CSF Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Sox' Thomas looking for repeat of 2000 March 24, 2004 BY DOUG PADILLA Staff Reporter TUCSON, Ariz. -- You can see it in Frank Thomas' eyes. The White Sox' career home-run leader wants to say the team will own the American League Central this season. The two-time MVP wants to say the Sox will dispense a little revenge on the Minnesota Twins. The guy who never has been to a World Series wants to say the Sox finally will get over the hump. The problem is that the last three seasons still are fresh in his mind. Thomas was injured most of 2001, his inconsistency mirrored the team's in '02 and he endured the flame-out last season when the Twins ran off with the division in the final month. But shouldn't a team with marquee players such as Esteban Loaiza, Thomas, Mark Buehrle, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee be expected to run off with the weakest division in baseball? ''It's too early to say stuff like that,'' Thomas said with a grin that suggested he rather would have delivered a bold prediction. ''This team is very talented. We lost a few players, but I think we replaced them with quality big-league players. I think we're going to get along a lot better. I think we're going to do a lot of little things this year that we didn't do last year.'' Given more time to talk about the subject, Thomas starts to walk that fine line between bold prediction and confidence in the players around him. ''This is a very talented club,'' he said. ''I'm not intimidated by any team that's in the division or in the league, basically. We have a very solid team here. We have [a solid] core of veterans and a core of young talent. I feel we can play with anybody.'' It's as bold as Thomas will dare to get -- and perhaps with reason. He had to go back to 2000 to remember what it felt like to be playing on a team in complete control. The Sox burst from the gate, setting a major-league record for runs scored in April with 181. By July, Thomas became the Sox' career RBI leader, breaking Luke Appling's 50-year-old record and doing it in nearly 1,000 fewer games than Appling needed. On Sept. 20 of that year, the Sox broke the team record for runs scored. Four days later, they clinched the division and their first playoff berth since 1993. ''It's just one of those things right now where we have to stay focused on what we're doing here and get something started early and ride it,'' Thomas said. ''I look back at 2000, when we just jumped out of the box and stayed there. That's our goal this year, to start out right and keep everybody healthy and play like we're capable of playing.'' In Thomas' view, if the Sox play like they are capable of playing, it won't necessarily translate to 90 or 100 victories, just one more than anybody else in the division. ''We're going to be very competitive,'' Thomas said. ''I'm not going to put a number on victories or whatever, but this team is going to be very successful. I just think the offense will do better, and pitching will keep us in enough ballgames that we can start our way to victory.'' That also might be the popular sentiment through the clubhouse and front office. But outside the Sox' family, there don't seem to be many believers. The Sox have been predicted to finish as low as fourth in the American League Central this season. ''I like it,'' Thomas said. ''Nothing wrong with being an underdog. I think most teams play better when they're an underdog. That's fine. No expectations this year. This is the year we come out and be ourselves.'' Jose Valentin cautions that the division isn't going to be the laughingstock that some are predicting. ''In our division, anybody can beat anybody, including Detroit. They have a way better team than last year,'' Valentin said. ''We have to go out there and take advantage of teams that aren't playing well. That's been our problem. We always play well against good teams, but the teams we're supposed to beat, they have our number.'' As the group of Thomas, Ordonez, Lee, Paul Konerko and Valentin enters its fifth season together, the Sox would seem to have stability on their side. ''We've always done well with this group of guys,'' Thomas said. ''We haven't done what we're capable of doing yet. I think still the sky's the limit with this team because with all the hitting we have, we haven't put it all together. ''I think one year we did, in 2000, and people were aware of how good we are. This year, we're going to try to put it together once again. I think starting the year with [hitting coach] Greg Walker is going to help, too. Guys know what to expect from Walk, and they enjoyed working with him last year.'' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Holy crap. Thomas is sounding like and elder statesman and team leader If Frank keeps this up for the rest of his career, PR wise, I will revise my prediction on when he gets elected to the HOF to second ballot, make a WS apearance and he's an outside chance at 1st. I would love to read was corg is saying about this. He advocated Frank just shut up and never talk to the media. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSox_Sonix Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Thomas' attitude just keeps getting better this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSF Posted March 24, 2004 Author Share Posted March 24, 2004 **crickets chirping** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 **crickets chirping** I have to believe, by this weekend, JayMo will be falling over himself with praise for Frank and echoing Ozzies, please do not do this and them pout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 **crickets chirping** I will have to admit, when I saw JR was one of the people who might be involved in buying the Sun Times, I was hopeful. I would love to see JR go in and s***can Kotex-Boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlaSoxxJim Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Damn, Mariotti has a big, fat head! