Jim Thome Retires an Indian

[AZ_]

Who is the best SS of his generation?

 

[Steve_424]

We;re saying he's a great player, but the media HAS convinced people he's a generational player. He's not even the best SS of his generation, much less player.

We disagree.

 

[col63onel]

Who is the best SS of his generation?

If you don't count Ripken as the same generation, then Arod.

 

[AZ_]

If you don't count Ripken as the same generation, then Arod.

Certainly not A-Rod, who has about just as many games at 3B than he does at short. To say nothing of his obvious and extended steroid usage.

I wouldn't consider Ripken the same generation, they overlapped for a few years but overall I would agree he's a better shortstop.

 

[Derek]

N7RobBob just posted this in the other thread. It mentions a Larry Doby statue being a part of the new renovations.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cle...essive-field?ymd=20140807&content_id=88402468

 

[col63onel]

Certainly not A-Rod, who has about just as many games at 3B than he does at short. To say nothing of his obvious and extended steroid usage.

I wouldn't consider Ripken the same generation, they overlapped for a few years but overall I would agree he's a better shortstop.

Arod's WAR for the years he played SS is about 10 less than Jeter in less than half the games. If he had just retired then, he still would've been the best. The fact that he went on to be an elite 3B doesn't mean he wasn't a better SS.

 

[AZ_]

Arod's WAR for the years he played SS is about 10 less than Jeter in less than half the games. If he had just retired then, he still would've been the best. The fact that he went on to be an elite 3B doesn't mean he wasn't a better SS.

Fair, but doesn't overshadow the fact that he pumped his body full of illegal drugs which enhanced his performance to Hall of Fame levels.

 

[col63onel]

Fair, but doesn't overshadow the fact that he pumped his body full of illegal drugs which enhanced his performance to Hall of Fame levels.

And we know for a fact Jeter never did?

 

[AZ_]

And we know for a fact Jeter never did?

I'm not in the business of accusing anyone who played in the era, so until I see otherwise I have no reason to believe he did.

A-Rod took his blatancy and usage to heights we've never really seen before. He is automatically disqualified from the discussion. I do agree that had he not undertaken years worth of performance enhancing drugs and still performed to the unprecedented levels he was achieving, then he would be better.

 

[Maximus]

And we know for a fact Jeter never did?

And we know for a fact Thome never did?



:notfunny?

 

[col63onel]

And we know for a fact Thome never did?



:notfunny?

Charlie Manuel actually had a very funny joke during the ceremony. I forget the actual words, but it was along the lines of "If anyone every questions how Jimmy got so big, just lookj at his brothers. Jimmy is actually the midget of the family."

In seriousness, I have no freaking clue who roided. It's why I don't crusade against those who have been "outed" as taking them when MLB wasn't testing.

 

[AZ_]

Jim Thome

Still the man. Potentially the greatest Indians hitter of all-time.

ZM: Some fans are still angry or upset about the way you left Cleveland in 2002. Your stance at the time has been well-documented. What's your message to anyone who's still upset?

Jim Thome: I understand that when you're a fan, you want the guys you root for to stay. The one thing in life, as you go on, I think we all make mistakes. You do things where you go, 'Man, why did I do that?' Not the fact that I left, just some of the things that you say, where you go, 'You know what? Maybe I shouldn't have said that.'

I was blessed to play a long time. I look at my years in Cleveland and I want them to know how special it was when I was here and how much I respected them. The love and the support when I would strike out seven of eight times and every time I went to the plate, they would root me on -- those are the things that I personally want them to know, that I don't take that lightly. It's not something that you say, 'OK, I played here.' No. It's deeper than that. I met my wife here. I have friends here. My brother-in-law lived here, but just recently moved. Cleveland will always be very special.

 

[Stark]

Still one of my favorite Thome home runs.

 

[AZ_]

Chris Bosio was never the same after that pitch.

It effectively ended his career, he struggled with his control so badly in 1996 that it would be the last year he ever appeared in the big leagues.

 

[col63onel]

Jim Thome

Still the man. Potentially the greatest Indians hitter of all-time.

I was at his first game back as a White Sox. I wore my old Thome jersey and gave him a standing O. It seemed like I was the only one cheering. The crowd only cheered when some gave Thome a little chin music.

I love Cleveland sports fans 99.9% of the time, but that occasion was the .1%.