By: Kevin Anderson
During the 2009 season, the White Sox always had hope and the belief they were still in the hunt for the playoffs.
The end of August of 2009, that all changed when the White Sox traded DH and fan favorite Jim Thome to the the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thome was a pinch hitter for the rest of the regular season and saw limited action.
Word is that Thome is open to a return to the South Side, but it sounds like Manager Ozzie Guillen might not be interested in having the left handed power hitter back in the Sox line-up.
The Sox have had a busy off-season and have bolstered their roster by adding free agent short-stop, outfielder/DH Andruw Jones and re-signing utility player Mark Kotsay. Guillens plan is to have a rotation at the DH spot.
This may sound like another crazy idea from the out-spoken Guillen. Why wouldn’t he want a future hall of famer in Thome to return to the spot he has had great success at?
The simple answer is that the DH spot does not have to be a power hitting spot.
Guillen has pointed out that he would like to have different types of players available to him for that DH spot, so he can use one of them for a different type of situation during a game.
I believe that Guillen and GM Kenny Williams will not extend an offer to Thome and this move makes sense. Why use a player who is on his last leg as a full time DH?
I loved seeing Thome in a Sox uniform and it’s hard to even say not to get him, but the Sox have to do what is best for the team.
We didn’t have a solid DH in 2005 and the DH position is only filled by a full time started in a hand full of AL teams. The idea of having a group of players, with different strengths, is a good idea.
Small ball is Ozzie’s game and it’s what he knows best. Speed, defense and great pitching is what wins games.
That is what the White Sox should concentrate on.
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