Maybe it’s time to rethink our dislike for the designated hitter.
If ever there were a case to be made for the loathsome device featured in the American League, it would be one Jim Thome.
It’s pretty clear now that this is what Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. had in mind when he brought the 41-year-old slugger back to red pinstripes for a farewell tour.
It's equally as obvious that Thome can no longer play in the field. His balky back simply won’t allow it. Attempts during spring training and earlier in the season to get Thome in the lineup at first base resulted in a trip to the DL for the aging slugger.
Pinch-hitting also does not seem to be his forte. It is a specialized art, and certainly not an easy thing for a power hitter to do. Thome needs some at-bats to get into a groove, and he was not going to get them as a pinch-hitter.
Enter interleague play.
It was likely these nine games vs. AL teams that Amaro was pointing to when he signed Thome.
Gentleman Jim has not disappointed.
Thome homered again last night for the second straight night as the Phils hammered the Twins, 6-1, getting a complete game from Joe Blanton in the process.
In the six interleague games the Phils have played so far, all Thome has done is hit an eye-popping .458, going 11 for 24 with three dingers, two doubles and 13 RBIs. He had nine RBIs against the Twins in the three-game set in which the Phils took two behind a couple of Thome wallops, including one prodigious poke of 466 feet.
The Phils and the red-hot Thome now move on to Toronto for three more interleague affairs.
The problem is going to be what happens then, when the Phils return to National League play.
Thome can’t play in the field.
He has struggled as a pinch-hitter.
Maybe Amaro should petition the league to make the DH a permanent feature in the National League.
Think Thome would look pretty good hitting behind Ryan Howard?
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