Looking Into The Off-Season: Jermaine Dye or Jim Thome
This is going to be a very busy off-season for Kenny Williams. One of the busier ones he has had in awhile. The question really isn't who are the Sox going to go after this off-season, but who are they going to keep. The two names that pop into every ones head is Dye and Thome. Dye and Thome deserve all the credit in the world for making the Sox a successful franchise over the past 4 years. They have grinded though thick and thin, and gained the respect of everyone across the league. Unfortunately, our time of having the duo of Dye and Thome in the heart of the order is about to run out. All of us know, including Kenny Williams, that one of them has to go. Only one player can comeback next year, and fill the position of DH. Unfortunately, this is going to be one of the harder decisions Kenny Williams will have to make. Let's take a look at the stats of the two first.
2009 103 375 102 24 67 39 79 .272 .345 .512 .857
Jim Thome Games AB H HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
2009 92 290 74 21 69 63 96 .255 .355 .514 .901
The Stats show why this decision is so tough. While Jermaine does have a better average, more hits, and less strike outs than Thome, he also has close to 100 more AB's than Thome does and Thome has better run producing numbers. Thome's main flaw with his stats is his strikeout rate. Despite having 100 less AB's he has close to 20 more strikeouts than Jermaine does. Just for fun, lets look at their stats of the past 3 years.
Jermaine Dye Games AB H HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
2007 138 508 129 28 78 45 107 .254 .317 .486 .803
2008 154 590 172 34 96 44 104 .292 .344 .541 .885
2009 103 375 102 24 67 39 79 .272 .345 .512 .857
Jim Thome Games AB H HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
2007 130 432 119 35 96 95 134 .275 .410 .563 .973
2008 149 503 123 34 90 91 147 .245 .362 .503 .865
2009 92 290 74 21 69 63 96 .255 .355 .514 .901
Both Players are fairly similar. You look at the 07 season, where Thome had a very solid year. What does bring some concern though is the 2008 season. Both Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome played in more games in 2008 compared to 2007, and Jim Thome seemed to decline. Almost all his stats went down in 19 extra games while Dye's numbers exploded in 2008. Stats aren't the only thing that come into play though. Money has alot to do with this dilemma as well. Thome is an official free agent after this season ends while Jermaine Dye has a 12M Mutual Option. Thome has said that he would love to retire with Chicago, so you know a paycut could be had. Dye may put up the better numbers, but if Thome is willing to sign a deal worth 2-4 Million, 2-4 Million is a lot less than 12M. The money alone might make you think that Thome is the better option, but Thome and Dye are different players. Thome is a slugger, there is no queston about that, but the only thing he seems to do nowadays is either hit Homeruns or get walked. He has a very hard hitting with the pull shift on, and if he doesn't hit the ball out of the park, he usually gets out. Jermaine Dye meanwhile, is the better all around hitter. He can pull the ball and take it the other way equally well, and doesn't rely on the long ball every game. Jermaine Dye nearly has 2x the amount of doubles Thome has every season. He also has a higher average and OBP nearly every year.
So the question is, who should the White Sox take this off-season? Both Dye and Thome are huge sluggers in this lineup, but both are getting up there in age. If your Kenny Williams, you have to decide, do i take the big lefty that is usually a hit or miss, for less money? Or do i take the younger Jermaine Dye who may cost 3x as much as Thome will? There is one thing we all know for sure, Kenny will have a lot to do this off-season to replace the absense of either Thome or Dye.
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Trade for Dunn
If not I’d take Thome, left handed power threat and true OBP guy fills a bigger need than what Dye brings in my opinion.
Yep.
We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.
in the year 2010...
the sox will likely look something like this:
1. Rios, CF
2. Beckham, SS
3. Thome, DH
4. Quentin, RF
5. Konerko, 1B
6. Pierzynski, C
7. Ramirez, SS
8. Getz, 2B
9. Podsednik/Wise/Kotsay, LF
2 ss, no 3rd base
our fielding will suck
Carlos Guillen, the Latino Nick Punto - BouJouma
Please takeyour latte circle jerk to another thread. -WU
babies are young and under team control for at least 12 years -Billyok
Nuh uhh
Put Ramirez on top of Beckham, and they can take up both positions. Like a super powered infielder.

…Minus the boobs.
"Yeah I sucked on purpose while I played for the Rockies. I just wanted out of Colorado. Go Sox."
- Scotty Pods.
by ScottyPods Ver2.0 on Aug 12, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions
don't know why,
but that’s hot.
We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.
What I mean is
I can’t seem to take my eyes off the black bikini.
We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.
Haha well,
Imagine if Beckham or Ramirez was wearing that bikini. Hellllz yeahhhh
"Yeah I sucked on purpose while I played for the Rockies. I just wanted out of Colorado. Go Sox."
