Inovking the Clause is Cruel, but Logical

[Chisoxfn]

Inovking the Clause is Cruel, but Logical

By: Mario Scalise

 

Earlier this week it was reported that the White Sox sent a letter to Frank Thomas notifying him that they plan on invoking the "diminished-skills" clause in his contract.

 

The letter also stated that Thomas has 10 days to accept whatever deal the Sox have worked out for him, which can lower Thomas' annual salary to the league minimum till 2006, with the rest being deferred. Or Thomas can choose to test the free agent market for a 45-day period, and if no takers are found, return to the Sox.

 

That right there has recieved mixed results with the media and fans. While some believe Thomas has worn out his stay in chi-town with his childish tactics, others believe this is another terrible display of loyalty and morals by White Sox owner/chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

 

After all, Reinsdorf has always been one to either claim broke or stir bad blood with fan favorites such as Robin Ventura, Carlton Fisk, Jack McDowell and Albert Belle. OK, not Albert Belle, but he is one of many players that departed the Sox because of money issues.

 

It is a well-known fact Reinsdorf doesn't ante up to players unless there is a way out of it at a later point; hence the Thomas contract.

 

It is also a known fact that Reinsdorf has done more bad than good in his reign.

 

He is the one that threatened to move the team to Florida if a new ballpark wasn't funded. When he got his way he decided to build a park that has been mocked, ridiculed and rarely attended.

 

He was one of the main backers and supporters for a strike in 1994 The strike happened and baseball literally became a past time till 1998.

 

He is the one who released Carlton Fisk, perhaps the greatest catcher of all-time, one week after he broke the major league record for games caught (2,226) on June 22, 1993. At season's end, after the Sox clinched the AL West title, Fisk was prohibited from entering the White Sox clubhouse to congratulate the team.

 

He is the one who waved the infamous "white flag" with the infamous "Anyone who thinks we can catch Cleveland is crazy" quote in 1997. The Sox were just 3 1/2 games behind the first place Indians at the time.

 

So obviously you can understand why Sox fans are upset over the Thomas issue. How can Jerry Reinsdorf do this to the best Sox hitter that ever lived? Someone who managed to drive 92 runs and hit 28 homers despite coming off an injury-plagued 2001 season? Someone who will one day be enshrined in the Hall of Fame? Someone who signed a contract (6 YR/59.5 MIL) well below his worth (in baseball terms) in 1997?

 

But you know what. As mean as it seems and as pitiful a history Reinsdorf has, this is one the better moves the Sox have made.

 

By invoking the clause the Sox are in a win-win-win situation.

 

Scenario #1

Thomas stays and reconfigures the contract to where the Sox will pay him 4-5 million dollars a season till 2006, deferring the rest.

Result: Thomas gets a decent amount of money with the remainder coming later, and the Sox keep their powerful offense intact while freeing up 4-5 million and acqruiring a much needed starting pitcher.

 

Scenario #2

Thomas opts for free agency and signs elsewhere.

Result: Thomas and his $39,708,000 over four years is no longer around, thus clearing enough salary to sign an elite starting pitcher and wrap up Buehrle on a long term contract. The designated hitter role will then be rotated between Jeff Liefer, Carlos Lee and Paul Konerko.

 

Scenario #3

Thomas returns to the Sox for the league minimum, with the rest being deferred.

Result: The Sox get the best hitter $300,000 can buy and are once again capable of adding that front-line pitcher.

 

So why all the upset faces? Sure Reinsdorf could be pulling our leg once again and stash that money in his vault, but will Thomas earning close to 10 million a season put the Sox any closer to the World Series? No. I bet that starter though, IF ACQUIRED, will land the Sox a playoff birth at the very least.

 

And let us not forget that a deal is a deal, fair or not.

 

Was Thomas not awake at the time he signed the contract? Did he honestly think he was going to put up great numbers every year? Did he honestly think he was going to be forever healthy and never get sidelined with an injury? Thomas must of been looking at the end result, which had him making close to 10 million a year and over 40 million in all.

 

The goal for any Sox fan, or fan for that matter, is for their team to win the World Series or at least come close. It isn't to watch a player make millions and live happily. So as rotten as this deal sounds, there is some logic to it. Sorry Frank, but rules are rules.

 

20-year old Mario Scalise is the owner/webmaster of SoxNet.net. Mario was born and currently resides on the south side of Chicago, just blocks from Comiskey Park. He is currently attending Columbia College in Chicago as a Journalism major. E-mail all your comments and complaints to [email protected]

[FUCKREINSDORF]

Mario hit the nail on the head here.Yes,Thomas is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) hitters in Sox history.But how do you expect the team to lock up Beuhrle,Konerko and Ordonez (not to mention finding some affordable starting pitching) with this weight hanging off their shoulders??

If the Sox are making this move with the thought of acquiring veteran playoff tested starting pitching and locking the 3 players mentioned above up to multi year deals,I say hooray!!

But knowing Chairman Cheapskate,it's a cost cutting measure. :mad:

[Chisoxfn]

It will work out okay I think. Hopefully JR spends that money saved and a little more maybe and if he does that he'll still have like 10-15 million less then last season payroll with a whole lot better team.