On April 25th 2006, Frank Thomas was batting .162. He went on to hit .270 with 39 homeruns, 114 RBI's and was 4th in MVP voting while helping the Oakland A's get to the ALCS.
On April 21, 2007, Frank Thomas was batting .197. He went on to hit .277 with 26 homeruns and 95 RBI's, leading the team in both power categories.
Earlier today, the Toronto Blue Jays announced they released the future Hall of Famer after they said Thomas would see his playing time reduced. This marks the second starting player to be released by the Blue Jays in a matter of weeks. The other was Reed Johnson.
For a team that ranks 4th last in the AL in homeruns, this move makes no sense. The move also does not justify how a team would quit on the player who led their team in homeruns and RBI's the previous year. It also makes you wonder why the team decided to announce Thomas' reduced playing time, yet continue to play Marco Scutaro everyday when he's batting .188 with 0 homeruns and 4 RBI's. Unlike The Big Hurt, Scutaro does not have the track record of being a feared player offensively or defensively.
Although the Blue Jays claim Thomas' reduced playing time was not about money, the real reason was money. The release of Reed Johnson allowed the team to save over 2 million dollars in a cost-cutting move. The team led people to believe Reed was not ready to play due to his previous back problems. Reed sits with a .354 batting average for the 1st place Chicago Cubs and is becoming a fan-favorite in Chicago for his hustle, hard-work and ability to play all 3 outfield positions - the same way he was beloved in Toronto.
What is also disheartening about this situation is how Thomas got to where he is now from 3 short years ago. The consensus around baseball was that Thomas' injuries were too much to overcome and his career was deemed to be over. He threw out the first pitch at Cellular Field in the 2005 World Series - which was won by the team he starred on for over a decade. They won the title without the face of the franchise. Then he gets one last opportunity to play when Oakland knocks on his door. By mid-May the Athletics could have released him and nobody looking from the outside would have disagreed with the decision. But they stuck with the man, and he delivered in a way none of us could have dreamed.
In fact, someone asked me in May of 2006 if Frank was finished and I boldly said, "No, he's a hot streak away from having respectable numbers. He has done this during his injury-riddled years."
Frank proved me right, and without him Oakland would not have reached the playoffs. He proved all his critics wrong and he showed that not only could he still perform, but that he also had a heart of a lion. Although Toronto has lost sight of this.
You would think people would learn their lesson about doubting a man who has proved people wrong over and over again. There is a very good chance that, if given the opportunity, he will turn it on again and prove Toronto wrong for letting him go. Perhaps a team like Minnesota takes a chance on Frank the Tank and helps the team he use to destroy when he was in a White Sox uniform. Or perhaps Frank realizes that he has nothing left to prove (which he has proved to be one of the greatest hitters of our generation), retires and begins working on his Hall of Fame speech early. Regardless, he is a legend who deserved a better sendoff than this.
This should also stand as a wake-up call to Toronto Blue Jays fans and baseball fans in general that the Blue Jays organization needs a significant shake-up, starting from the top all the way down.
Frank has said he wants to keep playing. If he does get picked up by someone it'll probably be an AL team. I'd hate to see him playing for the Twins, as they're the Sox' division rival, but as a fan of his I wish him well wherever he may decide to continue his career.
ian - Minnesota is the 1 team that is somewhat of a contender and need a DH. KC is another option if they play Butler in the field, but I doubt Frank believes the Royals are for real.
I'm not a big baseball fan but this doesn't make sense to me.
Why is money as issue this season?
Is there new management?
Is Toronto a playoff contender?
Like I said, I'm not a big fan of baseball but I do respect Frank Thomas. I know he was a home run hitter but he never succumbed to the temptation of steroids.
If i was Frank I would want my career end on a good season, not bs from a half-wit team.
Teams that could use him-Twins, Mariners, Rays, Rangers or Orioles
Ive been a Thomas fan since i was 15 and this sould NOT be a way to finish his career.
