Thome Comes Home

By Amy McCormick

This past season, the Phillies’ bench left something to be desired.  It might not have been our biggest issue, and I always assumed that it would be addressed during free agency.  We all remember the exclamation point that Ryan Howard put at the end of the NLDS: he tore his Achilles tendon during the last out of the series.  Among other matters, we now had a lackluster bench and a hole at first (for at least the beginning of 2012). 

Paging Jim Thome ….

News broke yesterday that Thome, now 41, will return to Philadelphia for a one year deal.  You remember Jim Thome, right?  The one who is largely responsible for getting seats filled in Citizens Bank Park?  Word has it that the Phils offered him $1.25M, and once he passes his physical, he’ll be set to start Spring Training in Clearwater in February.  Yes, I’m already counting down.

There could be an argument that we need to make this team younger, not older.  I would consider listening to such an argument if it weren’t Jim Thome.  My Facebook page blew up the night we all watched him hit his 600^th homerun.  He’s a player who left Philadelphia but never lost the love and support from this city.  He’s that guy everyone loves because he loves the game, plays hard and carries himself respectfully (Jayson Werth should be taking notes). 

So, what does this mean for the Phillies?  Let’s start from the inside out.  Thome promises to have a positive impact in the clubhouse.  I remember (not fondly) the eight game skid after the Phils took the East in September.  I kept thinking that someone needed to step up and say something in the clubhouse.  Even as a DH, I think Thome can fill a leadership role; at the very least, he will lead by example. 

On the field, Thome’s a no-brainer sub for Howard at first.  It needs no explanation.  Did you know that Thome’s middle name is Howard? Now you do.  At the plate, Thome, a lefty, will offer consistency.  In 2011, his BA was .245 (not exactly stetllar) but he had 50 RBIs and 15 HRs (in 324 plate appearances).  If he can produce solid numbers for the Phils in 2012, he will cap off a HOF career in the City of Brotherly Love with (it had better happen) a ring.

This move is extremely low-risk, has a potentially high payoff, and makes fans extremely happy.  Dust off your #25 jerseys, kids.  Thome’s coming home.