Jim Thome days

It’s Jim Thome days until Opening Day.

Thome is seventh all-time with 612 home runs. He’s second all-time in strikeouts and seventh walks. He’s stolen 19 bases in his whole career - but he’s been caught 20 times.

In 2005 Thome was traded with cash to the White Sox for two players and a player to be named later. That player to be named later was Gio Gonzalez. Thome has 2,328 hits in his 22 year career but only one sacrifice hit. Gio, in 75 plate appearances in 2012, had 9 sacrifice hits.

19 days ago I wondered if jersey #44 was the most “successful” number when it comes to home runs. Clearly I was not thinking ahead. Others to wear #25 include: Barry Bonds, Andruw Jones, Mark McGwire, Carlos Beltran, Mark Teixeira, Rafael Palmeiro, and Jason Giambi. Those players and Thome represent 4,061 home runs.

Looking at that list one could also say that it’s a very tainted number, given the company.

Thome hit most of his home runs on the first pitch, and second-most on a full count. I don’t know what that means, but it’s interesting.