are a Rockies or a Giants fan...)Thome was traded by the White Sox to the Dodgers last night for minor league infielder Justin Fuller. The Dodgers also aquired right handed pitcher Jon Garland from the Diamondbacks for a player to be named later. The Dodgers are l... Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/We_Can_Love_Jim_Thome_Again/1092257 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/We_Can_Love_Jim_Thome_Again/1092257 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/We_Can_Love_Jim_Thome_Again/1092257 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/f/cf982e2c4cc88c1d7ba15f483886ce1a6edf5326/small/Jim_Thome_bf17.jpg The White Sox, losers of four in a row, have fallen six games behind the division-leading Tigers. And since it's now September, there's really no point in trying anymore. Time to start shedding contracts and call it season. Unfortunately, GM Kenny Williams can't shed the terrible contracts he took on at the last trading deadline. Earlier this season he took on Alex Rios' five-year, $61 million deal from the Blue Jays. (Rios is currently hitting .192 for the Sox.) This was shor... Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:15:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/White_Sox_Trade_Jim_Thome_Throw_In_The_Towel/1091897 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/White_Sox_Trade_Jim_Thome_Throw_In_The_Towel/1091897 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/White_Sox_Trade_Jim_Thome_Throw_In_The_Towel/1091897 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/e/0ed447ad1fa6b5eb80a115847f9de21a03568e64/small/VIC.jpg In a late August splash, the team with the best record in the National League acquired a slugger we are all familiar with in Philadelphia: Jim Thome. Thome, who is a shell of his former self, was traded from the White Sox to the Dodgers on the final day that players can be added and still be eligible for the postseason roster. Thome, who was tradable because he cleared waivers, is basically just an all-or-nothing, strike out-or-home run hitter now, slugging 23 homers with the Sox while battin... Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:22:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Dodgers_acquire_Thome_Garland_for_postseason_run/1090845 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Dodgers_acquire_Thome_Garland_for_postseason_run/1090845 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Dodgers_acquire_Thome_Garland_for_postseason_run/1090845 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/3/237948d0cd8e381f59566e65c86920d8343d0370/small/82614346.jpg The White Sox have traded designated hitter Jim Thome to the Dodgers for minor-league infielder Justin Fuller. Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:46:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/ChiSox_deal_slugger_Thome_to_Dodgers/1090644 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/ChiSox_deal_slugger_Thome_to_Dodgers/1090644 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/ChiSox_deal_slugger_Thome_to_Dodgers/1090644 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/1/11bbc18b838b082f8dad772db3dadf7f991123d8/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f496794.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF19348AC5E006D648E3A0D4F758FC272EBFB.jpg Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman is reporting that Thome has been traded
 to one of the Phillies main competitors for the National League pennant
 this year, the Los Angeles Dodgers.Despite his amazing amount of strikeouts, Jim Thome becoming a member of the Phillies in 2003 helped fuel my revived love of baseball in this city. I was sad to see him move on from the Phillies but new it was a necessary move to allow a young Ryan Howard transform into The Big Piece.I will now go to ... Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:23:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Report_Jim_Thome_Traded_to_Dodgers/1090533 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Report_Jim_Thome_Traded_to_Dodgers/1090533 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Report_Jim_Thome_Traded_to_Dodgers/1090533 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/1/a/1ad76933a360a2137265f0323a2f9ad1e15b82dd/small/Indians_V_Braves_371b.jpg Jim Thome is one of the most interesting free agent cases out there this season. At 38 years old, Thome is still a very productive hitter and remains one of the top power threats in the American League with 20 home runs this season. There is no doubt that Thome can still be a productive force in the middle of any lineup. However, how much will his age and inability to field hinder his market this offseason? Let's take a look:The Case for Thome1. The man can hit-Aside from his injury plagu... Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:55:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_at_the_End_of_the_Season_Jim_Thome/981484 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_at_the_End_of_the_Season_Jim_Thome/981484 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/Free_Agent_at_the_End_of_the_Season_Jim_Thome/981484 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/2/62aa36ad8f6f3aaf0a9e8a2fcadd4e934dbacb43/small/Jim_Thome_b0a8.jpg