I would buy season tickets if he comes 2 MN :)
I'm sorry, but i####uy has a proven history of not hitting in the spring why play him? Spring training is the time of year to work on swing timing, not the first 3 months of the season. The Jays need to stay in the mix now and hope their pitching can stay healthy. Dumping Thomas allows them to put Rolen into the DH spot while his finger heals and then maybe a platoon of Stewart and Stairs while the GM looks for a real left-fielder...Jason Bay?
The Blue jays don't have time to wait for Frank Thomas to find his swing. They need to win now, there in the same division as both the Yanks and Bosox, and will get left behind with a DH hitting a buck seventy. Let someone else wait for the Big Hurt, Rolen is back soon, and Adam Lind is hitting .410 in Syracuse. Lots of options. I don't see anyone signing Barry Bonds either, maybe the time of the big, bad tempered slugger is over.
Who rights this ####! The Jay's annownced FT's reduced playing time because he wined like a baby when he was sat for a game. Scutaro is in because Scott Rolan is out. Reed johnson was a fan favorite in T.O as well but could not be depended upon as an everyday guy, he is a hustle guy who can't stay healthy.With Frank gone the Jay's now have 10 extra million to spend next year, and they get rid of a clubhouse problem before he became one.The 20 HR's and 80 RBI's Thomas was going to get, won't be missed. WE ARE BETTER WITH MATT STAIRS AT DH and 10 mil' to spend next year.
muskoka - Come May Frank would have hit, as per usual. And, with your philosophy it would mean Scutaro and John McDonald would platoon at 3B if Rolen DH's. Scutaro and McDonald can't hit for power OR average, which shows that you may as well kept Thomas until he carries your team on his back for a long period of time.
Woody - The Jays have quit on Adam Lind, so he is not an option. And why is there a hurry all of a sudden? The Jays were ahead of the Yanks and Boston is close to them. This isn't the Jays in a panic, its the Jays trying to get out of paying Frank 10 million next season. This move will hurt the Jays and their season is now over.
Been a Jays fan since 77' and this has to be one of the best moves they have ever made. Consistently getting out of the gate slow has always put the Jays behind the 8 ball. They have a strong offense and young pitching with some very good veterans thrown in. So what if money is an issue, that 10 million can go towards picking up prospects or a veteran at some point this year and not 3 years down the road. I have a lot of respect for Frank T but his bat has slowed and pitching has changed from the time when everyone threw fast balls as their out pitch. Let's support the decision and see what happens in the next few weeks. At some point in time a player just cannot get his game going and even if the Big Hurt says he can play everyday, he just can't. Instead of hearing about it after the fact, they made the choice to hear it now when the season is young and new. Don't start blaming the organization now after they have locked up some very talented young players for long term deals. Thomas was a DH, and as far as I know, there has never been a team built around a DH. We can replace Thomas with another .277 hitter.
Frank didn't start hitting until the Jays were well out of contention last season and it would have been the same this year. Rolen will be back soon to play 3rd and Lind/Stairs will split time at LF/DH. Dream solution would be the Jays signing Bonds and putting the best hitter to play the game at DH in the middle of the lineup and let Lind/Stairs platoon out in LF.
if you blame it on the 10mil...
then i'm fine with that...
there is no such thing as sports...
just businesses with atheletes as employees...
i do get it...
but i do like big hurt...
best of luck to ya'...
keep taking BP...
you have this year and maybe next year...
after that...just sit home and toss a few back...
All of the early exits from All-Star games, Frank has always been about Frank, never about the game. I certainly won't miss him and the game won't either.
frank thomas...hall of fame? BS, big B.S.
Ever heard of "TEAM PLAYER" ? Well he's never paid attention to that concept ! Bad attitude (always),
usually hurt (when the team needed him most),and some(or most) of those times, were questionable. No, he certainly should not be in the H.O.F.
