Jim Thome will have season-ending surgery on his right elbow next week, the Phillies announced.
This comes as quite a surprise. The Phillies are calling Thome's injury a frayed tendon. We imagine that some would have gutted it out and elected for surgery after the season. The Phillies will be OK with Ryan Howard at first base for the rest of the year, but Howard isn't a healthy Jim Thome
Can the Phils contend without Thome? I say yes, with the way Howard's been playing.