- Scotty Pods.
by ScottyPods Ver2.0 on Aug 13, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions
flagged
i'll delete your SSS existence in a second. there is nothing that allows SSS posters, at any one moment, to keep posting, but the mere pleasure of larry.
-larry
by blackoutsox on Aug 13, 2009 12:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Aww.
"Yeah I sucked on purpose while I played for the Rockies. I just wanted out of Colorado. Go Sox."
- Scotty Pods.
by ScottyPods Ver2.0 on Aug 14, 2009 7:52 AM CDT up reply actions
I still can't stop looking.
We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.
Thome is a better run producer
so it might be good to have him in the order, but if we do release him and keep tthome, who will play right, rios and move pods back to center?
Carlos Guillen, the Latino Nick Punto - BouJouma
Please takeyour latte circle jerk to another thread. -WU
babies are young and under team control for at least 12 years -Billyok
Q! is perfectly capable of playing right and have pods in left
of course if you have younger guys coming up that will change things
Looking at Cheat's nifty payroll sheet
I’m pretty amazed that — even with the Peavy and Rios deals added in as well as arbitration money going to Jenks, Q and Danks — the Sox still appear to have some wiggle-room for next year. I’ll say that I have no idea what Kenny is going to do — I never do — but I’m not sure why everyone is already kicking JD to the curb next year. It seems to me they could just as easily bring both JD and Thome back on one-year deals (Thome in particular — the market for him will be even more limited than it was for Abreu last year. Thome looks like a good candidate for $5-7 million. And if he finally falls off the cliff, the Sox have a decent back-up option in Flowers) with Rios manning CF.
Off-season’s are never dull with Kenny but this winter is going to be very interesting. I’m wondering:
- What’s going to happen behind home plate — AJ or Flowers? I’m thinking AJ will be here through next year. For one, I doubt they’d get enough value in return to compensate for AJ’s loss (he’s really having a fantastic season — 2.4 WAR, that’s gotta be top five in all of MLB for catchers, no?). And another year (or half-year) in Charlotte certainly can’t hurt Flowers.
- I’ve thought for a while that bringing in Pena was more an indication that they’ll look to deal Jenks this winter. Of course, teams have seemingly gotten smarter about giving up a lot for a relief pitcher. If a team isn’t willing to give up a player ready to play next year (which is presumably what KW would be looking for), I could just as soon see the Sox keeping him til free agency.
that's b/c fangraphs doesn't do catcher defense
recent post at BTB had him at ~ -10 per 150, which basically cancels out the position adjustment. if he finishes in the neighborhood of his current OPS and gets his 22 walks, i’ll definitely take it.
THIS STORY ONLY ENDS ONE WAY
Dye has been putting up great numbers
and he has been a huge steal as far as a power hitting OF could be. Easily the Sox’ MVP of the last five years, he should get his contract restructured for a few more years and play it out as the RF, eventually, the DH. Despite that, I dont see any reason why we cannot bring Thome back to the White Sox for another year. Despite being “over budget” this year we have several players that will come off the books and would most likely take a “hometown” discount to stay with the Sox. This team is headed in the right direction by being set up as a contender for several years down the road. Everyone else zigs, KW zags.
I go home and get in her face - Pods
the sox can't afford both and it will be awful to see one of them go
just make sure a division rival or the lousy cubs don’t get one of them
coming up for air and about to attack loser Republican radicals
you tell em angryandy
" Do you guys know people like you are the reason I wouldn’t come on for exstended periods of time. You rui the baseball blogging expieriance."
by trademaker on May 30, 2009 10:31 PM PDT
The FA $$ ain't what they used to be, so the Sox can 'afford' both next year
assuming they want to come back. The flaw in your post (and poll) is that you overlook the obvious:
Move JD to LF, Q to RF, keep Thome at DH. Problems solved.
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."
— Leo Durocher
Exactly. If KW wants 'em,
we got ’em.
We’re a pack of a-holes. And my tradition of contributing absolutely nothing to this site... continues.
by winningugly on Aug 12, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions
i'd love to see that. the sox seem reticent to move dye to left, but i think it'd be good for the defense.
and i agree that if the sox want, they can put both dye and thome in sox uniforms next year.
Cashing checks and having sex.
yeah this is a good plan
dont pick up Dyes option and renegotiate, they can probably get both guys for close to the $12 million.
Castro ran into the dugout and told pitcher Jose Contreras, "He hasn't missed a spot all day. I think hes going to do it." Contreras replied, "Shut the fuck up."
if someone swoops in and does a Hunter on us to Dye, then we wish him well.
Castro ran into the dugout and told pitcher Jose Contreras, "He hasn't missed a spot all day. I think hes going to do it." Contreras replied, "Shut the fuck up."

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