A good hitter (at times), but he "AIN'T" no EDGAR MARTINEZ. "GAR" belongs in HALL of FAME !!!!
I am a Jays fan but not a fan of the current management team and likely will never be. I am impressed by their swift and decisive action this time around.
I was at the game Friday night - turned out to be an historic occasion - and seeing him attempt to hit in person is even worse than on tv. He is cheating so badly on the fastball and he still couldn't square one up.
Even if he got 'hot' in June that's already 1/3 of the season gone with no production from the 5 spot in the order. Their offence just isn't potent enough to make up for that dead weight.
Pitchers were pitching around Vernon and challenging Frank with the fastball because they know he can't handle it.
History teaches that Frank is easily disgruntled and a move to the 7 or 8 spot in the order (upon Rolen's return) likely would have been deemed unacceptable by Hurt. He provided the line-up with no flexibility and couldn't even spell Overbay at 1st on occasion.
I was very surprised this happened so quickly and would have preferred to see a healthly Rolen back in the line-up but I had been hoping they would send Frank a message by benching him or moving him down in the order. Gibbons (worst manager of bullpens I have ever witnessed) supposedly sat him down after the game Friday and Frank immediately sulked, wouldn't sit on the bench Saturday, didn't shake hands afterward...now there's pride and then there is a 39 year old man acting like a 9 year old.
Now we have line-up flexibility and with some luck Rolen will be back and playing his hard-nosed brand of ball that will hopefully rub off on Rios an
I am a Jays fan but not a fan of the current management team and likely will never be. I am impressed by their swift and decisive action this time around.
I was at the game Friday night - turned out to be an historic occasion - and seeing him attempt to hit in person is even worse than on tv. He is cheating so badly on the fastball and he still couldn't square one up.
Even if he got 'hot' in June that's already 1/3 of the season gone with no production from the 5 spot in the order. Their offence just isn't potent enough to make up for that dead weight.
Pitchers were pitching around Vernon and challenging Frank with the fastball because they know he can't handle it.
History teaches that Frank is easily disgruntled and a move to the 7 or 8 spot in the order (upon Rolen's return) likely would have been deemed unacceptable by Hurt. He provided the line-up with no flexibility and couldn't even spell Overbay at 1st on occasion.
I was very surprised this happened so quickly and would have preferred to see a healthly Rolen back in the line-up but I had been hoping they would send Frank a message by benching him or moving him down in the order. Gibbons (worst manager of bullpens I have ever witnessed) supposedly sat him down after the game Friday and Frank immediately sulked, wouldn't sit on the bench Saturday, didn't shake hands afterward...now there's pride and then there is a 39 year old man acting like a 9 year old.
Now we have line-up flexibility and with some luck Rolen will be back and playing his hard-nosed brand of ball that will hopefully rub off on Rios an
.nnon Rios and Co. The McDonald/Scutaro issue is irrelevant because the plan is not for Rolen to DH for any extended period of time.
As for Lind not being an option - ridiculous. He's 24. Has shown he can hit at all levels and experienced mixed results in his first extended go around with the big club. JP thought he had found a professional hitter with Shannon Stewart but that doesn't look to be working out too well and I predict Adam Lind will be the everday LF come June 1.
The Blue Jays do not have anyone to replace 26 and 95 from last year.
The move cannot be justified if they continue to play Marco Scutaro every day. And they lack the one player that can carry a team on his back. Did you see the horseshit lineup John Gibbons put out today?
The Blue Jays season is over. I live in Toronto, I've been a fan for 20 years and I know more than the average Jay fan. The ship is sinking, as Shea Hillenbrand once said.
Sal - Lind isn't an option. That was verified when the Jays picked up Stewart. I like Lind, but the Jays lack confidence in the kid. And when he becomes the starting LF, that will happen when the Jays are out of contention.
