CLEARWATER, Fla.It wasnt quite show and tell. More like show and keep showing. Jim Thome didnt know the name of the move hed learned - the difficult one that had given him so much trouble -- but he was happy to demonstrate. Thome is helpful that way - but he is also large, which made the impromptu exhibition that much more amusing.
During the off-season, Thome began a new workout regimen designed to keep him limber and healthy for the long baseball grind ahead. Hes 41 now, and hes had some injury issues over the years, including nagging lower back concerns. Last year he played 93 games with the Twins and Indians, mashing a combined 15 home runs and adding 50 RBIs. He contributed, but he said hed like to do more if possible for the Phillies. That's why he did a lot of stretching over the off-seasonstretching and Pilates. When Thome revealed the Pilates part of the routine, he was immediately asked about it, because the idea of giant Jim Thomehes 6-foot-3, 250 poundscontorting himself into various poses intrigued a lot of people.
Thome, sitting on a black leather chair in front of his Brighthouse Field locker on Monday morning, suddenly picked up his left leg and folded it over his right knee. Then he arched his back and lifted his head and mimicked touching the ground all at the same time.
This one was hard, Thome said, as everyone stood around in a semi-circle and watched. I dont know what thats called.
No one did. It looked like human origami as performed by a less orange version of Ben Grimm from the Fantastic Four.
Thome said he likes challenges, but while Pilates and stretching and all the other things he did during the off-season were taxing in a way, he acknowledged that the true test, the toughest test, will come during the six-month long season. Thats when hell know if his body is properly prepared.
Baseball activities are baseball activities. For me, the main thing is physically and how youre going to feel, Thome said. I feel good. I feel great. I take a lot of pride in coming to spring training. I took a lot of pride in when they called me and wanted me to come here. Theyre winners. Theyve proven that. I wanted to come to spring training and be in shape and be ready to go. I came down here a little bit in January, and its just a matter of getting out there and playing now and getting it done.
MLB
The Phillies would like nothing more for him to be out there playing and getting something done, especially early in the season when Ryan Howard wont be available. The team has tentatively forecasted a mid-May return for Howard (see story), who tore his Achilles tendon on the last play of last years NLDS against the Cardinals. Until then, Thome would like to fill in as best he can, though hes uncertain how often hell be available to play. Since leaving Philadelphia in 2005, Thome has played just 28 innings at first base -- none of which have come in the last four years.
Structurally, with my lower back, Im not sure, Thome said. Id love to say I could be out there three, four, five times a week. Id love to say that, but I dont know. I dont know.
Regardless of his production and playing time, its possible this could be Thomes last season. This will be his 22nd year in Major League Baseball. He was asked about that, about whether this might be the final farewell on a long, winding, successful tour that has so far produced 604 home runs for five different teams.
Im very at ease, Thome said. Its a spring training that I feel very good. I feel very good. And if this is my last year, and we wont go there, Im very, very at ease with this being my last year if that is the case. I feel like Ive had a nice career, but theres one missing puzzle piece to it, and I think we all know that.
E-mail John Gonzalez at jgonzalez@comcastsportsnet.com