Blue Jays Release Frank Thomas

remangiii · 04-20-2008, 09:12 PM

Thomas had accused the Jays of not playing him to prevent an option year from vesting.

RchW · 04-20-2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remangiii

Thomas had accused the Jays of not playing him to prevent an option year from vesting.

Seems logical and true. Ten million dollars can buy a whole lot of help at the deadline if the Jays are close. I think it's a gutsy and necessary move. Thomas really clogged up the bases.

darkenigma510 · 04-20-2008, 09:23 PM

Sorry it didn't work out but understandable from the Jay's perspective. Hope Frank gets a job somewhere this year to close out his career.

kq76 · 04-20-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remangiii

Thomas had accused the Jays of not playing him to prevent an option year from vesting.

The guy was sucking this year. He didn't deserve what he was getting this year, not alone what he would get next year. Don't get me wrong, after we shipped out Reed Johnson, Frank became my favourite player on the team, but you don't play a guy who's sucking just because he has a vesting option.

It sounds like this was best for both parties and apparently the Jays are eating his salary for this year so he really shouldn't have anything to complain about. Good luck to him, but if he thinks he should get playing time while hitting as poorly as he's been hitting he's crazy, certain future HOFer or not.

Syd Thrift · 04-20-2008, 10:05 PM

And he's still coming off a year where he hit 277/377/480. Man, I hope the Mariners pick him up.

Luis_Rivera · 04-20-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kq76

Good luck to him, but if he thinks he should get playing time while hitting as poorly as he's been hitting he's crazy

SERIOUSLY.

I'll be calling for Terry Francona's head if he doesn't bench Ortiz sooner or later.

myasu · 04-20-2008, 10:32 PM

So, which team do you guys think will think about picking him up.

Sure, he has been horrible this year so far, (except for a couple of games against Red Sox

) but he has been a slow starter for most of his career, and I am sure someone in AL could still use a big RHH DH like him.

Erik W. · 04-20-2008, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luis_Rivera

SERIOUSLY.

I'll be calling for Terry Francona's head if he doesn't bench Ortiz sooner or later.

I thought you were being sarcastic until I looked at his numbers. Ouch.

canadiancreed · 04-20-2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myasu

So, which team do you guys think will think about picking him up.

Sure, he has been horrible this year so far, (except for a couple of games against Red Sox

) but he has been a slow starter for most of his career, and I am sure someone in AL could still use a big RHH DH like him.

...like the Orioles....D-Rays....Mariners.....crappy teams with money to burn....

he may ahve been a slow starter before but I wonder how oftne he's been that bad, with age and blaoted salary to boot.

koohead · 04-20-2008, 10:43 PM

Oakland? they did give Karros a shot after all a couple years ago. maybe they are ready to give up on the Jack Cust exp too.

Detroit? something to spark the offense.

remangiii · 04-20-2008, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koohead

maybe they are ready to give up on the Jack Cust exp too.

Had a 100 walks last year. He isn't going anywhere.

remangiii · 04-20-2008, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik W.

I thought you were being sarcastic until I looked at his numbers. Ouch.

He's being sarcastic.

kq76 · 04-20-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remangiii

He's being sarcastic.

If he is, I don't think the two cases are very similar. Thomas will be 40 soon, Ortiz is 32. Ortiz is off to an even worse start, but you'd have to think there's more hope for him. Both teams are contenders, but Boston should be the favourites and therefore have more room for error. The Blue Jays waste another month or two for Thomas to turn it around and it might be too late.

Still, if I was a Sox fan I'd be calling for some bench time for Ortiz as well. And honestly, I'm sure this is all we were wanting to do with Thomas. If he picked it up again later I have no doubt he would have got his regular amount of PAs. It's Thomas who didn't want anything to do with that. I like Thomas, but no one should expect to get full playing time playing like that.

Some wonder who Thomas will land with; I wonder if the Jays might now be interested in Bonds. I know Godfrey said no way earlier in the year, that it would be far too much of an unwanted distraction, but with Thomas not living up to hopes I wonder if they just might reconsider. My gut reaction is to say no way in hell too, but part of me is awfully curious if it would be a good move.

