Chicago White Sox: Will the Jim Thome Curse End?

by Jerod Morris

Ever since the White Sox got rid of the home-grown Aaron Rowand and signed former Cleveland Indian Jim Thome, KVB and I have referred to the “Jim Thome curse.” Essentially, White Sox management got rid of the heart and soul of the 2005 World Series Champion White Sox to bring in one of our most hated players ever.

I will gladly admit it: I hated Jim Thome when he played for Cleveland, and even on into his days with Philadelphia.

Part of it was because he was really good and we always seemed to be looking up at the damn Indians in the standings. And the other part of it was that it always pissed me off when idiotic Indians fans would say that Thome was as good as Frank Thomas. He wasn’t. Ever.

But now Jim Thome is one of our own. And he is nearing the completion of his third year on the South Side. I must admit that my feelings towards him (with remained hateful throughout his first season, and pretty much the same last year) are softening, but this week will be the proverbial “proof in the pudding.”

I believed that the White Sox had a team capable of winning the World Series in 2006. We were the best team in baseball through the All-Star break before the wheels fell off. I blamed this entirely on tired arms and poor pitching as a result of the 2005 playoffs Jim Thome’s presence. When we completely tanked last year, I also blamed this completely on older players having an off year Jim Thome. Well, as of today we sit 1-1/2 games up on Minnesota and despite last night’s terrible performance (thanks Mr. Clutch Javier Vazquez!) hold our destiny in our hands. And despite a very slow start, Jim Thome has picked it up and turned in pretty decent numbers. Over the last month, despite a low batting average, he leads us in HRs and is tied for the team lead in RBIs. His power contributions have been huge considering the void left by the absence of Carlos Quentin. And for the season, Thome is hitting .245 with a .363 OBP and has slugged 33 HRs while driving in 88 runs. Not too shabby. And he certainly brings a presence to the middle of the order.

But for me to believe that the “Jim Thome Curse” has truly been erased, the Sox must go to the playoffs. Assuming we can take at least one from Minnesota over the next three days, and close out strong at home against Cleveland, we should be in the playoffs. It would require a pretty substantial collapse for us to blow this lead. In the unlikely event that we do collapse, I will have no choice but to place the blame squarely on the broad and Hawk-beloved shoulders of (former Cleveland Indian) Jim Thome.

But…assuming that we win the AL Central (an assumption I am 99.9% comfortable in making even after we tanked last night) I promise that I will open up all of the love in my White Sox heart for Jim Thome. He has produced and will be a big reason why we win the AL Central, plus he is pretty far removed from his tenure in Cleveland.

So far, I am still feeling confident.  Both the Sox and Twins won on Sunday, and Minnesota took game 1.  I’d hoped we be more competitive yesterday, but it’s just one game…the runs don’t carry over.  So pretty much exactly what I thought would happen has happened.  My only trepidation is that Sox simply have never lived up to their potential as a team since Ken Williams made the deal with devil to bring Thome in and get rid of Rowand.  We haven’t had stability in centerfield since, and have fought some pretty significant and inopportune injuries (Jose Contreras, Carlos Quentin, Scott Linebrink, etc.).  One good week, though, and a few key Thome homers to help lead us into October, and I will have choice to but to forget about the Jim Thome Curse.

I really hope that will be the case, and I’m fairly certain it will be.  I certainly have not yet stopped believing.

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