Good stuff from Buster Olney

[aboz56]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?...ht&lid=tab1pos3

 

Over the last five seasons, Frank Thomas -- who is paid to hit -- has had one season of more than 30 homers and one season in which he achieved 100 RBI. Yet during that time, the White Sox paid Thomas $39 million in salary.

 

Over the last two years, Thomas mustered a total of 345 at-bats because of foot problems, and in that time, he made $14 million in base salary.

 

He hasn't been a dominant player since the last century, but the White Sox kept bringing him back. They kept paying him big money. They kept putting him in the lineup whenever he was healthy. When he said he was unhappy, they talked to him. At the World Series last year, they let him throw out a first ball. They let him speak at the championship parade, even though his contribution to the championship was 105 at-bats. In practical terms, Bobby Jenks meant far more to the White Sox last year than Thomas, and so did Geoff Blum, Aaron Rowand, Dustin Hermanson and about 20 other players.

 

But the White Sox deferred to the Big Hurt, as they've done for years. After the White Sox effectively replaced Thomas in November -- with another Hall of Fame candidate, Jim Thome -- Thomas made noises about being disrespected. But the White Sox executives said nothing.

 

Thomas kept on complaining, though, through December, through January and to a columnist last week.

 

And you know what? White Sox GM Kenny Williams -- who is as respectful as any person I know in baseball -- had enough, calling Thomas an idiot. I suspect he said out loud what many in the organization have felt for years.

 

I don't blame him. The hardest player to deal with, Sparky Anderson once said, is an aging star, and the White Sox certainly got a plateful of complaining from Frank Thomas.

 

Rick Telander agrees with Williams, too: Enough is enough. And he mentions that despite 930 homers, Sammy Sosa and Thomas have disappeared over the horizon and no one seems to care. Thomas' departure reminds Barry Rozner of how Scottie Pippen went out the door.

Edited February 27, 2006 by aboz56

[Jordan4life_2007]

I'd say Frank was pretty dominant in 2003. He was having a great 2004 as well. People need to get their s*** straight.

[IlliniKrush]

I have no problem with what KW did. I think people are tough to evaluate this because it's Frank, and they are biased.

 

What if Damaso Marte made these comments? Yeah it's not perfect because Marte wasn't amazing on the field, but that's irrelevant in my mind.

 

It's still just a former player trashing an organization.

[WHarris1]

And you know what? White Sox GM Kenny Williams -- who is as respectful as any person I know in baseball -- had enough, calling Thomas an idiot. I suspect he said out loud what many in the organization have felt for years.

There we go. KW doesn't just walk around calling any guy an idiot, he was fed up with Frank's s***.

[aboz56]

I'd say Frank was pretty dominant in 2003.  He was having a great 2004 as well.  People need to get their s*** straight.

He was great this past year in the playoffs too.

[Jordan4life_2007]

He was great this past year in the playoffs too.

 

Let's kill the guy because he was hurt. That's classy.

[aboz56]

Let's kill the guy because he was hurt.  That's classy.

Dude, he hasn't done much since 2000.

 

Face the facts and get over it.

[whitesoxin']

Dude, he hasn't done much since 2000.

 

Face the facts and get over it.

Once again, you are the one telling us to get over it. Since when is starting another Frank bashing thread getting over it? :rolly

 

Why does this "great" article fail to mention how much money he was making during his prime? During his MVP seasons? This is a very weak argument, Aboz. You are really stretching it trying to make Frank look like the bad guy.

[aboz56]

Once again, you are the one telling us to get over it. Since when is starting another Frank bashing thread getting over it? :rolly

 

Why does this "great" article fail to mention how much money he was making during his prime? During his MVP seasons? This is a very weak argument, Aboz. You are really stretching it trying to make Frank look like the bad guy.

Relative to the salaries of the time, he was compensated just fine.

 

Of course he didn't make 15 mil a year, people weren't being paid that much back at the time.

[GoSox05]

This reminds me of all the Maggs stuff last year. I really dont care what Kenny Williams or Frank Thomas said. I'm Ready to watch some baseball and repeat.

 

I think there are much more intresting stories going on. Like Are we only gonna have one lefty reliver or will Arnie Munoz dominate the world and be the greatest curve baller since Barry Zito.

[RockRaines]

Relative to the salaries of the time, he was compensated just fine.

 

Of course he didn't make 15 mil a year, people weren't being paid that much back at the time.

^^^^^^^

[TheBlackSox8]

Once again, you are the one telling us to get over it. Since when is starting another Frank bashing thread getting over it? :rolly

 

Why does this "great" article fail to mention how much money he was making during his prime? During his MVP seasons? This is a very weak argument, Aboz. You are really stretching it trying to make Frank look like the bad guy.

He made about 26 million in his great years(7 great years). I think it evens out.....the first seven to the last seven I mean.

[NorthSideSox72]

I've avoided all these Frank threads, but since they are now about half of page 1 of PHT, I suppose I should say something. Here are my 2 thoughts...

 

1. KW, from everything I have seen, has been more than patient with Frank. So has the Sox organization. And all Frank has done is b****. Therefore, I cannot fault KW for his outburst. Not the classiest move, but understandable.

 

2. When Frank comes back to town, you can bet I'll give him that standing O, no doubt about it. Yeah, he has been a pain in the ass. But he is indeed the greatest player in Sox history, and he deserves my respect as a fan - even if he is being an a**hole. He'd have to do a lot worse to lose that.

[Pants Rowland]

he is indeed the greatest player in Sox history, and he deserves my respect as a fan

 

I am getting a bit tired of hearing this statement. The greatest player in WS history is an overstatement. He is arguably the best hitter in WS history, but there are plenty of others you could make the case for as well. Eddie Collins, Joe Jackson, and Luke Appling (in particular) come to mind. Further, while I think his stats are HOF caliber, he was a DH for a good portion of his career. When he was on the field his defense was below average at best. Let' please stop calling him the best player in WS history just because he was the best hitter we current fans saw in our lifetime. There are plenty of other WS players that contributed on the field and at the plate. Frank had two tools (power and average), not five.

[NorthSideSox72]

I am getting a bit tired of hearing this statement. The greatest player in WS history is an overstatement. He is arguably the best hitter in WS history, but there are plenty of others you could make the case for as well. Eddie Collins, Joe Jackson, and Luke Appling (in particular) come to mind. Further, while I think his stats are HOF caliber, he was a DH for a good portion of his career. When he was on the field his defense was below average at best. Let' please stop calling him the best player in WS history just because he was the best hitter we current fans saw in our lifetime. There are plenty of other WS players that contributed on the field and at the plate. Frank had two tools (power and average), not five.

 

Arguable. But whatever - whether he was THE best or one of the best, same thing in this case. I'll stick to my point.