Thomas returns, mum with media

[greasywheels121]

I really think Thomas is out ready to prove something after getting the heat for that article last week. He had a decent night with a couple walks and the solo shot tonight.

 

Thomas returns, mum with media

Slugger hitting cleanup after missing three games

By Scott Merkin / MLB.com 

 

CHICAGO -- Frank Thomas returned to the White Sox's starting lineup Friday night, after missing all three games against the Yankees with a sore right hamstring.

 

It only can be assumed that Thomas was back at 100 percent or at least close to completely healthy. The powerful designated hitter made it abundantly clear to the media before facing Tampa Bay that he was not doing pregame interviews for the time being.

 

Thomas has been the picture of consistency when dealing with the media over the past 1 1/2 seasons, answering questions from the smallest of newspapers to the most remote radio station with a smile on his face. There were games during the stretch drive of the 2003 season, specifically during a crucial four-game series at home against Minnesota, where Thomas would deal with three or four group interview sessions per day.

 

But Thomas apparently remains miffed over the general follow-up coverage to an article in the Daily Southtown last Friday, in which he talked about his contract status. The numerous articles, columns and radio reports have not exactly been supportive of Thomas, with the negative press detracting from his expressed focus on the goal at hand -- getting a World Series ring.

 

It's a hazard of the job for one of the top players on the White Sox roster. It's an issue that has played itself out previously during the 15-year career of the individual with certainly the greatest name recognition on the South Side.

 

"Frank is a target," said White Sox catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. of Thomas. "He's a big-name guy who people want to read about. Think about it: They don't want to read about anyone else around here.

 

"Maybe Magglio [Ordonez] and Carlos [Lee]. They are the stars, and if they say something, it will be magnified."

 

The more pressing issue at hand Friday was Thomas' return to the cleanup spot in the batting order. Before hurting himself while racing for a double last Sunday at Tropicana Field, Thomas had begun to battle his way out of an early-season slump.

 

Thomas carried a .243 average with one home run and five RBIs into his matchup against Devil Rays' ace Victor Zambrano and received a nice ovation from the crowd in his first at-bat. Thomas grounded into a force play at second to end the first inning but seemed to shake off some rust with a homer to lead off the fourth inning.

 

"Frank has been around so long that he certainly knows what he's doing and what he needs to do to be ready," said White Sox hitting coach Greg Walker. "It will be a little bit tough, but I expect him to pick things up pretty quickly. He was getting going before he was injured."

 

"His presence is huge," Alomar added. "He walks a lot and gets on base even when's struggling. He's a powerful guy and puts a lot of fear in other people's minds. He really helps other hitters around him."

 

Serving as a designated hitter on a chilly 61-degree night couldn't have been easy for Thomas in terms of getting the hamstring loose. Ozzie Guillen mentioned that Thomas needed to have a bike near by to use in between at-bats.

 

But Guillen steadfastly held to the idea that Thomas wouldn't return to the lineup until he was healthy, holding Thomas out Thursday night, despite his expressed desire to play. Nonetheless, a hamstring injury has to be treated with extreme caution, especially with a player who holds such high value for a team's success.

 

As for Thomas' embargo, Guillen believes that particular issue stands between his star and the media. As long as Thomas doesn't have a problem in the clubhouse, which he clearly hasn't, then Guillen believes Thomas should be able to make his own decisions.

 

It was back at the SoxFest in January when fans were questioning Guillen about going after Thomas in his opening press conference and if the two would be able to co-exist. It also was at that point when announcer Ken "Hawk" Harrelson made the observation that Thomas seems to play better with an apparent chip on his shoulder.

 

Guillen looks at it more as pushing Thomas a little bit. But he welcomes the media's inadvertent assistance.

 

"I hope he's mad at all you guys and has an MVP year," said Guillen with a laugh. "We are different types of personalities. He reads too many papers and listens to too many people. I take it day by day.

 

"Frank likes to be pushed. I was a teammate of his, and everyone thought we hated each other. But that was the way we tried to push him. There's nobody better then Frank when he wants to show people something."

 

Guillen went on to signal out Thomas as the best player in the history of the franchise and a Hall of Famer, even if he walked away from the game tomorrow. Guillen also joked how Thomas was hurt for three days and there was no "Thomas-meter" updating his condition in the local newspapers, as the Chicago Tribune has been running concerning Cubs pitcher Mark Prior's health.

 

On Friday, it was all about baseball for Thomas. It looks to be staying that way for the foreseeable future.

 

"What happened with Frank is why he some times shouldn't say anything about contracts," said Alomar, who was a strident supporter of Thomas during the offseason. "[The media] likes to stretch things out with him."

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

Good. Keep your mough shut Thomas you fatass!

[SoxFanForever]

Good.  Keep your mough shut Thomas you fatass!

 

 

 

Wow, thats a nice thing to say lol.

[CSF]

Good.  Keep your mough shut Thomas you fatass!

That's not nice.

 

 

And mough?

[BrandoFan]

Good.  Keep your mough shut Thomas you fatass!

Yeah, and without this fatass Sox would have a big, fatass L to show for tonight

 

Let's bench the only hitter who has any grasp of 'pitch selection'.

 

On the second thought...KMA