10 Questions

Thome on boobirds, NL pitching and greasy cheesesteaks

Jim Thome has 334 career homers and 101 the past two seasons. AP

Jim Thome spent 12 years with the Cleveland Indians as a very popular -- not to mention extremely productive -- slugging first baseman. But in the offseason, faced with returning to the Indians (where he'd have to endure a long rebuilding period) or signing with the contending Philadelphia Phillies (for six years and $85 million), Thome decided to jump to the National League. Thome sat down at the Phillies' training complex in Clearwater, Fla., recently to talk with SI.com's John Donovan for this edition of 10 Questions.

Q: Let's start with those famously vocal Philadelphia fans. The general assumption is that, if you get off to a slow start, you'll hear it from them. How will you handle the booing?

A: As a player, you don’t really try to think about that too much. You want to go out and concentrate and do your job. That's just how I want to approach it. The fans have a right to boo, you know? If they boo, it's because you're not doing your job. You just try to go out and do the best you can.

Q: What about that whole idea that you could have trouble facing National League pitching for the first time. Is that a valid concern?

A: Facing any pitching in the big leagues is a test, for sure. You have to try to make adjustments along the way. I think if you keep your job simple, understand there are going to be guys that are going to get you out, and then have the approach that you want to get better, and you try to make yourself get better, then things will work out.

Q: How have you prepared yourself for the NL pitchers? Have you done anything? Watched films? Talked to scouts or other players?

A: A few things. [SI.com: Like?] I'll leave it at that.

Q: You were so involved with the city of Cleveland in your time there. Know any good places to eat?

A: I’d probably go eat at The Bistro. Probably the Chicken Romano. Yeah. Yeah.

Q: What about the delicacy in your new town, Philly cheeseteaks?

A: Love 'em. Love 'em. Love 'em. When I first got there I had one and loved it. You got to go onions. And mushrooms. And you gotta drain the grease. The grease has got to be drained.

Q: You have the reputation of being Mr. Nice Guy. Your manager … doesn't. How are you and Larry Bowa getting along?

A: Great. Great. Larry's been great. It's like I've said. Larry Bowa is the type of guy who wants to make you a good player. That, for me, that's the guy you want on your back. That's a lot of the reason I came here, because of him. Larry's the manager. Everybody has to be held accountable. This guy is trying to make me a good player. And I respect that.

Q: There is talk that the middle of this Phillies lineup could be the best ever, better than during the Mike Schmidt-Greg Luzinski days. Can you, Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell be as good as that, or better?

A: I remember those days. Obviously, growing up in Chicago, I watched the Phillies come through Wrigley Field. They always had great lineups. But I was a Cubs fan. They always put a hurtin' on the Cubs. But those guys have done it. We haven't. That's how I look at it.

Q: Walking around here in Clearwater, I seems to see No. 25 Thome jerseys are everywhere. What do you think when you look around and see old ladies and young kids and everyone in between wearing your jersey?

A: It's great. You know what? People actually go out and get a jersey of you, they like you enough to do that. That, to me, is the greatest thing. As a player, we all have a job, to be role models. To me, that's just the greatest thing. That people would do that, it's very humbling. They spend their hard-earned money to get that. That's why I appreciate it, I do. I really do. No matter who it is that has it, I always look at it and go 'Wow, that's pretty cool.' Whether he likes me or thinks I'm a nice player or whatever, you respect that.

Q: There are a lot of athletes who reject the idea that they are role models. But you're not one of them, are you?

A: We all are role models. Really. I'm no exception. I think being a role model is something that we should take a lot of pride in.

Q: How different are the only two Major League Baseball cities you have known, Cleveland and Philadelphia?

A: They are similar. They both have a lot of passion. Cleveland, they set the bar very high for us. I think there are a lot of similarities in the cities. I have not been to Philly that much yet, but I think there are a lot of the same type people in both places. Plus, they're not that far apart.

 

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