Dan - (I'm enjoying this break from work by the way) no idea why you think Lind is not an option. It is going to happen. If his neck wasn't sore he would have been in T.O. today. I acknowledge signing Stewart directly resulted in Lind being sent down but isn't that just another example of JP's rash decision making and lack of a long-term plan? (rhetorical question)
Scutaro shouldn't even be in the discussion. He is completely disassociated with Frank. He will not be DHing - you are more likely to see Stewart or Barajas (starting to look like a better signing) DH against lefties - rather will be used as he was intended as an injury replacement with the occasional start.
Frank's 07 numbers look good but he didn't help the team win consistently. You need guys to get hot for a while and be average through out the rest of the year. Frank was ice-cold and showing absolutely no signs of thawing.
And of course there was the money issue. Just another example of JP's cluelessness.
Wow The Dan, I'm not sure I read your response correctly. You are a Jays fan because you know more about them then the average Jays fan and YOU say the season is over? Then okay I guess we won't have to read another post from a real Jays fan the rest of this long season. Good luck.
Sal - Believe me, I wanted Lind to make the team and play. But, he didn't make the team in the first place which means JP had decided he wasn't going to be counted on for most of the season. As for Scutaro, he is in the discussion because he plays everyday. When he doesn't play 3B, he plays the outfield. That should not happen. Play Stairs, play Stewart or play Lind. Scutaro needs to have his playing time reduced, the way they wanted to cut Thomas's.
Deanvols - I question your knowledge when you claim this move was "the best they have ever made". Over 30 years and 2 championships I would expect you to know better than that. This franchise has made incredible moves and to say this move with Frank is the best move they've ever made tells me you were sleeping in the 80's and 90's.
Frank Thomas plays no defense, is a roadblock on the bases and death at moving runners. He was asked to do 1 thing..hit 4/5 and drive in runs. Given that and his high salary he simply wasn't worth the numbers he put up. Put Adam Lind in left, Stairs/Stewart at DH and you can play BASEBALL not homerun derby and get rid of the poison in the locker room. Maybe this will scare Lyle Overpaid into action and Wells might start to have productive at-bats
Once again The Dan, a fan will be a fan no matter what, getting Morris, Cone, Winfield, Tony F, Molitor and many others(just so you know I'm not sleeping) has nothing to do with right now, Thomas needed to be moved so that this young season can have some production from a few other DH's and not wait until June or July to get some production and spend 10 million. But what do you care, this seasons over right?
With all due respect to the Big Hurt's great career, the last thing the Jays need is a sulking baby in the locker room. Not shaking hands with teammates after a win says it all: FT obviously is not a team player. How does he think his teammates felt about that? The slow starts, you can live with; attitudes like that can only hurt the team in a big way.
The BIG HURT is one of the top 10 or 15 greatest hitters in the history of the MLB (period) The blue jays are a miserable franchise. Sure they won a title or two in the early 90's but at the end of the day they're located in canada and canada is a country full of losers. Frank Thomas will catch on and finish strong with another team before he takes his place in the HALL OF FAME.
I agree with the guy that said this is one of the better moves the Jays have made.
Wins in April count and Thomas wasn't helping them win. Thomas' 20 or so dinggers will be easy to replace. In fact he may have not even got on track this year to get to 20.
He really looked bad and there was nothing to indicate he'd pick it up. He's 39 going on 45. If I had to bet I would say he's pretty well done.
I will give Frank Thomas his due. He did put up very productive numbers in his career. But he always appeared to be a selfish, whiny person that was arrogant. Instead of getting angry about the benching, he should have worked harder and produced better when he had another chance of getting in the lineup.Where is it written that he or anyone else is just entitled to be in the lineup. The thought of entitlement causes some to be lethargic and unfocused. But instead of being a man and working harder the big hurt became a big baby. Perhaps the most telling of things as foothillsfan made reference. He did not even shake his teammates hands or show any team spirit or loyalty because of his issues. I would not want a person like that for a teammate and that act would draw resentment to him. I would not be a bit surprised if he secretly wished to himself that the team would have lost the game. It might have bruised his ego that the team won without him. I say bring in Barry Bonds. And I think that Kansas City would be a great fit for Frank Thomas. Kansas City is for real. That have good pitchers and contact hitters and can even still a few bases, but they lack a true power hitter. I think that Frank would be an asset to whoever it is that signs him as he will probably play with emotion. Best wishes to Frank though. I always appreciated his talent as a player.
