I get that you don't think THome is clutch, but the worst late inning hitter on the team? Let's be serious.
there's still a reason the guy is pitched around every single inning including the late ones, while others on the squad aren't.
I watch every Sox game, and I mean every one. They never pitch around Thome, they go right after him. This is an unfair assessment though because he has Joe Crede and Jermaine Dye behind him. But pitchers would much rather pitch to Thome then Crede and the struggling Dye.
Podsednik - decent late inning hitter and did hit a walk off in the World Series
Erstad - Always been a clutch player
Konerko - One of the best big time hitters in the game
Dye - Won a World Series MVP and had multiple Walk Offs
Crede - Has won more games with walk off/game winning hits then anyone in baseball in the last 4 years outside of Ortiz
Pierzynski - Right next to Thome, might give slight edge to Thome
Uribe - Hits them more when they count then when the don't wish it weren't so though
Iguchi - 4 game winning hits in his first season in the big leagues...
Saying that is not a huge knock on Thome because as you can see the White Sox are a very good late inning team, which is why they came back in so many games the last two years. But Thome just isn't the guy the Sox fans want up late in games.
I am not hating on Thome because I am a big Sox fan and love what he brings to the table. But ask a lot of White Sox fans this question and they will most likely agree. Thome's problem is that he doesn't really put the ball in play late in games either, and that is frustrating, at least make them make a play.
The bench
Cintron
Ozuna
Anderson
every one of those players hit a walk off home run last season. Sounds so damn crazy but it is true. Pablo is my favorite player on the team because of how hard he plays and how big time he is. Would I take any of those guys over Thome really no, but I would take Pablo because I am an idiot and love the guys style. Would I take Uribe over Thome yes, Iguchi probably not, and Podsednik most likely not. But depends on the situation with Podsednik.