Thames

Subject: Re: Thames Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:19 am

Subject: Re: Thames Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:04 am

Rocks!

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"I'm glad we're in the other division," Terry Francona, manager of the East-winning Boston Red Sox, told the Associated Press. "That lineup just got scary."

Subject: Re: Thames Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:07 am

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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Thames Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:22 am

From the FSN Daily Wire, June 26, 2008

DETROIT (AP) - Anytime Marcus Thames starts to get cranky about being a part-time player, he simply thinks about his mom.

Thames was 5 when his mother, Veterine Thames, was in a car accident that left her paralyzed.
For 26 years, that's left the Detroit Tigers outfielder with an even-keeled perspective about his place in the game.

"She can't even get herself a glass of water," Thames said. "I can get up, walk around and drive myself to the ballpark, so why would I get frustrated and get down on myself?"

Little frustrates Thames now.

He'd hit seven home runs in his last 10 games going into Wednesday night, doubling his previous total to give him 14 this season. Helped by his bat, the Tigers keep moving up in the AL Central after a bad start.

"I've had a chance to play with some pretty special people and I don't think I've ever seen anybody be quite that hot for an extended period of time the way Marcus has been," teammate Todd Jones said this week before the Tigers opened a series against the St. Louis Cardinals. "It's just been remarkable."

Thames boils it down to getting more swings. He was hitting .263 with 31 RBIs in 133 at-bats through mid-week.

"I'm not going to say I'm going to hit a home run every day," he said. "But I'll put some good swings on some balls and good things will happen."

Thames insisted he knew, eventually, he would get his chance. It's mostly been that way for Thames since the New York Yankees drafted him in 1996.

A solid hitter in the minors, Thames debuted with a bang: On the first pitch he saw as a big leaguer, he homered off Arizona's Randy Johnson. That shot at Yankee Stadium in 2002 prompted New York manager Joe Torre to push Thames out of the dugout for a curtain call.

After a brief stint with Texas, Thames joined the Tigers in 2004. Then in 2006, he hit 26 home runs in 348 at-bats as Detroit surprised many baseball fans by reaching the World Series.

Last year, when he played in just 86 games, he still hit 18 home runs in 269 at-bats.

His family's strength kept him from worrying about time spent on the bench.

"I can only control what I can control and if I'm not in there, I come in there and cheer for my teammates," Thames said. "I'm a team guy, whatever my team wants me to do, that's what I'm going to do."

What his team wants him to do is continue to hit the ball like he has been.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Thames has earned the job as the team's No. 1 left fielder.

"I'm dumb, but I'm not an idiot," Leyland said. "I'm going to play him."

Thames isn't just hitting homers in meaningless situations, he's hitting homers when they count. Of his seven home runs, five came in games the Tigers won.

"The one thing I like about Marcus, and for me, the most important thing is Marcus hits them when they mean something," Leyland said.

Given his recent success, a Thames homer is starting to look ordinary.

"We were kidding him the last day in San Diego, he only got a single and he's going to be on the trading block now," Jones said.

Equally impressive has been Thames' attitude since he achieved success in the majors. Mainly, that it hasn't changed.

"He does everything that you hope as a man and a human you're supposed to do," Jones said. "You take care of your momma, you take care of your family and you keep your mouth shut.

"And when you go deep and everybody wants to talk to you, you still maintain the same person."
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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Thames Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:13 pm

08/11/2008 8:07 PM ET
Thames goes for MRI on sore shoulder
Tigers outfielder reportedly struggling to raise his arm
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Tigers outfielder Marcus Thames underwent an MRI on his right shoulder on Monday afternoon, as medical officials try to determine if he's suffering from inflammation or something worse.

Thames initially injured his shoulder on a diving attempt during last week's series against the White Sox, manager Jim Leyland said on Monday, but the pain worsened to the point where he was scratched from Sunday's starting lineup and listed as day-to-day.

"They thought he would be much better today when he came in, and he was not," Leyland said.

Thames supposedly was having trouble raising his arm, so he was sent out for tests. The results, which weren't available as of Monday night, will give the organization a better idea of how long he'll be out. Leyland said that a disabled-list stint is a possibility.

"Only a possibility," Leyland said. "When you get into a stretch like we're in, and the importance of this, you can't have guys sitting around [unavailable for] six, seven, eight days. Now, whether that's the case, I don't know, because I haven't gotten the report yet."

It would be a major blow to a team that has taken advantage of his power. His 21 home runs rank second on the team to Miguel Cabrera, but Thames has produced his homers in just 237 at-bats. The 31-year-old is batting .236 with a .544 slugging percentage and 46 RBIs.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Thames Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:45 am

08/11/2008 11:58 PM ET
MRI negative, Thames to return soon
Tigers outfielder has no structural damage in sore shoulder
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Tigers outfielder Marcus Thames is expected to be back in two to three days after an MRI exam showed no structural damage in his sore right shoulder.

Thames took a cortisone shot on Monday afternoon to quiet the inflammation in his shoulder. He could be available to pinch-hit as early as Tuesday, a major relief for a team that has taken advantage of his power.