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supernuke Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Sox' Thomas looking for repeat of 2000 March 24, 2004 BY DOUG PADILLA Staff Reporter TUCSON, Ariz. -- You can see it in Frank Thomas' eyes. The White Sox' career home-run leader wants to say the team will own the American League Central this season. The two-time MVP wants to say the Sox will dispense a little revenge on the Minnesota Twins. The guy who never has been to a World Series wants to say the Sox finally will get over the hump. The problem is that the last three seasons still are fresh in his mind. Thomas was injured most of 2001, his inconsistency mirrored the team's in '02 and he endured the flame-out last season when the Twins ran off with the division in the final month. But shouldn't a team with marquee players such as Esteban Loaiza, Thomas, Mark Buehrle, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee be expected to run off with the weakest division in baseball? ''It's too early to say stuff like that,'' Thomas said with a grin that suggested he rather would have delivered a bold prediction. ''This team is very talented. We lost a few players, but I think we replaced them with quality big-league players. I think we're going to get along a lot better. I think we're going to do a lot of little things this year that we didn't do last year.'' Given more time to talk about the subject, Thomas starts to walk that fine line between bold prediction and confidence in the players around him. ''This is a very talented club,'' he said. ''I'm not intimidated by any team that's in the division or in the league, basically. We have a very solid team here. We have [a solid] core of veterans and a core of young talent. I feel we can play with anybody.'' It's as bold as Thomas will dare to get -- and perhaps with reason. He had to go back to 2000 to remember what it felt like to be playing on a team in complete control. The Sox burst from the gate, setting a major-league record for runs scored in April with 181. By July, Thomas became the Sox' career RBI leader, breaking Luke Appling's 50-year-old record and doing it in nearly 1,000 fewer games than Appling needed. On Sept. 20 of that year, the Sox broke the team record for runs scored. Four days later, they clinched the division and their first playoff berth since 1993. ''It's just one of those things right now where we have to stay focused on what we're doing here and get something started early and ride it,'' Thomas said. ''I look back at 2000, when we just jumped out of the box and stayed there. That's our goal this year, to start out right and keep everybody healthy and play like we're capable of playing.'' In Thomas' view, if the Sox play like they are capable of playing, it won't necessarily translate to 90 or 100 victories, just one more than anybody else in the division. ''We're going to be very competitive,'' Thomas said. ''I'm not going to put a number on victories or whatever, but this team is going to be very successful. I just think the offense will do better, and pitching will keep us in enough ballgames that we can start our way to victory.'' That also might be the popular sentiment through the clubhouse and front office. But outside the Sox' family, there don't seem to be many believers. The Sox have been predicted to finish as low as fourth in the American League Central this season. ''I like it,'' Thomas said. ''Nothing wrong with being an underdog. I think most teams play better when they're an underdog. That's fine. No expectations this year. This is the year we come out and be ourselves.'' Jose Valentin cautions that the division isn't going to be the laughingstock that some are predicting. ''In our division, anybody can beat anybody, including Detroit. They have a way better team than last year,'' Valentin said. ''We have to go out there and take advantage of teams that aren't playing well. That's been our problem. We always play well against good teams, but the teams we're supposed to beat, they have our number.'' As the group of Thomas, Ordonez, Lee, Paul Konerko and Valentin enters its fifth season together, the Sox would seem to have stability on their side. ''We've always done well with this group of guys,'' Thomas said. ''We haven't done what we're capable of doing yet. I think still the sky's the limit with this team because with all the hitting we have, we haven't put it all together. ''I think one year we did, in 2000, and people were aware of how good we are. This year, we're going to try to put it together once again. I think starting the year with [hitting coach] Greg Walker is going to help, too. Guys know what to expect from Walk, and they enjoyed working with him last year.'' Who the hell is this guy and what did he do with Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 Finally after years of whining, I believe we are witnessing the "mature" Frank Thomas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 I'm telling you, division winner, destroy everything in our path in the playoffs, and be World Champions. This is the year we see the transformation from the old, at times whiny Frank Thomas to the new, older, more mature Thomas, and it will reflect in his performance on the field. If you want a similar transformation to compare this to, look at Barry Bonds from 00-01(I don't know what happened to him in that offseason(maybe he found a box of roids that Sammy left at the stadium on a road trip? ), but something happened for the better, and his numbers increased a ton, and he went from a career high of 49 homers to a career high of 73 homers, and has had a significant effect on any game played that he plays in) I'll call it...Thomas hits .330 50 150(both the 50 and the 150 are White Sox records) 1.100 OPS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Franks wants a year like 2000, yeah no f***ing s***. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 I'm telling you, division winner, destroy everything in our path in the playoffs, and be World Champions. This is the year we see the transformation from the old, at times whiny Frank Thomas to the new, older, more mature Thomas, and it will reflect in his performance on the field. If you want a similar transformation to compare this to, look at Barry Bonds from 00-01(I don't know what happened to him in that offseason(maybe he found a box of roids that Sammy left at the stadium on a road trip? ), but something happened for the better, and his numbers increased a ton, and he went from a career high of 49 homers to a career high of 73 homers, and has had a significant effect on any game played that he plays in) I'll call it...Thomas hits .330 50 150(both the 50 and the 150 are White Sox records) 1.100 OPS. If things go right, Frank is very capable of putting up those kinds of numbers. Here's hoping you're right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerhead johnson Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 I'll call it...Thomas hits .330 50 150(both the 50 and the 150 are White Sox records) 1.100 OPS. Hey, why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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