Unless he gets ultra-hot in the three-game series in Detroit, Jim Thome will have a chance to hit his 500th home run on the nine-game homestand that starts Friday.
He’s five short of the milestone.
“The thing that would be neat about Chicago is Ernie Banks did it there and my dad (Chuck) was a big Ernie Banks fan,” Thome said. “It would be neat to do it at home because of growing up in the state of Illinois. It would be special, special for our fans because they deserve that.”
Thome has tried to be low-key about becoming the 23rd player to hit 500 but knows it will be difficult as he gets closer.
“I really am trying not to get caught up in the whole thing,” he said. “It’s a difficult thing because it gets talked about every day and it’s very common for the player to want to go out and do it, but you have to be under control. When it will happen, it will happen.
“You can’t look into the crystal ball and say, ‘If I go into this series, I might have a chance to hit three or four or five. It doesn’t work that way. That’s why it’s the toughest thing there is to do, hit a home run. I’m a believer in that. A home run is a mistake and things have to be perfect.
“I’m really excited for my dad. He keeps quiet about it to me, but I know he thinks about it a lot too.”
Danks stays strong
John Danks won’t start another game until the Cleveland series in more than a week because management wants to save his arm for the future. But he says he isn’t tired after 136 innings.
“I feel strong,” Danks said. “I think that was evident in my last start. I threw 100-plus pitches, maintained velocity and my legs felt great. I understand why they’re doing it, but at the same time I want to be out there as much as I can. You have to be gracious and thank them for taking care of you and not running you out there with the risk of getting hurt.”
Danks said he would use the winter for weight training and conditioning with a personal trainer in Texas. He’ll start throwing in December.
“I’ll really use the time to rest and get ready to come back and have a better year next year,” he said. “I want to come in stronger and be ready to fulfill expectations.”
Extra innings
A. J. Pierzynski is on pace to catch 141 games, which would be a career high, one more than last season. While he will miss the Detroit series to attend a family funeral, Pierzynski says he wants to keep playing: “Of course I do, and as far as I know I will.” … Pitching reinforcements during the Detroit series might include Double-A reliever Adam Russell.
