Thome's spring-training test will be first base
Jim Thome is so eager to get to spring training that he is heading to Clearwater Friday night.
Thome's spring-training test will be first base
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
Jim Thome is so eager to get to spring training that he is heading to Clearwater Friday night.
It will just be a three-day stay for the former All-Star first baseman who is trying to complete his sparkling baseball resume by winning a World Series in his second tour of duty with the Phillies. Thome will likely take some ground balls at first base during his brief stay at the team's spring-training facility.
The big test for Thome, 41, will be whether he can play first base on occasion while Ryan Howard recovers from Achilles' surgery on his left foot. Free-agent addition Ty Wigginton is expected to get the bulk of the playing time during Howard's recovery, but manager Charlie Manuel is on record as saying he'd like to put Thome's name in the lineup on occasion, too.
During the winter meetings, Manuel estimated that Thome could make as many as 20 appearances at first base. Since leaving the Phillies after the 2005 season to make room at first base for Howard, Thome has only started four games at first base.
"Charlie and I have talked," said Thome, who was at Citizens Bank Park speaking to the minor-leaguers in the Phillies' prospect education program. "He has a game plan for me of what he wants me to do. I think the main thing for me is that I've all winter to prepare and now I can get to spring training and be ready from day one. To be honest, I don't know how my back is going to react because I haven't played (first base) in seven years, so that's going to be a phase I'll obviously have to adjust to."
Manuel said he has prepared for first base by doing more stretching -- "pilates and yoga" -- than he has in the past and he has also spent two or three days a week fielding ground balls.
"It has been indoors," he said. "When you live in Chicago, that's the challenge, but there are a couple of facilities around Chicago that have field turf and it has been pretty good. It feels good to get back out there a little bit."
You can read more about Thome in Saturday's Inquirer and, for those of you scoring at home, there are only 30 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training.
Will there be a Spring test for Wheels ?— NewMick314- wow, Charlie is doing stretching, pilates, and yoga to prepare for first base?— Michael in Denver
- Michael in Denver-- I also saw that Charlie was loosening up to play first base. I chuckled too-- funny! (makes you wonder if any copyeditors review posts prior to going live)— 410
- Well I hope Thome can play a few games at 1st as I am a huge fan of his. Would liekto see Thome hit around .265-.280 hit 15 HR drive in 40-60 RBIs and to win the World Title he hasn't won yet. Can't wait to see him in Spring training.— srcdaddy1216
- THOME!!! THOME!!! A Classy guy back with a class franchise that loves him...— Flyers1971
- Any money says Thome will be better received than the Big Whiff.— n62
- i wonder if manny ramirez is on the phils radar because of the unsettled situation in LF and his relationship with cholly. dont laugh, who would have thought pedro martinez would have ever worn a phils uniform..— zwarte piet
- I've considered this too zp. The 50 game suspension and being 40 years old off the PEDs are big barriers but the relationship with Cholly makes it a possibility. — s
- It would be interesting to finally see the NL take a DH. That would allow Charlie to use Thome, Mayber. et al and they could rest if they played positions. If Thome is in shape, heck he could hit 10 hrs or more.— Koons
- Hasn't played first base in seven years - and he's taking ground balls two or three times a week? Wow! Big Jim's really bustin it!— Boru
- If Thome's last start at 1b was in 2007 as photo caption states, that means Jim hasnt played in 5 yrs not 7 . Thats ok #25, we dont luv ya for your mind— Ashburn072
- I love Jim Thome, but I feel this was a mistake. They should have signed a guy like Cuddyer or someone who can play 3rd, 1st and or second (maybe Ty Wigginton can do this?). Then you can play Utley at first until Howard comes back. Utley's range is decreasing dramatically every year and if he is to stick around, first base is his future.— SilliBilli
- A bad back. Did he get that riding the bench since 2006? I don't see Thome playing 1st very often with both Mayberry and Wigginton available. Let's hope he can pinch hit better than Ross Gload. He's here as a favor to Charlie and to put some butts in the seats. A .260 avg. with 10-12 HRs would be OK. He's playing for what amounts to chump change anyway.— 1republican
- What are you talking about? He hit 15 Hr's and had 50 RBI's in only 277 AB's last year. That makes him a top of the line reserve player. As a comparison, Utley hit 11 HR's and had 44 RBI's in 398 AB's while hitting in the prime 3-hole as a starter. He isn't here as a favor to anybody, he's here because he is a legitimate player. It doesn;t get better then that coming off the bench. — UncleStosh
- I doubt he'll be asked to play first more than once or twice a week, so if he is in any kind of shape, he should be fine. I think this was a great signing. He's not what he used to be, but he's a guy who can still pop one out during any at bat.— Hemingway
