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"You feel a little void in the clubhouse without his presence," Cory Lidle said. "Jim was the kind of guy every team needs in their clubhouse. There’s a natural void when you lose someone like that.
"That said, I think everyone has faith in what Ryan Howard can do. He showed that he can hit in the big leagues, and his potential has yet to be seen. At this stage Ryan has a better chance of staying healthy."
The fact that the Phillies were able to thrive for much of the second half of last season while Thome was on the disabled list and largely invisible should help with the adjustment. At times you could see bits of Thome in the rest of the players. That’s something Randy Wolf believes can be the lasting benefit of Thome’s tenure in Philadelphia.
"The biggest thing with Jim was that you wanted his attitude to be infectious," said Wolf, one of a handful of players who was Thome’s teammate for all three of his seasons in Philly. "He led by his actions, and he showed that you could do that without being someone who screamed a lot. His way of leading was very sincere.
"If we had a lot of guys with his attitude, it would be great. He’s one of the best teammates that anyone can have. Nothing against Aaron, but a guy like that you want to be your teammate for a lifetime.
"When you don’t have a guy like Big Jim around, there’s something missing."
Those sentiments especially apply to manager Charlie Manuel, who is spending his first spring training without Thome since 1991. Manuel was Thome’s manager for two years in the minors, then was his hitting coach for several seasons with Indians before becoming manager for two more years. When Thome signed with the Phillies prior to the 2003 season, Manuel joined the organization as an advisor before becoming the manager last year.
"I’ve been around for every bit of his entire career, so yeah, it’s a little bit different," said Manuel, who still chats over the phone with Thome once or twice a week. "Now he’s gone off to Chicago and I hope things work out for him. We’ll need people to step in and do the job."
From a leadership standpoint, the Phillies are counting on some younger players to blossom into that role. Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley quietly and gradually asserted themselves in the second half of last season. There are those within the organization who believe Howard with his levelheaded demeanor and imposing physical presence can blossom into a leader. Meanwhile, Rowand arrived in camp early and already is becoming a popular personality in the clubhouse. That, combined with his World Series experience and reputation as a gritty player could quickly gain Rowand respect from his new teammates.
"Spring training is all about a team’s makeup and (forging) friendships," Manuel said. "It’ll take some time, but we’ll settle in."
