Jim Thome rejoins the Phillies

Fan favorite (or Phan Phavorite if you're one of those people) Jim Thome will be returning to the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2012 season.  The 41 year old recently hit his 600th career homerun, and signed a one year contract with the Phils today, pending a physical.  Perfect low-key signing if you ask me, since Thome is a marked improvement over Ross Gload as a left handed pinch hitter/first baseman with power.

The next to hit 600 homeruns?

When it comes to baseball, there is certainly no lack of statistics.  There's not even a lack of statistics about statistics.  So when Bill James comes up with something he calls the "Career Assesments Formula" it really comes as no surprise.  It predicts career totals for MLB players, and in this case it's homeruns (by age 40).  So who has the best chance to become the next 600 homerun hitter (after Jim Thome accomplished the feat last night)?

Mark Teixeira - 22% chance, 33 HRs needed per year
Prince Fielder - 29% chance, 29 HRs needed per year
Ryan Howard - 33% chance, 36 HRs needed per year
Adam Dunn - 50% chance, 26 HRs needed per year
Albert Pujols - 97 % chance, 18 HRs needed per year


And damn you Adam Dunn for messing up the columns above!

Jim Thome hits #600

In the sixth inning of Minnesota's game against Detroit last night, Jim Thome blasted a 2-run opposite field homerun.  But that was only #599 of the 40 year old's career.  He'd have to wait til his next at-bat in the seventh inning to hit the 600th homerun of his career, becoming the 8th player in MLB history to do so.  He became the second fastest player to accomplish the rare feat, but also the oldest.  Any way you slice it, Thome deserves praise for this milestone.

Congrats to the former Phillie!!!

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