Quite-Frankly I am suprised you are able to write such an opionated comment with out showing any mathematical knowledge or reason.
On April 25th 2006, Frank Thomas was batting .162. He went on to hit .270 with 39 homeruns, 114 RBI's and was 4th in MVP voting while helping the Oakland A's get to the ALCS.
On April 21, 2007, Frank Thomas was batting .197. He went on to hit .277 with 26 homeruns and 95 RBI's, leading the team in both power categories.
Based on your provided stats Thomas hit 13 less runs than he did in the season before. This clearly shows that he is on a decline and is projected to hit under 20 HR this season (based on those stats). Playing a player 8 million to put up these numbers is very unreasonable.
Your blogging skills need a significant shake up, starting from the top all the way down
Chad C. -- No one would dispute Thomas's place in baseball history. He's truly one of the greatest hitters. But he's not hitting! And he can't run the bases, so the walks don't help much. And he's not a position player. Sitting him on the bench costs the Jays one bench player. If he would have taken it gracefully and encouraged younger teammates -- shared in their success, shared years of wisdom, anything -- he still would be contributing to the team's success. Not Thomas. So he's gone. As for the Canadian "loser" comments, I believe the only Canadian Jay is Stairs, hardly a loser. I guess that comment is just a reflection of your maturity level (12? 13?). As for Thomas, I really do hope he finds a better fit for the rest of the season and hits a bunch of homers. Good for him! But for now, good for the Jays.
Last edited by foothillsfan on April 21st at 10:40 PM.
Thanks for the support. The more comments the better I look. I think I might only address a couple of comments here.
Number70 - Frank had to hit behind, well, #### last year. If you paid attention to the games you attended, you would have found it tough to drive in Vernon Wells and Reed Johnson who weren't on base. They just released the guy who hit more homeruns and RBI's than anyone on the team last year. Ryan Howard is hitting under .190, I think Philly should reduce his playing time.
Everyone else - If you get to see today's boxscore against Detroit, this move is hardly smart for the Jays. They saved money, which is why they released Frank, but they have essentially ended their season.
This was clearly a move to save money when the organization denied it. Bullcrap. It was all about money. I guess Detroit should cut Sheffield, Boston should cut Ortiz, Chicago should cut Konerko and the Cubs should cut Soriano. They have to contend and they can't wait any longer for them to perform!!!!
Come September when this all comes together I'll stand by this blog, while you guys won't be around to hear me say I told you so.
As always with moves like this, it's all about the money. The last two seasons Frank has been money, plain and simple. In Oakland he mashed, and played well in the playoffs. Last year he did the same, sans the playoffs part. Frank got a bad rep after leaving Chicago after the customary war-with-words Kenny Williams engages in with his former players, but he is an all time great who cares about one thing, and thats winning. He is still a solid contributer and a contender like Seattle would be wise to take a close look at Frank.
Sorry, The_Dan, but today's box score is hardly representative of the rest of the season (unless you are psychic). I agree that the Jays may end the season in the same slot as usual, so you might want to say, "I told you so". But they could have ended the season 3rd place with Thomas in the lineup, too. The Yankees and Sox simply have payrolls no one else can touch. But if there is logic in, "it's only about money," they wouldn't have signed Thomas in the first place. The Jays have to get the best b@ng for their buck to compete in the AL East, and a DH batting 300 with a few more homers would have turned around a few games already this season. I'm sure the Jays would be happy to pay the option for an effective DH who helps the team. But a guy that won't even join his teammates on the bench? This is how a pro behaves? It takes a lot more than big money talent to win (check out the Yankees this decade). It takes a good team, with team players. The Jays have it right this time. The Big Hurt hurt his own career.
