According to various reports, the Orioles have traded for Phillies 1st basemen/DH Jim Thome. Not sure who the trade is for yet and it won’t be officially announced for untill the O’s are finished getting shellacked by the Indians but apparently it is for some sort of Triple-A pitcher, but apparently no one very good. Thome is 41 years old now and primarily DH’s because of his age. In 62 AB’s this year he has 5 home runs, is hitting .242, and has struck out 21 times. I don’t really understand the trade because he basically just seems like an older Davis/Betemit/Reynolds/whatever other low average/high strikeout power guy. It’s not a big deal because apparently we aren’t giving up anyone of consequence and at least its fresh blood in the locker room but I pretty much expect the same prediction from Thome as I do those other guys.  Read more...