Reflective Thome arrives at Sox camp

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Jim Thome was another early spring arrival Monday, and the White Sox' veteran designated hitter already is enjoying his 19th major-league camp more than most.

For the first time, Thome is experiencing some 1-on-1 time with his dad, Chuck.

"My wife (Andrea) and I talked about it and that was something I felt very strongly about,'' Thome said. " 'Hey, let's do that and be together, and then you guys come down.'

"It's great. First time alone. My mom (Joyce, who passed away on Jan. 5, 2005) and dad used to always come, even in the early days of Cleveland. They would stay in Florida when they were there.

"But having him and I alone is different. I'm just going to try to enjoy every minute. Bringing my dad down to spring training, being with him alone before my wife comes, those are times that once he's gone, I'll always look back on and remember.''

When asked if he and his dad hopped in a car back in Peoria and made it a real road trip to Tucson, Thome laughed and said: "My back couldn't do that kind of drive.''

Now in the twilight of a career highlighted by home run No. 500 in September, Thome knows the day may soon come when he looks back on his playing days.

Limited to 130 games in 2007 -- his lowest in a full season since 1998 -- Thome has to work harder and harder to keep bothersome back spasms in check.

The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer could be entering his final season with the Sox, who hold a $13 million option for 2009. In keeping with his personality (all positive, all the time) Thome is simply enjoying the moment.

"I try to not to pinpoint it or put a time frame on anything,'' he said. "I ask people, 'Hey, how do you know when you're done? How do you know when it's time to go?' They say, 'You know what, one day you're going to wake up and maybe you just will know.' Or sometimes you may never know.''

Know this. Despite his advancing age and physical wear and tear, Thome still is the most dangerous weapon in the Sox' lineup. Last year, the left-hander led the club in batting average (.275), home runs (35), RBI (96), runs scored (79) and on-base percentage (.410).

With newcomers Orlando Cabrera and Nick Swisher expected to hit in front of Thome this season, those numbers could very well go up. That would make Thome's return for at least one more year almost certain.

Again, he politely declined to speculate.

"I've been through enough contracts,'' he said. "I try not to look ahead at stuff like that. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the moment, you know. You don't want to stop playing. It just means business is business. There are too many other good things to worry about. All that stuff will take care of itself.''

Before heading to spring training, Thome took care of a little personal business. On Christmas Day, he finally sat down and watched his 500th home run. The milestone blast came on Sept. 16 at U.S. Cellular Field, a 2-run walk-off homer off Los Angeles Angels reliever Dustin Moseley.

"I've seen highlights, but to watch that game, it was special,'' said Thome, who became the 23rd player in history to reach 500 home runs. "It really was. It brought back a lot of memories, it brought back a lot of, you know, just times in my early days in the cages, whether it was with Charlie Manuel, Clarence Jones, now with Walk (Sox hitting coach Greg Walker), Milt Thompson.

"All that hard work, and you look at that moment and you go, 'Wow, that paid off.' That was something to be really proud of, and I was alone when I (watched the game), so it was very, very cool. It was a cool moment to sit there and watch.''

Thome has nothing left to prove as a player, but there is one major accomplishment he'd like to achieve before calling it a career.

He never was able to get a World Series ring during his days with the powerhouse Cleveland Indians, and he joined the White Sox one year after they overwhelmed the Houston Astros in the 2005 Fall Classic.

"The moment that I think ultimately we all crave is a championship,'' Thome said. "You can go your whole career and do great things individually, but if you don't accomplish the ultimate as a team, as a unit, you kind of feel left out in a little way.''