Last edited by foothillsfan on April 23rd at 12:17 AM.
I should thank The Dan for starting this debate; I've enjoyed all the comments! Forgot to comment on Bonds, though, as he was mentioned a few times in earlier comments. Probably won't happen, but it's a rather interesting possibility. Of course the baggage could be a problem and he brings ego issues (maybe) worse than Thomas. But he can play a position when needed, bats left(!), hits year round and needs a job. The circus atmosphere could sell enough seats to pay the big salary -- if not, there's always that extra $10 million laying around for a down payment -- and the Jays could just out-slug Boston.
This move makes a lot of sense. One thing the reason why the jays were bad offensivly last season was the fact that Wells had a shoulder injury. Stairs hit 21 homers in 250 AB's, and Glaus was injured most of the season.
Scutaro on the other hand is playing because Rolen is out and will be coming back soon Scutaro is a fill in and should be considered nothing more. The Jays top prospect Adam Lind is also hitting .360 in AAA this year with plenty of extra base hits and would have been called up if not for neck soreness.
If you had seen Thomas flailing away at the plate I think you would have realized that his bat speed has left him and his only attribute was drawing a walk. The Jays made this move because afer initially telling him that he was going to see less AB's because of his struggles and would split time with Stairs, he acted like a baby cried to the press and yelled at manager Gibbons. Riccardi told Thomas the situation Thomas used the I'm a hall of famer I shouldn't ever sit and they thought it would be better to part ways.
With Stairs and maybe lind in the lineup the jays are now more even through the lineup before the one through 5 hitters were all right handed and only had Overbay and Stairs as lefties and Zaun was a switch.
The Dan after reading your last comment, about Howard now you are just being stupid if Howard was 42 and didn't look like he could turn it around I'm sure they would think about it but guess what he's 29. As for the other guys they can still field a position and there bat speed hasn't declined has much as Thomas'. Watch video from earlier in the year he flails around all over the place and hardly hit anything hard.
Halladay - Thomas did look bad in at bats. The Jays still gave up on a guy who busted his tail to get himself back into a fierce hitter. You and everyone else who has applauded this stupid decision by the Jays have no clue what Thomas had to go through with all the foot and ankle injuries just to WALK, let alone put up the numbers he has put up over the last two years. But all of you seem to think the Jays have guys who can replace 26 and 95. They don't. And hasn't Scutaro deserved to sit once? Did he have to play LF when not playing 3B? No.
Didn't like the Howard comment? I don't like GM's who #### around a player who led his team in homers and RBI's last year, or alleged baseball fans who think Thomas was going to hit .167 the rest of the year. Hope Halladay enjoys losing 2-1 games because its coming.
Foothills - The Jays don't get any #### for their buck because they are paying him to sit at home. We'll never know how good of a season he could have had with the Jays but I'd bet he would have hit much higher than .167.
Thomas has always started slowly but this season was different. I've got season tickets and I've been to most of the Rogers Centre games. I sit right behind home plate. He never looked comfortable walking to and standing in the batter's box. When he hit a good one--which he did in the Boston series--he looked relieved rather than pleased. I commented on it then that maybe he'd gotten slightly injured or whatever and wasn't feeling right. But I thought it was ok because he was hitting. However as things progressed, he stopped hitting, whiffed a lot. Whatever he did hit didn't go very far. He looked less and less comfortable. In that 14 inning Texas series he had at least two excellent chances to win the game and he choked each time. I don't know what's going on with Big Frank but I do know that the Jays don't have time this season to hang around and wait while he works it out. I'm a Jays fan and I'm fed up watching the team finish third in the division year after year. I'm sorry for Frank and his ego and I'm sorry for all you guys who think we Canucks have insulted a baseball hero but if he hadn't had one great season in Oakland we wouldn't be having this discussion. It's no more Mr Nice Guy up here. If Ricciardi and Gibbons don't get us a post-season berth then they are out. Ricciardi never should have signed Thomas in the first place--he's old and maybe should retire. I don't know too many fans sitting around me who were sad to see him go. I agree that the Jays organization needs a shakeup. I'm no fan of Ricciardi. But this was right.
