The Beast Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Look. I know Thomas is the king of the popups and is a highly respected hitter of the White Sox organization but, I also think he is what keeps our ballclub rolling... All I'm saying is this: Where does he go if he leaves this club? AL Club? NL Club? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxplosion Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 He aint leavin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supernuke Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I think it is about time the Thomas era came to an end and I really don't care where he goes. Sadly he will take his 6 million and keep swinging for the fences and batting .260 with no regard for whats good for the team. It's all about the big hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Tizzle Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I believe Frank would stay in the AL if he left. His body would not be able to take the daily abuse that a first baseman endures. How can any team have faith in franks defensive abilities when he can barely throw to second? If the situation would ever warrant it, I couldnt imagine Frank throwing a ball to third or homeplate. Smart teams would take advantage of this at every opportunity.......... At 35 years old, Frank cant be an everyday 1st baseman. He should just keep playing DH so he can extend his career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxplosion Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I really dont see how everyone hates Thomas... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxfan99 Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 At 35 years old, Frank cant be an everyday 1st baseman. He should just keep playing DH so he can extend his career. Right, because first base is such a demanding position. Come on, Julio Franco was still playing first base the majority of the time last year and he is somewhere around 45 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supernuke Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I really dont see how everyone hates Thomas... I don't hate Thomas, I just don't want him on this team anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capn12 Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Frank gave us some great years, but sadly, its time for the organization to move on. Lets quit building a team of slow, right handed, power-or-popup hitters, and build a real team. Franks 6/8 mill, PKs 8 mill.....thats 20+% of our freakin payroll, on 2 of the worst fielding, slowest players around. If we can move both of them, so be it. If we can only keep one...thats tough....PK can play 1st everyday, albeit not greatly. Hes younger, but, as hard as it is to believe, slower than Frank. Catch-22 either way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxplosion Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Ok, Frank gonna hit 500 homeruns and hes gonna go into the Hall... with a YANKEES hat. This crummy organization will have betrayed another legend. Remember Carlton Fisk? Whats Fisk wearing now in the Hall? Yeah, its sad... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 He aint leavin... I don't think, nor do I want, Frank Thomas to leave. One of the only reasons he is the DH is becasue we have Konerko's bat to get in the lineup and Paulie is considered to be the better fielder. Frank works hard out there in the field too. Nothing wrong with being the DH on this team. That's all Edgar Martinez can play in Seattle. All I would like to see from Frank is a return to the days when he was more patient and took the BB's and got the base hits. I think we are seeing that a bit more the last week or so from him anyway. We need Frank on this team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxplosion Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Youre awesome MT... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capn12 Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I don't think, nor do I want, Frank Thomas to leave. One of the only reasons he is the DH is becasue we have Konerko's bat to get in the lineup and Paulie is considered to be the better fielder. Frank works hard out there in the field too. Nothing wrong with being the DH on this team. That's all Edgar Martinez can play in Seattle. All I would like to see from Frank is a return to the days when he was more patient and took the BB's and got the base hits. I think we are seeing that a bit more the last week or so from him anyway. We need Frank on this team. Thing is, he himself has dedicated his batting style to being all power, not OBP. When the big man himself says thats what he wants to do now, it is troublesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxplosion Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Thing is, he himself has dedicated his batting style to being all power, not OBP. When the big man himself says thats what he wants to do now, it is troublesome. Put him in the fifth spot wheres power is all that is necessary then for chrissakes. You dont just dump a guy like Frank... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capn12 Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 No chance that Frank agrees to go to the #5 hole. He says himself that he should be the #3 hitter, and is VERY resistant to change. We tried that before, and Frank got grumpy about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Frank gave us some great years, but sadly, its time for the organization to move on. Lets quit building a team of slow, right handed, power-or-popup hitters, and build a real team. Franks 6/8 mill, PKs 8 mill.....thats 20+% of our freakin payroll, on 2 of the worst fielding, slowest players around. If we can move both of them, so be it. If we can only keep one...thats tough....PK can play 1st everyday, albeit not greatly. Hes younger, but, as hard as it is to believe, slower than Frank. Catch-22 either way. I agree on Moving on... He can take Slownerko with him too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supernuke Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Put him in the fifth spot wheres power is all that is necessary then for chrissakes. You dont just dump a guy like Frank... Yeah move him to fifth in the order so we can hear him cry about how he's a three hole hitter and he's more comfortable there because he's hit there his whole career. It's all about keeping Frank happy who cares about the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxrd5 Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Yeah move him to fifth in the order so we can hear him cry about how he's a three hole hitter and he's more comfortable there because he's hit there his whole career. It's all about keeping Frank happy who cares about the team. COME ON FRANK WOULD NEVER DO THAT!!!! Maybe that is what KW should tell him when they have their chat about the team...We would love to have you but you will be hittin in the Five Hole....see if still decides to stay?!?