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Well, I'll try and stay on the fence about this guy, but right now, he really bugs me.
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/ne...news&fext=.jsp
03/08/2003 3:41 pm ET
Thome receives mixed reaction
Former Indian wanted to make the long trip
By Todd Lorenz / MLB.com buy tickets
Omar Vizquel was happy to see Jim Thome on Saturday afternoon. (John Forschauer/AP)
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Most baseball players earning nearly $15 million per year usually don't make 75-mile bus rides to play a few innings of a Spring Training game, but Jim Thome isn't your average superstar.
Thome was looking forward to the 90-minute trek from Clearwater to Winter Haven, not just to play the game he loves, but to also see some old friends.
"It was a day I looked at and said, 'It's going to be fun to go back,'" Thome said prior to Saturday's tilt against his former team. "Not only (to see) the players, but I've got a lot of friends there. The grounds crew guys, the clubhouse guys. There are a lot of people who I've built relationships with over the years."
"I've got a lot of friends there and I still kept in contact with them. It will be fun to see them and compete against them. I played with them a long time. Those guys are like my brothers and they've been part of my family for a lot of years."
One of those guys is Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel, who will be playing his first season without Thome since joining the Indians in 1994.
complete coverage: spring training 2003
"I heard that he really wanted to make the trip," Vizquel said. "He looked pretty happy, but you could see that he kind of missed his old teammates a little bit. He was the first guy to come out this morning. He was shaking hands with everybody and talking about how happy he was."
"We miss him a lot. We're used to playing with Jim. He's a nice guy to have around. I knew there was only a small chance for him to stay around. We were expecting Jim to sign a great contract and go to a great team, and that's what he did. I'm very happy for him. He got what he deserves. He's got a great chance to win right now in Philly."
After spending his first 12 Major League seasons in Cleveland, the Indians all-time home run leader was lured to the City of Brotherly Love by a six-year deal worth $87.5 million in the first move of the Phillies' winter spending spree.
Omar Vizquel / SS
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 185
Bats/Throws: S/R
More info:
Player page
Stats
Hit chart
indians.com
Although Thome may be gone from Cleveland, he hasn't forgotten about his time there and he showed his appreciation in his first plate appearance by stepping out of the batter's box and pumping his fist towards the Indians dugout.
"I just wanted to directly thank the guys in that dugout and the crowd for everything they've done for me throughout my career," Thome said.
It wasn't all hugs and kisses though. When Thome came to the plate, it was tough to tell if the slugger received more cheers or boos from the Tribe faithful. What was obvious, however, was that every single one of the 5,522 fans in attendance was doing one or the other.
"They're passionate people," he said. "They've always treated me with respect. Everybody is going to have their feelings and I just hope they remember the good times. I want them to know that I respect them a lot."
Of course the fans weren't the only ones with mixed emotions. His former teammates had differing opinions on seeing Thome donning different colors, too.
"I was happy for him to get such a great contract," Ellis Burks said. "It worked out well for him and his family, but as far as going to another team, it's definitely going to be hard to see him over there in a different uniform. One thing's for sure though, they got a **** of a player. The Phillies did a great job of recruiting that guy and they got their money's worth. He's a great guy in the clubhouse and he's gonna be missed over here for sure."
Ellis Burks / OF
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 205
Bats/Throws: R/R
More info:
Player page
Stats
Hit chart
indians.com
No one is arguing that Thome will be missed, but at least of the Indians is ready to move on without him.
"It's not weird to see him in a new uniform now," second baseman John MacDonald said. "We're already at Spring Training. I remember when I first saw him put that uniform on after he signed the contract -- that looked different. But now, he's not part of the team at all this year. You don't really see him as an Indian anymore. He's a Phillie."
Todd Lorenz is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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Thome made a mockery of C-town and the 35-50 million Dolan has already paid out to injured Indians ballplayers just since Dolan became owner!
Thome actually had the gall to say that he couldn't wait a couple of years for the Indians to become a winner again even though it was his buddies/teammates who turned the team into a dinosaur overnight.
You'd like to believe that these injured Indian ingrates would have had the class (I'm talking Fryman, Nagy, Wright, Wickman) to say "Hey Jim, the team ***** because we didn't do our jobs, don't use that as a reason to leave Cleveland."
AND, Thome also claims that his talks with Scott Rolen convinced Thome to play in Philly!
RATHER THAN TAKE A 10 YEAR/140 MILLION DOLLAR DEAL WITH PHILLY SCOTT ROLEN TOOK A DEAL WORTH 50 MILLION LESS TO PLAY ELSEWHERE, yet Thome actually said that Scott Rolen convinced him to sign with Philly!
Thome took 20 million extra to go to Philly, Rolen took 50 million less to leave Philly!
When Thome talks, it's the Seinfeld Bizarro world that has invaded his gums as his spit flaps in the breeze and spews insanity.
But I don't hate Jim Thome. I hope he spends his Philly money in Cleveland, it's the very least he can do.
