The Marcus Thames Era Has Ended in Detroit
by Ian Casselberry on Nov 6, 2009 6:00 PM EST
in News
39 comments
And so goes the Slugger Thames.
With the offseason officially under way, the Detroit Tigers needed to make some decisions to create room on their 40-man roster. That process has begun, according to Jason Beck. Outfielder Marcus Thames and catcher Matt Treanor were removed from the roster. Both players are now free agents and can sign with any other team.
Those moves free up space on the 40-man roster for Joel Zumaya and Jeff Larish, both of whom had to be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list. Infielder Michael Hollimon was also taken off the 60-day DL, but was sent to Triple-A Toledo.
This season, Thames batted .252/.323/.453 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs, the lowest totals of his six-year stint with Detroit. He was out from mid-April to early June, due to a pulled rib cage muscle.
But even when Thames returned to the lineup, he never provided the power that the Tigers needed. May through July was usually when Thames could be counted on to bring the thunder, only to disappear once August began. But this year, he was never able to put together that sustained hot streak. As a result (along with Ryan Raburn's emergence), Thames really only got off the bench when the lineup needed a DH against left-handed pitching.
Thames's Tigers career ends with a .245/.307/.501 batting line, 99 home runs, and 255 RBIs in 485 games played.
I know a lot of Tigers fans thought Thames could be a 35-to-40-homer guy if he'd gotten 500 at-bats, but that just never developed. My feeling always was that if Thames was capable of being Detroit's full-time left fielder, Jim Leyland would've had him in there. But he did provide some memorable home runs during his time here, and sometimes seemed like the only power threat in the lineup.
Thames made $2.3 million this season (a $1 million raise), and was eligible for arbitration. I could be wrong on this, but pay cuts don't usually occur in that situation, which is why he was non-tendered.
Treanor was signed last December, with the hopes that he could back up Gerald Laird and still give the Tigers good defense behind the plate. But he could never fully recover from the hernia surgery he had after the 2008 season, and by late April, was done for the year. (Alas, we never did get those gratuitious shots of Misty May-Treanor watching from her seats and cheering on her husband.) Had he been available, perhaps Laird wouldn't have worn down the way he did late in the season.
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Avila, I hate the off-season. Why do people always have to leave?? :’(
by wepri31 on Nov 6, 2009 6:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
But we get new players too
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by demondeaconsbaseball on Nov 6, 2009 6:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Don't count on much from DD
this off season. I am not counting on acquiring any big names. Tigers will probably try to hone the youngsters in’10.
by Detroitchik on Nov 6, 2009 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by demondeaconsbaseball on Nov 6, 2009 11:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
mixed blessing
After this year, being in the fight all year, going through growing pains while those youngsters get up to major league speed is liable to be a painful experience as a fan.
Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!
by ahtrap on Nov 7, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Rookies struggle, yes
But sometimes they do a lot better than expected (Porcello). Have some faith.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by demondeaconsbaseball on Nov 7, 2009 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Porcello
is truly an exception. A child prodigy.
by Detroitchik on Nov 7, 2009 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Farewell, Thamesy.
My favorite Thamesy memory was from the 06 season, when during an afternoon game against the White Sox, he took broke up a double play with a hard slide. The Sox were only a couple games back, and people were asking whether or not the Tigers were for real. That moment turned that game, as someone hit a bomb a couple of batters later with the out Marcus saved. It was a sign that the Tigers weren’t going away, although, of course, we did end up losing the division.
Marcus also seemed to really like being a Tiger. He was one of the more emotional guys after game 163. I hope he makes it back to the CoPa as a visitor, so he can get one last cheer from the Tiger fans. Country Strong was a fan favorite.
by rook34 on Nov 6, 2009 8:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I was going through the few free scraps at mlb.com and found Marcus’ first home run.
That stretch in ‘08 where 8 straight hits were home runs was unbelievable. I hope some team gives him 500+ ABs next year – he’s earned it. Even with his terrible finish, he still averaged a home run in fewer than 20 ABs.
And just because.
by StringTheory on Nov 6, 2009 9:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That home run stretch was amazing and one of the few highlights of the '08 season
I’m sorry I never got to see him hit a home run in person, but he also had a tendency to come up with some big grand slams in his Tiger days. And even though he had kind of a power outage toward the end of the year, he was also their best pinch-hitter (Wasn’t he close to .500 pinch-hitting?).
So adios, Country Strong. I’m sure we will all look upon you with fond memories.
by SabreRoseTiger on Nov 6, 2009 11:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I remember...
when he hit a broken bat home run to the furthest possible part of left field. You could practically consider it center field.
My Music: Some Sorta Giant
by madpoopz on Nov 6, 2009 10:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'm gonna miss Matt Treanor also...
I’m sure I have a memory of him somewhere.
My Music: Some Sorta Giant
by madpoopz on Nov 6, 2009 11:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I have some memories of him as a Marlin
Thanks to my use of the MLB.tv archives to “scout” Miguel Cabrera after the Tigers acquired him in the ‘07/’08 offseason. As far as Tigers memories go, well…he caught Rick Porcello’s first Major League win.
by SabreRoseTiger on Nov 6, 2009 11:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So...who's left from '06?
I count Verlander, Miner, Bonderman, Robertson, Inge, Granderson, Maggs, Guillen, Santiago, and Seay (sort of; I think he spent most of the year in the minors). Did I miss anyone?
by SabreRoseTiger on Nov 7, 2009 12:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
He does in terms of what he did in '06
Moreso than Bobby Seay. I feel like I’m forgetting somebody else, though.
by SabreRoseTiger on Nov 7, 2009 12:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hope so
We’ll have to wait and see
by SabreRoseTiger on Nov 7, 2009 12:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He had is ups as a Tigers for sure
But his talent was maximized in my opinion. It was just time to part ways with this 32 year old who I’m guessing isn’t one of those guys who will have a mid-30s resurgence in his career.
by Detroit4lyfe on Nov 7, 2009 12:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Where do you see him ending up?
I’m thinkin’ NL, Padres or Giants…
by peazgrl on Nov 7, 2009 2:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Marcus
I have really enjoyed Marcus over the years. He’s a real gentleman, and I hope the very best for him.
by Fitz66 on Nov 7, 2009 8:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Thames
MARCUS HAD 99 HRS IN HIS TIGER CAREER…TY SIR…BUT THIS IS A WHAT HAVE U DONE FOR ME LATELY PROFESSION…GRANTED ITS HARD TO GET HOT WHEN U DONT GET THE CHANCE TO PLAY EVERYDAY….ANYWAY U WOULD THINK HE’LL REMAIN IN THE AL, PRETTY MUCH A DH AT THIS POINT…RAYBURN IS THE MAN…
by paul wall on Nov 7, 2009 10:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL
Grammar points aside, I do agree with you. I think Marcus can hang on for 4 or 5 more years to grab his pension, and I could see him hanging onto a NL team like the Giants as a starter or maybe the Phils (he can play 1B against lefties to spell RyHo), but he’d be a better lefty-mashing DH.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by demondeaconsbaseball on Nov 7, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Happy trails, Marcus Thames.
Hopefully you land somewhere that’ll put you to better use.
2100 Woodward and Twitter
by john.kmiecik on Nov 7, 2009 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I hope he does well, wherever he lands
But perhaps not TOO well, since that’ll mean he was doing really good for a team that is not the Tigers. Y’know what I mean??
Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!
by ahtrap on Nov 7, 2009 5:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
We can now watch him strike out in crucial moments for someone else
Maybe now you'll never slime a guy with a positron collider!
by rwum14 on Nov 7, 2009 8:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Can we sign Misty May-Treanor to a fan in the stands contract?
by 13194013 on Nov 7, 2009 9:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
how about the Tigers sign all of us to fan in the stands contracts.
My Music: Some Sorta Giant
by madpoopz on Nov 7, 2009 10:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I can only speak for myself
But I doubt anyone would want to stare at me for hours on end.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by demondeaconsbaseball on Nov 8, 2009 12:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm mostly looking for free tickets.
My Music: Some Sorta Giant
by madpoopz on Nov 8, 2009 12:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd take free tickets
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
by demondeaconsbaseball on Nov 8, 2009 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
wasn't there an AFL game thread? where did it go?
ahhhh! losing my mind!
by Kurt Mensching on Nov 8, 2009 12:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Another Marcus memory
It was a game that the Tigers eventually lost, but he once hit a broken-bat home run against CC Sabathia. It was very impressive.
by SabreRoseTiger on Nov 8, 2009 7:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Country Sad indeed.
But maybe he can find a home with a team that will give him more regular playing time. Hopefully not an insanely terrible one, though I fear that the Nationals might have more use for him than anyone else. (As a RH replacement for Dunn.)
But man, how great would it be to see the stat line for a 600 PA season from Thames?
I don't want to hear any weak sh*t from Jason Grilli.
by cherub_daemon on Nov 9, 2009 7:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
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