Browns’ Rookies Holding Their Own
October 24, 2011While We’re Waiting… Chisenhall Interview, Not-So-Memorable Events and Oversigning
October 25, 2011After the lights went out and the cameras were turned off at Monday’s Cleveland City Club event, Jim Thome, the day’s speaker, provided a few questions with regard to the future, but also one very specific answer.
By his estimation, Cleveland Indians – whether he is a part of the franchise on a going-forward basis or not – are in a very good position to win a lot of baseball games. Thome reflected back on his early years with the Tribe, getting to watch and learn from players like Eddie Murray and Dave Winfield, and saw a lot of that team in the one which he was most recently a part of. Young, talented players who are just growing into their own. They have the desire to learn, and the desire to get better as players regardless of how long they have been in the game of baseball.
“The future here looks great,” said Thome to a select group of Cleveland media following his hour-long discussion with Indians broadcaster Tom Hamilton. “You look at the young players coming up and it’s no fluke what they’ve done this year. They’re setting themselves up really well to win when the time is right.”
Thome spoke of the coaching staff and the desire of the up-and-comng group of players, but also the behind-the-scenes efforts of the training staff on down to the team’s chef, making sure that the players are eating the right mix of foods to help them flourish. Citing teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals earlier in the afternoon, Thome mentioned the tilt toward spending on the farm system whether it is slightly overpaying for draft picks or ensuring that the Double- and Triple-A levels have solid coaching staffs as the Indians presently do.
Sure, its easy for a guy who is loved by a town to placate the masses; after all, the guy is getting a statue in the very park which the team calls home. What else is he going to say? But Thome also spoke about his days coming through the system and getting to learn from veterans and his willingness to do the same for today’s crop of Indians.
One player which he said came to him the most upon his arrival was outfielder Shelley Duncan. Dubbed a “great guy who makes things fun,” Thome said Duncan has the chance to be really, really special despite barely cracking last year’s squad as a fourth outfielder. Recall, upon Thome’s arrival, Duncan went on a streak that rivaled that of any other player on the team over a short length of time. Despite entering the month of September with four home runs, Duncan added seven in the months of September and October, driving in 23 runs with an OPS of .943.
While joking with MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian about Thome giving Duncan a chance to be something special despite already being 32-years old, the beat writer was quick to remind me that Toront’s Jose Bautista is 31 and merely came into his own a season ago. Hey…we can dream, right?
Thome really gave no indication as to what the short-term future holds with specific regards to his playing days. His desire to win is still very much alive, so if a contending team comes calling, Thome will undoubtedly answer.
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Editor’s note: We will have plenty more on the Thome appearance in the coming days. Some of his points, you’ll agree with, others you may not.
Photo: Scott Sargent/WFNY
7 Comments
if Duncan can become half of Bautista, I’ll forgive Thome for anything past present or future.
This article is about the Indians bright future and the only name mentioned is Shelly Duncan. Hilarious.
I was a bit surprised at Duncan being the only player he mentioned as well.
What an odd guy to mention. I kind of like it though, talking up somebody who rarely gets any recognition. Duncan did have a great September. How great would it be if he could keep it up?
“They’re setting themselves up really well…”
Do the pronoun police among us (I might be included in this group) make an inference here?
As long as Duncan never plays the outfield again.
Duncan at first maybe?