After missing 59 games in 2005 because of lower back and elbow injuries, designated hitter Jim Thome stands a strong chance of winning Major League Baseball’s Comeback Player of the Year Award in the American League.
But Thome has set his sights on a more ominous task–helping the Sox rebound from a 10-game deficit in the American League Central in the midst of a grueling stretch.
“Personally, you have to try to win the division,” said Thome, who Monday was named one of 12 finalists for the comeback award.
“That sets your goals high. The other stuff, hopefully, will fall in place. We need to worry about game to game and not worry too far ahead or about what other people are doing.
“It’s hard because the interest is there to follow Detroit and other teams, but the thoughts have to be there to focus on your game.”
There’s a strong temptation to watch the scoreboard this week because AL Central leader Detroit visits Minnesota and Texas opposes Oakland in two series with postseason implications.
But manager Ozzie Guillen and Thome don’t want to be consumed by the Detroit-Minnesota series because the Sox play Detroit and Minnesota 13 times in a 17-day span.
“Am I going to watch the scoreboard? Of course,” Guillen said. “Do I have any preference? Not really. I just have to worry about my club.”
Said Thome: “We root for us to win and worry about all that later.”
Thome, who has 34 home runs and 85 RBIs, could face his stiffest challenge for the comeback award from former Sox star Frank Thomas, who is helping Oakland with 24 homers and 67 RBIs after playing in only 34 games last season.
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Second (city) chances
Six of the 12 nominees for comeback player of the year have Chicago ties . . . but who’s counting?
American League
Jim Thome, WHITE SOX
Magglio Ordonez, Detroit
Corey Patterson, Baltimore
Curt Schilling, Boston
Frank Thomas, Oakland
Rafael Soriano, Seattle
National League
Nomar Garciaparra, L.A. Dodgers
Carlos Beltran, NY Mets
Joe Borowski, Florida
Johnny Estrada, Arizona
Edgar Renteria, Atlanta
Scott Rolen, St. Louis