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Look. I know Thomas is the king of the popups and is a highly respected hitter of the White Sox organization but, I also think he is what keeps our ballclub rolling... All I'm saying is this: Where does he go if he leaves this club? AL Club? NL Club? I'd say the Dodgers...possibly the Orioles. Don't see many teams that would be incredibly interested in him. Call the Angels another possibility, but a doubtful one. Odds are he stays with the Sox...but I think they may just call it an end this year, especially if the Sox are looking to go in another direction. Frank is the greatest White Sox of all time..but like I've said in the past I won't shed tears if he leaves, but I won't complain if he's back, as long as it isn't at 8 mill. The big thing I'd like to see is him moving to the 5 hole and becoming willing to move guys over. If he isn't willing to do that, I wouldn't want him back. I also think knowing the Sox that he will tie up the payroll too much. If the Sox were willing to be at or around 70-75 mill next year then I wouldn't call it much of a problem. But when you have Konerko, Thomas and Koch on the books for over 20 mill..I'd say you have a problem, especially when Maggs is making 14. It is about 36 mill for 4 players. Think how many solid players you could get for that. You could have 7 guys at 5 mill a year, which would give you a ton of depth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Screw Frank Thomas! The manger makes out the lineup card every night and if he thinks Thomas should be hitting 9th, that's where he should put him. And there should be no b****in' from the Big Skirt. As for Carlton Fisk, Roman: The White Sox betrayed Fisk, not the other way around. I think Frank Thomas has out lived his usefulness to this organization. He'll be better off elsewhere, and the team will be better of as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bmr31 Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Screw Frank Thomas! The manger makes out the lineup card every night and if he thinks Thomas should be hitting 9th, that's where he should put him. And there should be no b****in' from the Big Skirt. As for Carlton Fisk, Roman: The White Sox betrayed Fisk, not the other way around. I think Frank Thomas has out lived his usefulness to this organization. He'll be better off elsewhere, and the team will be better of as well. I think we know how you feel about Frank, by now............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Lopez Ghost (old) Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I'd say Frank winds up in Baltimore. I don't care what hat he wears in the Hall. By the way, they changed the policy on that, the player no longer gets to decide, the Hall does. Frank's been the greatest, he can still hit, he's too one dimensional, and we finished out of the playoffs with him, so we can finish out of the playoffs without him and use his salary elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I really dont see how everyone hates Thomas... Try opening your eyes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 Ok, Frank gonna hit 500 homeruns and hes gonna go into the Hall... with a YANKEES hat. This crummy organization will have betrayed another legend. Remember Carlton Fisk? Whats Fisk wearing now in the Hall? Yeah, its sad... :dips*** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ncorgbl Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 It's a shame so many want to believe the worst and never hear the best about Frank Thomas. He is the Greatest White Sox player of all time, and I hope he retires as a White Sox and goes into the HOF 5 years later. Thomas never wanted to be the DH, but Schu talked him into it 'for the team'. Those words, 'for the team' have been said to him a few times, and he always goes along with it. Before interleague play, Thomas was asked to play 1st base again and he asked which role the club wanted him in. That was blown up into a flap, that he complained, he didn't. He wanted a definition so he could concentrate on what he was asked to do. Thomas' key to his play is his concentration, he depends on it. This season he was again asked to 'give' for the team. Everyone saw his numbers skyrocket when he played the field, his defense above average, and Konerko was off the map. Most were screaming at Manuel to leave Frank on the field, but Manuel knew they couldn't make a run without more hitting, PK was needed, and needed to hit. Manuel and Frank had several meetings on what to do, both agreeing that Konerko could not be effective in the DH slot, and wouldn't come out and hit unless he was on the field. They both knew Frank's numbers would suffer a bit, and that ant MVP/HOF considerations would suffer as well. Thomas agreed and took the hit for the team, again, and Paul did come out of it, and they made a run coming fom 7 games under .500 to first place. We all know it didn't finish well. However, the point is Frank never gets the press when these things happen. He didn't get any mention when he helped Konerko with his hitting last season after the media boxed PK up about Frank, and none this season about the work he did with PK and other players. Thomas' base this season is $5 million, with an interest free 'loan' of $1 million, plus incentives. He's already made more than $10 million. Next season the base goes up. If Williams were running the ballclub he would've tried to unload Frank at the trade deadline, and if KW were still G.M. Thomas would not consider staying in any way, and excercise his option. Frank wants to play 1st base, and I think he will, here or somwhere. If Danny Evans is retained in L.A. that will be a very attractive move for Thomas. Reinsdorf is a close friend of Frank, has even been his advisor and 'agent' when Thomas' agent died in the plane crash, and up until last season when Williams exercised the RPR clause against orders. JR stepped in while KW was out of town to make the current contract. That relationship means a lot to both men, and is strong. Both want Thomas in the HOF on the first ballot, and on the field is the best way to accomplish that, short of a World Series appearance. Frank will decide what to do when the White Sox decide which direction they will go. If it's a rebuild, unload and go with the pitching core and young players sprinkled with some veterans, he'll have to decide if they have a chance to go to the playoffs. The Dodgers might have a better chance. The Sox would be his better choice as he would be our everyday firstbaseman, with some relief during the season, and his desire to play with one team all his career. He'd have to 'carry' a rebuilt team, and he likes that. If they decide to try again with this team basically intact, Thomas not being the 1st baseman, I think he'll look elswhere. I hope Einhorn decides to rebuild, gets rid of those who've proven they can't win, and retools with Thomas at 1st, Crede, Valentin and Alomar/Harris/Miles at 2B, Olivo, Borchard, Rowand and maybe Lee. Pitchers Buehrle, Garland, Wright, Marte', and get some long and short relief, where the biggest holes are, for those traded. Frank Thomas has EARNED everything the club can do for him. It's time to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JimH Posted September 25, 2003 Share Posted September 25, 2003 I have no problem if Thomas stays and plays 1st base. That being said, the team would need to move Konerko ... which for obvious reasons will be very tough to do at this point. As for his role and his need to have it defined, there really shouldn't be a problem with "you're playing 1st base 5 games a week and DH the other 1 or 2". That would keep him fresh and hopefully more productive. Then, he needs to decide what his contributory role will be ... the power hitter (40 HR's) who hits .260 or the guy who hits .310, doesn't strike out 100 times, and has an OBP of .420? Seems to me he switched his focus during the year. Unless I'm mistaken, he told the media he'd concentrate on power vs. average. Noble from his perspective perhaps ... but not what this team needed. Too many guys swinging for the fences as it was. He was, and still is, a great situational hitter ... if everyone is on the same page that's what his contributory role should be, including him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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