Nice article on Marcus Thames

[Yoda]

http://www.mudhens.com/view_news.asp?id=32

Meet Your Favorite Mud Hens…Marcus Thames

Anyone who has been to Fifth-Third Field lately knows just how well Marcus Thames has been performing. Public Relations Intern Ryan Deady had a chance to catch up with the Hens slugger to discuss his recent success.

From the outset of the season, it appeared that Thames was on a mission. He put up big numbers for Toledo almost immediately, finishing the month of April with a .293 batting average, six home runs, and 15 RBI. Thames explains the key to his sweet swing as of late can be attributed to nothing more than hard work and practice, practice, practice.

“I’ve been coming to practice earlier and getting my workouts in with our hitting coach Bull [Durham] - and you play how you practice,” notes Thames.

“My main thing is just hitting the ball and keeping it in the middle of the field from left-center to right-center, keeping my head down on the ball and not pulling off; it’s been paying off so far.”

However, even Thames admits that he hasn’t always had success in Toledo. “I played against them [Toledo] in ’02 and ’03 and I’ve never done well here. I told the guys before the season that I’ve never been able to hit here. I couldn’t pick up the ball, so I knew something had to change – I just stayed focused.”

Just how difficult was it for Thames? Over the past two seasons he appeared in six games against the Hens in Toledo batting a chilly .100 (2-20) with just two hits and seven strikeouts. As evident by his already outstanding month of May, Thames has clearly grown more accustom to the surroundings of Fifth-Third Field. Through the first 19 games, he posted a .397 average with seven home runs (five at home), 19 RBI, and now finds himself among the league leaders in numerous offensive categories.

With so many accolades to his credit, often overlooked are Thames’ fielding abilities. Through just over the first quarter of the season, he has recorded just one error in 39 starts in right field this season. This is another area that Thames has been working hard at between games.

“Coming up I was playing mainly center field, and last year I got hurt in Texas so I didn’t get to be in the field all that much,” says Thames.

“It’s a big difference to come out and get used to; I’ve been taking balls off the bat in batting practice and the coaches come out and hit fungos. You just have to work hard every day.”

If fans weren’t watching Thames on the baseball diamond they still may have had a chance to catch him on the gridiron of the football field.

“I went to college on a football scholarship and got drafted for baseball, so I stuck with that. I always wanted to be a professional athlete, so if I wasn’t playing baseball I probably would have tried to work hard and make it in the NFL,” says the former standout receiver.

While it’s obvious that Thames still has a lot of baseball left in him, he does have plans for life beyond the game. While spending time with his family and relaxing is in the future, he also would like to give back to his hometown of Louisville, Mississippi.

“I want to help kids and do something in baseball where I grew up – I want to have my own baseball school. The kids need somebody like me around there and I think I could really help the community out,” adds Thames.

However, the immediate goal is clear. Thames has had a taste of the major leagues spending time with both the Yankees and Rangers, and much like all players, yearns to get back. “I want to get back up there and stay. Being a major league baseball player is great, there’s no other place you could want to be.”

On behalf of the visitors to this website, a big “Thank You” goes out to Marcus Thames for taking the time out to chat. Be sure to keep checking back to meet more of your favorite Mud Hens in the upcoming weeks!

[tigersrok]

Call him up already!

[billms]

Who do you want to drop off the 40 man roster? I like thames a lot - this is a very good sign - but he has teased before. I'd say let him sit for a while. I'm much more interested in getting ABs fro Singleton.

[columbus tiger]

Originally posted by billms
Who do you want to drop off the 40 man roster? I like thames a lot - this is a very good sign - but he has teased before. I'd say let him sit for a while. I'm much more interested in getting ABs fro Singleton.

Who?

[billms]

Brainfart - shelton.