southsider2k5 Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 This is from today's Trib Frank Thomas will get to the ballpark early Tuesday, perhaps seven hours before the game's first pitch. Thomas, who's on a mission to end his early-season slump, will work overtime with hitting guru Walt Hriniak. "I have to get it right," said Thomas, who's batting .222. Thomas knows it's unusual to have his own hitting coach, but Hriniak served as a coach for the White Sox from 1989-95 and remains close to Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. So much so that the team will pay for Hriniak's flight from Boston to work exclusively with Thomas this week. "He's still part of the organization," Thomas said of Hriniak. "He and Jerry Reinsdorf are very good friends. They've never lost that rapport. "[Hriniak's] a real focused guy who's always willing to help. With my style of hitting, he's the one guy that sees the holes, sees where I'm leaking. And he knows how to fix it quick. "We'll be out there early and we won't disrupt anybody else. No charade, no secrets. Just work." Thomas believes his mechanics are out of whack after facing a steady diet of inside fastballs. "I'm trying to stay patient," he said. "But it's early in the season and you want to hit. I've probably gotten myself out 12 times in the last four days trying to hit that ball in. And it's impossible." Thomas, hitless in his last eight at-bats, had no problem with manager Jerry Manuel's decision to rest him Sunday. "He wants to keep everybody fresh," Thomas said. Manuel said it was important to give Thomas a breather. He might do the same for Magglio Ordonez next week. "Even though we have a day off [Monday], a guy really doesn't get the full benefit until he comes to the park, comes to work but doesn't have to work," he said. "He can relax his mind and watch a ballgame. "When everybody gets a day off, it's not the same." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonkeyKongerko Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 Time and time again it has been proven that Walt Hriniak is the only hitting coach that can help Frank Thomas. Plus Frank won't take hitting advice from anyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxfan420 Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 Time and time again it has been proven that Walt Hriniak is the only hitting coach that can help Frank Thomas. Plus Frank won't take hitting advice from anyone else. others cant help frank he has a different swing than most hitters. Plus with big frank he has a hard time getting along with people that try to change him completly. and not play his own style of baseball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted April 14, 2003 Author Share Posted April 14, 2003 This is the Daily Herald version of the story Frank Thomas has plenty to prove this season, both to himself and the White Sox. The veteran designated hitter tailed off at the plate last year after missing most of 2001 with a torn right triceps and has been dismissed as a washed-up talent in many baseball circles. Thomas looked a lot like his old, dominant self in spring training, batting .385 with 8 doubles, 3 home runs and 14 RBI, but he has struggled during the regular season. Mired in a 3-for-18 slump that has dropped his batting average to .222, Thomas was held out of the lineup Sunday. He took the move in stride and again said he'll be teaming up with old hitting coach Walt Hriniak at U.S. Cellular Field. "We'll work this week,'' Thomas said. "He wants to help and he knows how to make me click. When we get together, everything clicks.'' Hriniak, a gruff, no-nonsense instructor, was the White Sox' hitting coach when Thomas came up in 1990. Hriniak was fired after the '95 season and has been out of baseball since. "He still watches the tapes and he knows what's going on,'' Thomas said. "He's bored. He's retired now and loves to see us do well. I'm one of his last guys left, me and Robin (Ventura), and he wants to see us do well.'' Thomas picks up the travel expenses, but he doesn't pay Hriniak for his services. "He loves it,'' Thomas said. "With my style of hitting, he's the one guy that sees the holes, sees where I'm leaking. And he knows how to fix it quick.'' Even though the season is still in the infancy stage, Thomas is trying to avoid falling into a an early hole. "I don't care what it takes, I have to get better,'' said Thomas, who batted .252 with 28 home runs and 92 RBI last season. "I've got to do it now because you can't keep throwing away at-bats. I've seem it slip and that's why I want to get back with (Hriniak).'' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 Frank hasn't been this determined in a long time....he'll get it eventually, and he'll put up monster numbers. I'm not worried....after all, it IS the third week of the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 A determined Frank is a lethal Frank, now I just hope he proves all of us that believe that right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clujer420 Posted April 14, 2003 Share Posted April 14, 2003 Frank's attitude so far has been A+++++, and like someone mentioned before, when he sets out to accomplish something, he will do so. He wants to solidify his spot in the HOF, and the Sox and all of us will reap the benefits. AL pitchers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubKilla Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Frank hasn't been this determined in a long time....he'll get it eventually, and he'll put up monster numbers. I'm not worried....after all, it IS the third week of the season. Frank better start "put(ting) up monster numbers." Like you said, "it IS the third week of the season"..... how much longer are we gonna keep saying 'Wait till the bats get going?' That goes for Konerko, Lee, and Rowand too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted April 15, 2003 Share Posted April 15, 2003 Frank hasn't been this determined in a long time....he'll get it eventually, and he'll put up monster numbers. I'm not worried....after all, it IS the third week of the season. Frank better start "put(ting) up monster numbers." Like you said, "it IS the third week of the season"..... how much longer are we gonna keep saying 'Wait till the bats get going?' That goes for Konerko, Lee, and Rowand too. IMO, if we can get out of April with a .500+ record....we got a very, very good shot at winning the division. Of course....the Minnesota series might wake our guys up. We are in that dead zone that we were in for much of last year too. They do know that Royce Clayton isn't in the clubhouse, right? I just think that this team is playing their worst baseball right now....and that it will only get better. We are lucky we have had our s***ty stretch during a time when we play like 18 straight games against Detroit, KC, and Cleveland. Only KC is a worthy opponent at this time....and I am thinking we will take atleast 2 of 3 from them this series. And if Manuel keeps hitting and running....that's even better. Have a few more SBs and a few more bunts and sac flies....and we are a better team. More small ball will make this team a bigger powerhouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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