SoxFan1 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 From whitesox.com: By the end of the Tampa Bay series at U.S. Cellular Field this weekend, Frank Thomas could be the 36th man in Major League baseball history to hit 400 home runs. With the way Thomas swung the bat over the weekend in a four-game series against Detroit, he could reach that plateau by the fifth inning Monday night. But 400 home runs won’t satisfy the White Sox first baseman/designated hitter, not after hitting 35 or more in a season on six different occasions. He wants to hit at least another 100 before his career is finished. “Hitting 400 is very important, but my goal was to get to 500,” Thomas said. “I have a few more years to get there, but it’s great to make a good charge this year. “Reaching 500 is that magical goal. It’s one of those things that I got off to such a quick start that 500 was definitely one of my distant goals. I’m 102 home runs away, and that’s a couple of years away, I feel.” Thomas would be long past 400 and well on his way to his “magical” total if not for losing the 2001 season to a torn right triceps, suffered on April 27 against Seattle. Thomas hit .221 with four home runs in 68 games before the injury. It took Thomas most of last season to regain his form from the injury, with another down year for the perennial All-Star featuring a .252 average, 28 home runs and 92 RBIs. Intense work in the offseason had Thomas primed for 2003, and he has delivered to the tune of 22 home runs and 52 RBIs. The numbers are impressive. But they aren’t exactly what Thomas envisioned when he poured out blood, sweat and tears prior to Spring Training. “I thought it would be better, to be honest with you,” Thomas said. “The home runs are there, but I don’t think the RBIs are there, and that’s been key in my career. “There’s still time to turn it on, and you never know what can happen in (64) games. I’m not going to stress about it. I’ll just go up there and be a dangerous hitter.” In order to increase that danger factor, Thomas plans to forego a .300 average or his high walk total and focus on the power aspect of his game for the rest of 2003. It’s a sign of maturity and the ability to adjust from a 14-year veteran, especially for one who has topped .300 in 10 seasons and had more than 100 walks nine times. Thomas carried a .273 average into Monday’s game and has walked 64 times while striking out 68. He was mired in a 6-for-43 slump, prior to Sunday’s three-hit, two-home run afternoon. But hitting coach Greg Walker likes his second-half offensive approach. “It’s not just a focus on home runs, but a time to air it out,” Thomas said. “I want to be a damaging hitter, and when I get hot, max it out. I’m going to quit trying to do things that I did when I was younger. I’m not going to become a free swinger, but I will let it go. “If I pull the ball, then I pull the ball. If I get a pitch close enough to me to pull, then I don’t care about hitting it to right anymore. Center to left is where I want to put the ball right now. “I’m comfortable with the approach, and it’s what I’ve done in batting practice,” Thomas added. “It’s a home run derby with almost every swing. You get in the groove and start swinging the bat that way. It’s muscle memory.” White Sox manager Jerry Manuel is more than satisfied with Thomas being focused on the long ball. But he’s also watched the White Sox superstar change his approach from week to week and realizes it could happen again. “You know Frank,” Manuel said with a laugh. “He’ll get two cheap singles today and tomorrow it will be his average. You know how he is. We like for him to have production. In that third spot, we need him to produce. “If he feels like home runs this week, we will take it. That is instant production. Whatever makes him comfortable, as long as he produces, we are happy with that.” Thomas began Monday’s contest with 1,989 career hits and 1,350 career walks. Add those numbers to a resume that includes a .312 average, five All-Star selections and back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards in 1993 and 1994, and Thomas has a strong case for the Hall of Fame once he retires. But there’s no plan for retirement in Thomas’ near future. Not with 500 home runs, a long shot for 3,000 hits and other accolades on the not-too-distant horizon. “I would love to get there, but you never know,” Thomas said of the Hall of Fame. “Hitting 500 home runs should help, with so many doubles and everything else. “There are a lot of great guys still not in there that did a lot in this game, so that’s always a questionable call. The best thing I can do is play at a high level the rest of my career. “I don’t think any player leaves this game satisfied,” Thomas added. “Even the greatest ones say they could have done more.” Wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BPSOX12 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 he better start stroking homers consistently if he ever wants to reach that plateau. if he does though, i would love to see him do it with the white sox!