whitesoxfan101 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,2095706.story Thome's next ejection may be from 3rd in order New lineup possible when Thome returns By Mark Gonzales | Tribune reporter 9:20 PM CDT, April 15, 2008 Jim Thome served a one-game suspension Tuesday for actions that led to his ejection Friday. The penalty, which came with an undisclosed fine, wasn't the only change Thome might endure. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he is considering tweaking the lineup in an effort to help jump-start Thome from a slow start. Woes against lefty pitchers continue for White Sox "I might change the lineup because he's struggling, to take heat off him," said Guillen, who had planned to rest Thome before Major League Baseball suspended him. Thome batted fourth toward the end of the 2006 season, but that was merely to take advantage of Jermaine Dye's hot hitting as Dye moved to Thome's third spot while Thome batted fourth and Paul Konerko fifth. Thome, a .275 career hitter in the No. 5 spot, is 5-for-43 since hitting two home runs off left-hander C.C. Sabathia in his first two at-bats of the season. Thome batted .196 last year against left-handers and was batting .240 against lefties on a lifetime basis entering this year. But he has struggled even more this season when facing right-handers (2-for-29). "I've had Aprils where I haven't started off so good," said Thome, a lifetime .278 hitter in March and April before 2008. "The thing about it is you can't get it back in one day. You have to pick away and get your walks. Get a hit here and there, and then you get hot and you go for it." Guillen sounded more concerned with his own health than Thome's rut after trying to keep Thome separated from home plate umpire James Hoye after Thome protested Hoye's third strike call. "If Jimmy has to be suspended, he has to be suspended by me because he bumped the [heck] out of me," Guillen joked. "I got chest pains because he was hitting me so hard." Thome admitted he was a little "surprised" by the suspension but believed it was in the Sox's best interests to serve the penalty immediately instead of appealing his case. Thome served a three-game suspension in 1999 while playing for Cleveland for charging the mound after getting hit by a pitch from Boston's Rheal Cormier. Interesting. With as much as he struggles against lefties in general, even when he is hitting, I wouldn't exactly be against this. I would think A.J. would move up in the order with the way he's hitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBigHurt Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Wow, did Thome really charge the mound in 1999? I find that so unbelievable it's almost funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 What am I missing here? Doesn't he always bat third? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 QUOTE (Jake @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 07:10 PM) What am I missing here? Doesn't he always bat third? With us he has. In his career he's hit all over the middle part of orders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkBomber Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Well we know under no circumstances that PK will bat 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxfan101 Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 You have to remember how good those 90's Indians lineups were, so yeah he hit all over the order in those days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitownsportsfan Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Man a Fields/Thome platoon sounds pretty intriguing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balta1701 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 08:17 PM) Man a Fields/Thome platoon sounds pretty intriguing. Unfortunately, a DH platoon, while it might work for offense, isn't the greatest thing in the world for usage of roster spots. Even if it covers 1 additional position. Moving Dye or Konerko to DH against lefies and using Anderson or Alexei or Pablo by moving Swishy around is, IMO, a much better method, because it keeps versatility on the bench, and more importantly, gives Dye and Konerko extra rest as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Fields' needs to be playing everyday. His 15K's in 42 AB's down in AAA show that he's still got a lot of issues in terms of plate discipline and catching up to fastballs. And then there's his defense also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie5angels Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I wouldn't mind dropping him down until he starts to heat up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteSoxfan1986 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Thome should never hitting 3rd against lefties, that's for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gosox41 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 QUOTE (WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 09:37 PM) Thome should never hitting 3rd against lefties, that's for sure. I'm not sure why Ozzie hasn't figured this simple concept out yet. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swingandalongonetoleft Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 He should probably be somewhere else against lefties, but honestly it's 2 weeks into the season. Thome's batting average, along with our record are not set in stone, or even sand. I think the man's career speaks for itself. If he bats .180 then I'll divey up my refund check amongst this board. Streaks come in good and bad, but if it keeps going then maybe Mark Grace might be able to help him-although he's happily married... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreatScott82 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Until Thome finds it again it should be: Swisher, Cabrera, Dye, Konerko, Thome, Quentin, Pierzynski, Crede, Uribe. Thome should hit 5th no doubt about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Chappas Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 10:17 PM) Man a Fields/Thome platoon sounds pretty intriguing. Anderson or Ramirez should play CF, with Swisher, Dye or Konekro DH'ing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 QUOTE (DBAH0 @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 09:21 PM) Fields' needs to be playing everyday. So does alexei but they don't seem to care about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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