Dan I live in the GTA as well and have followed the Jays for many years. I can't rationalize most of what J.P. does, but in this case for me it came down to last thursday night. The Rangers were in town and were challenging Frank Thomas with nothing but fastballs and the big hurt wasn't up for it. If you have a middle of the line-up DH who can't hit the heater when he knows its coming then he is finished. Unlike other struggling players, Thomas
is 39
Last edited by muskokasfinest on April 22nd at 5:58 AM.
It is a sad time for big Frank but he just wasn't prodcing anymore and quite frankly the jays have to stay as close as possible with the big 2. I think that Frank will hook up else where but I actually liked the move by the ball club,as far as saving money the jays do not have the luxury of having an open payroll, the have a cap within the club, so if they have to save some cash from cuttting guys like Johnson so be it
Dan, if Frank busted his gut to be a fierce hitter with foot problems and ankle problems, then maybe it's just time he retired. Despite what you may think, the Blue Jays organization should not be a rest home for aging baseball player stars. Nor are we content to just hang around and look good-natured while the whole of the rest of baseball laughs their heads off at us. Look at all this stuff being generated because we got rid of a hitter who has ceased to hit. That's just awful! But when we have good players, do we got a nod from our pals to the south? John McDonald is maybe the best defensive shortstop in the game. Every day he makes a highlight-reel play in the infield. But do we see it on the highlight reels? Do we hell.
im a huge jays fan and im pretty pi$sed about this move.unless they can somehow get another player of his caliber then they jus through what ever chances of makin the playoffs out the window.JP and GIBBONS have got to go!
okayy lets get the facts straight right now, the reason why the jays let thomas go is because if he would of got his 300 more at bats they would have to pick up his 10 million dollar option for 2009 and the jays really didnt want to do that. Plus the jays are full of right handed batters they need to change things up either with stairs doing the DH, adam lind who is in the minors right now batting what 340? And one thing i have been hearing is a barry bonds story comming north of the border he wouldnt get much media attention and he could DH be and 4th 5th or 6th hitter in that line-up. I really dont see another play for barry bonds to go? What do you think?
I am looking forward to seeing how this line-up reacts - especially when Rolen comes back. He seems like such a hard-nosed player. The type of persona that has been lacking with the exception of Greg Zaun (sorry Greg - tough to lead when you're a below average player).
An earlier comment about scaring Overbay into hitting is interesting. There's a guy with a decent average thus far but no power numbers to show for it - where is the doubles machine?
The Jays were in the top 3 in runs scored a few days ago, top 4 in fewest runs allowed yet were a game below .500. Time for everyone to take responsibility for what they have to do to win ballgames. My point being - JP looked at his options and took action. One of the few times I will ever say I agree with JP's logic. Even Gibbons has been more aggressive with the hit and run, bunting and straight steals. No one should be exempt from doing their job regardless of their resume or HOF credentials (1st ballot in my opinion).
The writer fails to state that he is hated by his teamates and has always been a locker room s--t head. The White Sox could not wait to get rid of him.
From Toronto, CANADA. On hiatus from sports talk show. Also the starting shortstop for the Lizzards. Honorary member of "The Clique" because I am a made guy. If I ever got to work for Fox Sports I'd put into my contract that I must put in no less than 60 hours of work per week.
Just shows that sports is my life.
And check out the Samsung T10. Excellent MP3 device. For more info: http://www.an ythingbutipod .com/archives /2007/10/sams ung-ypt10-rev iew.php