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2003 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Well i'll go on and say Frank will hit 40 hr's this year. That means 18 more which will bring his total to 416. That means he would be 84 away. Frank's got atleast 3 good years left. I can see him hitting 84 in that period of time...Remember he was horrible last year and still hit 28...Go for it Franky boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafacosta Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 It will be great for him 500 HRs, but in this season we need him to start thinking to get to the Playoffs and win the WS and not his own s***. Personal goals is good for him and for our team. He said he will start to get more swings and no more walks...we need him to get on base to score runs and not hitting for HRs all the time that he will bat. IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 In order to increase that danger factor, Thomas plans to forego a .300 average or his high walk total and focus on the power aspect of his game for the rest of 2003. It’s a sign of maturity and the ability to adjust from a 14-year veteran, especially for one who has topped .300 in 10 seasons and had more than 100 walks nine times. It’s not just a focus on home runs, but a time to air it out,” Thomas said. “I want to be a damaging hitter, and when I get hot, max it out. I’m going to quit trying to do things that I did when I was younger. I’m not going to become a free swinger, but I will let it go. So all of the things that made Thomas one of the most dangerous hitters of the 90's he is going to throw out the window and just be a home run hitter? No wonder he is hitting .230 with RISP, he has gone from trying to be a hitter, to trying to be Sammy. It looks like Frank has a better shot at 40 HR's versus 100 RBI's. To hear him saying these kind of things really upsets me. Why would he not go back to what made him an MVP? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Chappas Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 JM should move him to fourth in the line-up then. All of the things that made him a much better player than sosa are now gone, yipee here comes the 100 K's, 40 walks and ???HR, this does not excite me. We should bring Canseco back and see who can get to 500 first. If last night was the first of the revised Frnak approach, trade him now, he looked like a fool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loaiza21 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Maybe he will turn it on like Bonds. He has a sweet swing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Maybe he will turn it on like Bonds. He has a sweet swing. But Bonds also is hitting WAY over 300 now (370 in 2001) and prides himself on taking walks. Frank is saying that he isn't going to take as many pitches anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafacosta Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 But Bonds also is hitting WAY over 300 now (370 in 2001) and prides himself on taking walks. Frank is saying that he isn't going to take as many pitches anymore. I dont understand what Frank has in his mind . He needs to take care of the team and not his personal goals.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2003 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 I think u guys r jumpin the gun on Big Frank's comments about the 500 hr's. Nothing wrong with havin a personal goal here and there u wanna reach. I don't think Frank is thinkin about hittin 60-70 a year like Bonds or Sosa. But i'm sure Frank feels that he has 3-4 good years left. I think he meant over that time he wanted to reach 500 hr's...Not that he would start swingin for the fences every at bat.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 I think u guys r jumpin the gun on Big Frank's comments about the 500 hr's. Nothing wrong with havin a personal goal here and there u wanna reach. I don't think Frank is thinkin about hittin 60-70 a year like Bonds or Sosa. But i'm sure Frank feels that he has 3-4 good years left. I think he meant over that time he wanted to reach 500 hr's...Not that he would start swingin for the fences every at bat.... No one said that about Frank, Frank is the one who is talking about swinging for the fences. Read this again. In order to increase that danger factor, Thomas plans to forego a .300 average or his high walk total and focus on the power aspect of his game for the rest of 2003. It’s a sign of maturity and the ability to adjust from a 14-year veteran, especially for one who has topped .300 in 10 seasons and had more than 100 walks nine times. It’s not just a focus on home runs, but a time to air it out,” Thomas said. “I want to be a damaging hitter, and when I get hot, max it out. I’m going to quit trying to do things that I did when I was younger. I’m not going to become a free swinger, but I will let it go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonkeyKongerko Posted July 22, 2003 Share Posted July 22, 2003 Frank goes through his phases in hitting. I'm hoping this mindset is just another one of his temporary things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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