Jim Thome Statue

[bigpern23]

Re: Jim Thome

I feel like we need to set up a committee that can decide once and for all who we suspect cheated their way to Hall of Fame numbers, for the good of the sport and the good of the country. We could call it -- and I'm just throwing out something off the top of my head here -- Hunting Un-Apologetic Cheaters, or HUAC for short. If enough people suspect you cheated, like Jeff Bagwell for instance, then you can never get into the Hall of Fame, despite whatever evidence you might have.

I am intrigued by your proposal and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

 

[Machine Head]

Re: Jim Thome

HUAC is now in session.

Evidence being examined:

Microfilm allegedly hidden in a pumpkin patch on property owned by a suspected cheater is of great interest to HUAC member Nixon.

 

[Shaggy]

Re: Jim Thome

If we don't know, without a doubt, EVERYBODY who cheated, then the Hall of Fame voters have no right to selectively pick and choose who goes in the Hall based on who was unfortunate enough to get caught.

This makes no sense to me. The traffic cop might not know everybody who exceeded the speed limit but he sure as hell knows that YOU did, so he writes you the ticket.

The IRS might not know everybody who cheated on their taxes but if they pull your returns and find in the audit that YOU did, you suffer the penalties, interest and possible prosecution.

People who were "unfortunate enough to get caught" got caught. Period. They can be dealt with as the judges see fit.

The trickier part is guessing yea or nay on guys who didn't get caught. To me, that's one reason there is a 15-year window to vote guys into the HOF or not. We might want to wait on some of these otherwise-worthy candidates. No real harm in that. We might learn more by then.

But c'mon, we know more than we need to know about Bonds' using. No matter how puzzled we are by Thome or Bagwell or whomever.

Define "got caught."

Did Roger Clemens get caught? There's one singing witness but no real proof and a whole lot of denying by Clemens. Yet everyone assumes he juiced (including me). So did he "get caught" or not? And is one witness and a lot of speculation about his career arc enough for the Hall of Fame voters to get on their high horse?

Clemens is just one example of a lot of speculative judging by the BBWAA that's going on and will continue to go on. But the writers don't have much evidence to back it up unless a drug test was flunked or a confession was made. McGwire was blackballed long before he confessed. Bagwell is getting caught up in this ****storm despite a brilliant career.

At least cops have a radar gun.

 

[MankyJimy]

Re: Jim Thome

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10350975/cleveland-indians-unveil-jim-thome-statue-august

The Phillies are erecting a statue of Thome outside the ballpark. Surprising they would honor someone who played their just a few years, but Thome has always been one of the games most popular players.

 

[Brian]

My pick for a statue outside Progressive Field:

 

[MankyJimy]

My pic for a statue outside Progressive Field:

I remember that one...1995 ALCS vs Red Sox.

 

[Batman]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10350975/cleveland-indians-unveil-jim-thome-statue-august

The Phillies are erecting a statue of Thome outside the ballpark. Surprising they would honor someone who played their just a few years, but Thome has always been one of the games most popular players.

The effect Thome had on the Phillies was huge. He made them matter again.
From the end of their 1970s/early 80s heyday until Thome came in 2003, the franchise sucked eggs. No one wanted to play there. I remember my dad, a diehard fan for 40-plus years, would celebrate when the team got its 63rd win every year, so at least they wouldn't lose 100. Other than the 1993 NL championship season, which was an aberration generated by a bunch of cast-offs and role players all having career years at the same time, they failed to win 80 games in 12 of 13 seasons.

When Thome came, that all started to change. He was the first big-name free agent the team landed since, probably, Pete Rose in 1979. More importantly, he was the first marquee free agent the franchise signed in that span that didn't completely suck. Thome came in, led the NL in homers that first season, and changed the culture of the franchise with the fans. It became fun to watch the Phillies again.
Thome's arrival coincided with some solid years from a few other guys, and the Phillies were halfway decent. Even though they didn't make the playoffs until 2007, two years after Thome left, he helped them at least be competitive again. They had a few winning seasons and laid the foundation for their strong run in the late 2000s. That, in turn, helped them land big-name free agents like Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.
These days, the Phillies are, if not a perennial contender, at least not the sad sack franchise they were for almost 20 years. Not sure that dramatic shift happens if they don't sign Jim Thome in 2003. Even though he was long gone by the time they won the World Series in 2008, I'm not sure they'd have gotten to that point without him being a part of the franchise.

 

[jr/shotglass]

I can think of 15 ex-Phils more deserving.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Ummm...the Indians are erecting the statue. Where is all of this Phillies stuff coming from?

 

[Riptide]

Ummm...the Indians are erecting the statue. Where is all of this Phillies stuff coming from?

Stop ****ing with the narrative.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Why ... that's quite different.






Never mind.

 

[imjustagirl]

It will be my mission in life to destroy this statue.

 

[Sea Bass]

My pic for a statue outside Progressive Field:

I remember that one...1995 ALCS vs Red Sox.

ALDS vs. Red Sox or ALCS vs. Mariners.

 

[HanSenSE]

Ummm...the Indians are erecting the statue. Where is all of this Phillies stuff coming from?

It's a Manky thread, and it's not about Jetes. Any more questions?

 

[Batman]

That's what we get for listening to Manky.
There's probably more deserving Indians players from that 1990s run, but I suppose Thome is the only one to come out of the last decade unscathed. Manny and Albert Belle sure don't need one. One of Jason Grimsley crawling through a ventilation duct would be warranted, though.

 

[MankyJimy]

I agree that the Indians should give him a statue too. One of my favorite non-Jetes players.