Woo Hooooo, Thome's coming here!

“They're reporting that only a physical stands in the way of the Phillies signing Jim Thome. Press conference is set for tomorrow.

On a sadder note, former Baltimore Orioles ace Dave McNally has succumbed to cancer at age 60. He was one of four 20-game winners for the O's in 1971.”

“Now gimme Tom Glavine pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease.”

“Woooo Hoooo is right! Did you read that somewhere, or what?

Probably does increase the chance of Glavine coming here, too. Wouldn't that just sell a few tickets?!!!!!

Bell/Thome/Glavine might just help the fightin's win a few more games....”

“It's being reported by Comcast as a report from "sources." Nothing on the Phillies site just yet.”

“Okay, now it's on philly.com and the KYW radio website too.”

“It's breaking news here on Trail Talk!”

“WooooHooo is right!!!....Jayson Stark is reporting the same on ESPN's website....don't you feel sorry for Travis?.....outta here!”

“Travis has been a pretty solid player. Loved his glove, he's been a very reliable guy over there. Just couldn't get it done at the plate last season.”

“This frees up a lot of trade bait: Marlon Anderson, Travis Lee, Jeremy Giambi (if they wanted to sweeten the deal for a quality reliever). Half an infield and a quality DH for an American League club.”

“Bye Jim, don't let the door hit you in the a$$.”

“Ah, the perpetual optimism of a Phillies fan.

My prediction for Thome's 2003 season (I'm a former Phillies season ticket holder, if that adds to my credibility at all): .252, 23 HRs, 88 RBI. I'd predict slightly better production, but I'm also predicting he'll miss at least 30 games due to injury. This is the Phillies we're talking about, after all.”

“i like how thome talked like he wanted to stay in cleve so bad but then took the best offer
sad”

“then again i heard the players union pressured thome to take the best offer for some reason I don't quite understand. something about him taking a lower salary would throw off the ability for others to get their gazillions
he's a kick ass player, now maybe hell have a chance to get a world series ring w/in the next 3 years”

“You know what Dr. Pivo, I had the very same thought this morning as I sifted through all the Inky and Snooze articles.

That is not all. There are other potential down sides. A large part of the pay pool will go to Thome, making less for other players they will need to re-sign when they come up for free agency. Burrell and Rollins come readily to mind.

And if he tanks, then they will still have to pay that money, and he will be untradable. In other words, they are stuck with that salary for the next six years regardless.

There are a couple of counter-points to that scenario: Thome is a gamer, and even if he has a bad year should be able to come back from it. Second, he brings a maturity and experience to the clubhouse. Baseball is a team sport, and he cannot do it all alone. The other guys can learn from him and become more productive.

The back problem is an issue, but it has not kept him off the field or unproductive for very long in the past.

Perpetual optimism is the only thing that keeps Phillies fans from committing suicide en masse. Eagles fans too, for that matter, and then there are the Flyers and Sixers.”

“The players union always wants free agents to take the best offer because that does raise the bar for the rest of them. That same factor will now apply to Glavine, who was the Braves' player rep.

There are other factors though. The Phils are a time headed north, the Indians due south. Stadium construction workers put on a cool demonstration for Thome when he came here, and he stopped the limo, got out, and shook hands with them, heard them literally beg him to come here. That made a big impression on him.

Philly is also a blue collar town and Thome is a blue collar kind of guy. I've always like him whenever the Indians were on the tube. He's a class act. I am sorry for Cleveland's loss, but baseball is an economics game and about winning. We lost Schilling to Arizona, so I know how it feels. This is what free agency had wrought.”

“One last note: blue collar fans are about to be priced pretty much right out of the new ballpark. Somebody's going to pay these salaries, and it probably won't be Joe Sixpack, at least not very often. Going to a ball game is going to become a luxury.”

“Yeah, the days of me going to 75 or 80 games and getting drunk (not to mention stuffed on nachos and peanuts) are forever gone.

That's OK. It's cheaper to get drunk at home.”

“Sorry. Meant to say safer to get drunk at home. It's obviously cheaper.”

“Press conference is at 4:30 today. It will be broadcast live on ComCast. I think I'll duck out of work early to make up for coming in late and catch it.”

“Waaaaaahhhhhhhh, I have to play in Philly now!

It's this simple, athletes who leave for the highest $, deserve the heckling, booing, and crap that comes their way.

Dr. Pivo is right about his numbers, and Philly will want to unload this contract within 2 years.

Have fun Jimmy, have fun Philly, don't let the door hit you in the a$$. :)”

“Philly fans should boo 'em opening day and get it out of the way.”

“Press conference is over. Can't wait til Feb. 14!

Hey Buddha, you saying somebody waved $85 million under your nose for six years of work, you wouldn't jump at it?

I understand how you feel, mind you. We lost Curt Schilling and Scott Rolen, although Rolen turned down a pretty good offer here before he left. Actually, I was glad Rolen left. The clubhouse remark about him being a cancer was true.”

“They offered me money to post exclusivelt at backpacker.com, yet I'm still here, posting for free.

For some of us, money isn't everything!”