http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1752561

 

 

Too bad it couldn't have happened later in the year.

03/06/2004 11:00 AM ET

Thome fractures middle finger

Slugger confident he'll be ready for Opening Day

By Ken Mandel / MLB.com Ticket information

 

CLEARWATER, FLA. -- A bad-hop grounder off the Bright House Networks Field dirt will cost the Phillies their best hitter for at least three weeks.

Jim Thome sustained a non-displaced fracture in the middle finger of his right hand when a fungo hit by coach Charlie Manuel bounced up and made contact with the finger during a workout Saturday.

 

Thome, who led the National League with 47 home runs last season, his first with the Phillies after joining them as a free agent the previous offseason, was scheduled to fly to Philadelphia on Saturday to be examined by team doctor Michael Ciccotti.

 

Though the injury will set Thome back as far as Spring Training is concerned, he's confident that he'll be ready for Opening Day on April 5 in Pittsburgh, as well as the grand opening of Citizens Bank Park on April 12.

 

"Absolutely, I'm hoping to be there Opening Day," said Thome. "I'm shooting for the end of Spring Training, hopefully."

 

While Thome is out, Shawn Wooten will see the bulk of the Grapefruit League at-bats at first, and would likely be the first option if Thome's not ready for the season.

 

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

As much as I don't want Thome beating on us this year, I hope he makes it back alright and in time for the opener.

well I wont pretend this isnt a good thing, but I hope he gets back healthy soon

y would u want a player that will play against us so many times in the season to come back healthy and ready? the best scenario is for him to be out a long ass time and when he comes back he doesnt feel good and has to go on the DL for a really long time. s*** happens and teams have to deal with injuries just like we did last year. So good riddance to thome and i hope he doesnt get better soon.

y would u want a player that will play against us so many times in the season to come back healthy and ready? the best scenario is for him to be out a long ass time and when he comes back he doesnt feel good and has to go on the DL for a really long time. s*** happens and teams have to deal with injuries just like we did last year. So good riddance to thome and i hope he doesnt get better soon.

agreed, but from a buisness standpoint

So good riddance to thome and i hope he doesnt get better soon.

Is he not still a human being?

So good riddance to thome and i hope he doesnt get better soon.

Is he not still a human being? I hope he falls off a cliff next week.

:lolup

thank you finally ppl agree with me..who cares if hes a human? ppl dont die from a broken finger..hes already filthy rich and as long as hes out he wont hurt us when we play him..just another failure in a plan for the phillies to win it all (supposebly)

I do understand that, from a business standpoint, this would be a good thing (even though he'll probably be back by the regular season anyway...)

 

But still, that's rude to be like "I hope he's out for a long time" blah blah blah.

 

Well if you really believed in the Marlins, you would think we can top them with Thome or without. "Yeah let's wish other teams' misfortune so we can win the division knowing we had no real competition"

 

And I know that if a Marlin was gonna get injured (god forbid), Phillies and Braves boards would be celebrating and we would get pissed. It's the same damn concept.

stop wishing harm on others people. If I said, "I hope AJ Burnett hurts his back" you guys would be calling for my banning. Have some respect for fans of other teams.

exactly my point

exactly my point

I totally agree.