Big Hugg · 04-20-2008, 11:28 PM

Thomas hit .193 in May last year and his season turned out fine.

You bench the guy after 60 at bats? Really?

kq76 · 04-20-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Hugg

Thomas hit .193 in May last year and his season turned out fine.

You bench the guy after 60 at bats? Really?

This is the AL East. He also played bad in ST (anywhere we can look up ST stats? yes, I know that shouldn't mean as much, but it should mean something). How much time are you willing to give a guy (your DH, mind you) in the hopes of turning it around in a pennant race in a division with 2 of the best teams in baseball? Again, I certainly don't think they were wanting to bench him for the rest of the season. Give the guy some time to chill out, give some other guys some opportunities and see what happens. In situations like that I think that if you're a real team player you'd be okay with taking some time out and seeing what others can do. If you're not, you throw a fit and blame it on that you might not get your option for 10 mill.

SittingDuck · 04-20-2008, 11:36 PM

O's had better not pick that chump up. It's a lost season; don't want to hear him whining - that only makes it worse.

darkenigma510 · 04-20-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Hugg

Thomas hit .193 in May last year and his season turned out fine.

You bench the guy after 60 at bats? Really?

Yeah but the Jays season didn't turn out so fine.

remangiii · 04-20-2008, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kq76

Still, if I was a Sox fan I'd be calling for some bench time for Ortiz as well.

Check out his numbers from the 14th onward:

ESPN - David Ortiz Stats, News, Photos - Boston Red Sox

remangiii · 04-20-2008, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kq76

anywhere we can look up ST stats?

ESPN - MLB Spring Training Stats - Major League Baseball Spring Training Stats

eriqjaffe · 04-21-2008, 12:02 AM

If Thomas' allegations are true, it wouldn't be the first time that a contract clause was used against him. After being hurt for most of 2001 and putting up a sub-par 2002 (.252/28/92), the Sox invoked a "diminished skills clause" in his contract, which wound up allowing them to cut his salary in half.

04-20-2008, 09:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
remangiii Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: looking for a new patch of greener grass Posts: 4,591	Blue Jays Release Frank Thomas Thomas had accused the Jays of not playing him to prevent an option year from vesting. __________________ 2005 Winner of LL's Pick the Loser Contest! - 15-0 If you'd like to read my blog about running the student newspaper, PM me and I'll add you to the list. Skipaway036: I don't really know anything

04-20-2008, 09:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
darkenigma510 All Star Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The Wild West Posts: 1,317	Sorry it didn't work out but understandable from the Jay's perspective. Hope Frank gets a job somewhere this year to close out his career. __________________

04-20-2008, 10:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
Syd Thrift Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,824	And he's still coming off a year where he hit 277/377/480. Man, I hope the Mariners pick him up. __________________ League of Nations: An Exercise In Baseball Unity http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...ml#post2508413 Hey, somebody insult me publicly so I can replace ForemanFan's missive! "You're a guileless, witless puke. I'd like to say that that makes us even, but, alas, nothing ever will. Thank Heavens!" - An anonymous fan!

04-20-2008, 10:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
myasu All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 810	So, which team do you guys think will think about picking him up. Sure, he has been horrible this year so far, (except for a couple of games against Red Sox ) but he has been a slow starter for most of his career, and I am sure someone in AL could still use a big RHH DH like him. __________________ myasu 男は黙って赤靴下

04-20-2008, 10:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
koohead All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Litchfield Park, AZ Posts: 1,145	Oakland? they did give Karros a shot after all a couple years ago. maybe they are ready to give up on the Jack Cust exp too. Detroit? something to spark the offense. __________________ GM - NC Clippers of the NPBL; 2001,2004,2007 FF Central Division Champs; 2001, 2004, 2007 FFL Champions; 2004 NPBL Champions

04-20-2008, 11:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
Big Hugg All Star Reserve Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 887	Thomas hit .193 in May last year and his season turned out fine. You bench the guy after 60 at bats? Really?

04-20-2008, 11:36 PM	#16 (permalink)
SittingDuck All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,527	O's had better not pick that chump up. It's a lost season; don't want to hear him whining - that only makes it worse.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode