Why Would Jim Thome Be in Detroit?

by Ian Casselberry on Dec 29, 2009 6:10 PM EST in Detroit Tigers Hot Stove

I know this is pretty rumor-ish, but it's making the rounds on Twitter (via ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick) and might just interest you.

MSG.com's Tina Cervasio, in town to cover tonight's Knicks-Pistons game, says she saw Jim Thome at a Detroit-area hotel today. That led Crasnick (in addition to his colleague Jorge Arangure) to wonder if Thome was in town for baseball reasons.

The Tigers' front office is on vacation until January 4, which might lead one to presume that no one is around Comerica Park even if Thome and his people wanted to talk. But the lights aren't completely out over there until after the new year, are they?

Anyway, this could be complete speculation. Maybe Thome is in town to check out the casinos, as Craig Calcaterra joked. Or maybe he had a hankering for some coney dogs.

The idea of a former Tiger Killer coming over from the dark side is intriguing, however. So is that left-handed power bat.

This year, Thome hit .249/.366/.481 with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs in 434 plate appearances. All but 17 of those PAs were with the Chicago White Sox. Thome was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the very end of August, and only appeared in 17 games.

UPDATE: Thome may be in the Detroit area for a funeral (via Larry from South Side Sox). See, we said this was pretty rumor-ish.

UPDATE #2: At Circling the Bases, Calcaterra calls this "the thinnest rumor of the year."

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Let’s hope he wasn’t spotted at the bar at the Townsend.

by cloud wall on Dec 29, 2009 6:25 PM EST reply actions

We could do worse, though . . .

by rea on Dec 29, 2009 8:35 PM EST reply actions

Well, hey, if it all works out

You read it here first!

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Dec 29, 2009 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

Aww...

I want me some Thome.

Heh. That rhymed.

President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.

by David Tokarz on Dec 29, 2009 11:05 PM EST reply actions

This move would actually make sense.

However, we would have to pay Mr. Thome something for his services.

Not sure that’s in the plan this offseason.

by rook34 on Dec 29, 2009 11:46 PM EST reply actions

HEY ITS JI

JIM THOME…sorry couldn’t resist a Dugout reference.

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com

by rock n rye on Dec 30, 2009 10:02 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Wouldn't Understand Thome

…unless it was purely defense to keep him from hitting against our pitchers.

Leyland has said many times that he values the open DH spot (and he blimey should on a team that forcasts Guillen and Maggs in the corner OF spots). If Leyland has promised LF to Guillen (which it sounds like he has), then the DH spot would probably need to stay open for Raburn, although I don’t really see Guillen in LF all season. For a team that’s looking to not spend money and develop players, I’d expect the DH and LF positions to be filled between Raburn, Guillen, and the host of young players (Wells, Streiby?, W.Ramirez, and Thomas) that will be called up when Guillen is injured.

by momotigers on Dec 30, 2009 11:59 AM EST reply actions