Big Frank Gettin’ Paid
After masterfully morphing into the Big Skirt during this year’s ALCS, Frank “The Big Hurt” Thomas is ready to cash-in with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Thomas had said he wanted to return to Oakland, where he enjoyed the A’s easygoing clubhouse and the relaxed atmosphere — such a change from the pressure on Chicago’s South Side. But Thomas, who has said he’d like to play until he’s 42, also acknowledged he had to consider to the best offer at this stage of his career to take care of himself in the future.
What can you do, man, you gotta get paid. Except, of course, if you patently whine about contracts even after the team you play for has shown gratitude for your services in, not only giving you boatloads of money, but also including you in post-season celebrations and such.
Don’t forget the A’s signed Thomas to a “Incentive-laiden” contract when no one was willing to wait for his ankle to show up for work.
So he gets their money, comes up limping in the clutch, turns down their extension, and is about to bolt to Canada.
Damn, I am spiteful, but frankly I just don’t feel as bad/bitter watching former Sox stars choking big time when it matters most. Kinda levels everything off very nicely.
November 17th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
From the Rocky Mountain News:
One year ago, the Twins had the best offer for free agent Frank Thomas. Thomas, however, wanted nothing to do with the Twins, saying he was concerned about the artificial surface at the Metrodome causing problems with his feet. So he signed with Oakland, revived his career, and now appears headed to Toronto. Hasn’t anybody told Thomas the Rogers Centre has the same type of ersatz grass as the Metrodome?
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November 21st, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Here’s how one AL GM sized up Kei Igawa, the Japanese lefthanded pitcher who has been posted: “Decent stuff, but not enough to pitch in the AL East or AL Central. He has NL West written all over him.” http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/tom_verducci/11/21/soriano/1.html
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December 22nd, 2006 at 4:00 am
Actually, Igawa does have a good downward breaking slider. He has an okay curve ball that he uses as a “show me” pitch and if he could refine it further it could be very effective for him. However, he hasn’t been able to master the two seam fastball yet. He tried to add it to his arsenal in 2005 with bad results and abandoned it. I would like to see him add a cutter. But the main things he will have to do to be successful is command his fastball and keep it up between 89-92. If it starts coming in at 86-87 he will usually get hammered. I have no idea how me might do. He was terrible at the beginning of last season due to not being able to command the heater and then found his fastball again and was one of the best pitchers in the Central League from there on in. However, he is probably going to be a seven inning and go to the bullpen guy. It starts getting shaky when he is up around the 100 pitch mark.
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