Thames initially injured his shoulder on a sliding catch to rob White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski of a hit on Thursday night in Chicago. The pain worsened to the point where he was scratched from Sunday's starting lineup and listed as day-to-day. Instead of feeling better on Monday, he was having trouble raising his arm, and the Tigers were thinking about the disabled list as a possibility.

"If they hit a ball out there to me, I couldn't throw anybody out," Thames said. "And I don't want to be out there in the field [hobbled] when we need to win every game we can. I don't like sitting. Whenever I get a chance to play, I want to play, but I had to sit down. It was killing me."

Thames' 21 home runs rank second on the team to Miguel Cabrera, but Thames has produced his homers in just 237 at-bats. The 31-year-old is batting .236 with a .544 slugging percentage and 46 RBIs.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Thames Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:57 am

Finally!!! A Player that admits when he's hurt and takes a seat because it will benefit the team! I hope we have some other players paying attention to his example and follow suit in the fututre!
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"I'm glad we're in the other division," Terry Francona, manager of the East-winning Boston Red Sox, told the Associated Press. "That lineup just got scary."

Subject: Re: Thames Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:00 am

hi Ohio! where ya been?!?!?
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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Thames Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:04 am

HI!!!!

Well....to make a long story short.....I was on vacation the 1st 2 weeks of July...followed by 3 weeks of layoff from work! Needless to say, when I'm not working for 5 weeks straight, I get slammed with a "honey-do" list a mile long. So, needless to say...I've been trying to get everything done before going back to work last night. There's still a few things left to do before I go back to school on the 25th...I just hope there's enough time...lol
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"I'm glad we're in the other division," Terry Francona, manager of the East-winning Boston Red Sox, told the Associated Press. "That lineup just got scary."

Subject: Re: Thames Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:39 am

Glad you are back!
We're putting on new porch steps....gutted these out....

and will pour new cement ones soon!
that's what I've been up to!
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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Thames Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:16 am

Well....in my 5 weeks off work, I built (well...finished building) a 12'x16' shed out back, scraped and painted the basement windows and garage doors, cleaned out the garage, put new brakes on the car and truck, cleaned the gutters, went to Ionia, MI to pick up a hot tub, ran new 240v wiring for said hot tub from the basement to the back patio, went to my in-laws to scrape and paint the "barn", had a pool party, landscaped around the house, stained the pool deck, painted the deck outside my kitchen, and picked up a truck load of camp-fire wood. Needless to say....I was glad to go back to work....I don't work as hard there as I do at home! lol2

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"I'm glad we're in the other division," Terry Francona, manager of the East-winning Boston Red Sox, told the Associated Press. "That lineup just got scary."

Subject: Re: Thames Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:24 am

you are one HANDY guy! my husband can't do most of that stuff..
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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Thames Tue Aug 12, 2008 7:36 am

It's no big deal, really. I just don't believe in paying someone else to do something that I am perfectly capable of. The last time I had to hire someone to do anything was when we had tree roots break through the septic drain tiles and everything backed up. I dug out the ground for the new tiles to be installed....but had to have a plumber install the new pipes so they would be up to code. I love doing that kind of stuff though...it keeps me busy and I love the satisfaction of knowing I did it myself. Big Smile

_________________
"I'm glad we're in the other division," Terry Francona, manager of the East-winning Boston Red Sox, told the Associated Press. "That lineup just got scary."

Subject: Re: Thames Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:07 am

still, that is a talent I would be proud of! about the only thing I can do is change a light bulb! Look

seriously, we painted our living room and it looks like a couple of 5th graders did it!
Smack

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There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Thames Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:23 pm

08/14/2008 1:25 PM ET
Shoulder better, Thames nearing return
Tigers slugger sore when throwing, availble to pinch-hit
By Scott McNeish / MLB.com

DETROIT -- The Tigers are close to getting one of their biggest power threats back.

Outfielder Marcus Thames' health has improved since an MRI revealed inflammation in his right shoulder. He can swing a bat pain free, but he cannot perform a throwing motion without feeling soreness in the shoulder. The Tigers still have him listed as day-to-day.

"He's feeling much better," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Thursday. "Throwing still bothers him a bit, but he could pinch-hit."

Leyland wanted to use Thames, who ranks second on the team to Miguel Cabrera with 21 homers this season, as a pinch-hitter in the late innings of Wednesday's loss to the Blue Jays, but the situation did not allow for it.

Thames received a cortisone shot Monday after the MRI showed no structural damage.

He injured the shoulder making a sliding catch last Thursday in Chicago. The Tigers scratched him minutes prior to Monday's game after the 31-year-old said he had trouble lifting his arm above his head.

"If they hit a ball out there to me, I couldn't throw anybody out," Thames said Monday night. "And I don't want to be out there in the field [hobbled] when we need to win every game we can. I don't like sitting. Whenever I get a chance to play, I want to play, but I had to sit down. It was killing me."

Thames tied a Tigers record earlier this season by hitting a home run in five straight games. He is batting .236 with 46 RBIs and has a .544 slugging percentage in 237 at-bats.

Scott McNeish is an associate reporter for MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Subject: Re: Thames Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:33 am

Thames hit 2 HR last night. Why doesn't he play more? This is why...

7/2 - 9/5: 37 games - .184 AVG - .226 OBP - .408 SLG - 46 K - 7 BB

Double Puke

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bow