Jim Thome versus Mike Sweeney of Kansas City...

[Alex]

I think Jim Thome feels he is between Sweeney of KC and Giambi of New New York when it comes to talent/worth.

Sweeney is making somewhere between 10-13 million a year, Giambi is around 16-18 million a year....
Is Thome signficantly better than Sweeney of KC? Sweeney is currently hitting over .350...

Or are they equal, each contributing to their teams in different, but equal ways? If Thome agreed to Sweeney type of Money, should Dolan pay it?

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Sweeney has a better BA nearly every year (about .045 higher), but Thome draws more walks. Sweeney takes good advantage of his park.

The biggest difference is age -- Thome is three years older. That's not such a big deal now, but in a few years it could be. Aside from homers and walks, which are a big thing, Thome isn't any better.

[the teacher]

I'd take Sweenty over JT hands down. The reason is this: Sweeney hits everybody. This year he's .367 against lefties and .352 vs. righties. Thome, on the other hand, should be platooned. He's hitting a miserable .207 vs. lefties.

Sweeney also struck out only 64 times last year, which is remarkable in today's game for a guy wiht power.

[The Genius]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by the teacher:
I'd take Sweenty over JT hands down. The reason is this: Sweeney hits everybody. This year he's .367 against lefties and .352 vs. righties. Thome, on the other hand, should be platooned. He's hitting a miserable .207 vs. lefties.

Sweeney also struck out only 64 times last year, which is remarkable in today's game for a guy wiht power.</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

Agree. Especially when you add in Thome's atrocious baserunning and diminishing defensive skills. Jimmy is a one-dimensional player. Somebody will pay him $15 mil/year, but it won't be the Tribe.

[Alex]

Maybe they can have a battle of the backs.