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| When will we see Jim Thome doing this again? (Getty Images) |
Orioles DH Jim Thome will miss at least the next 30 days because of the herniated disk in his back that's sidelined him since July 27, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports. Given the late hour, the time-table and Thome's age and history of back problems, it's certainly possible that Thome won't play again this season. If it's up to Thome, of course, then he'll be back at some point in September.
On the year, Thome is hitting a productive .252/.347/.450 in 150 plate appearances for the Phillies and O's. He's still a very useful hitter, particularly against right-handed pitching, so Baltimore will miss him.
Thome is also 41 years of age, and as such we're left wondering if he'll ever play again. The good news for those of us who enjoy watching Thome play this game is that his latest setback seems to have inspired him. “I don’t want to say yes, no. But you know what? This maybe changes my thinking a little bit," Thome told Connolly of playing another season. "Maybe I do want to play a little bit longer."
Thome presently ranks seventh on the all-time list with 611 career home runs.
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