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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 5, 2008
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Look I get that he was complaining and being a little bit of a pain because he wasn't getting played but who wouldn't be upset if you felt like you deserved to be playing. The simple fact iis is that the Toronto Blue Jays just cut Frank Thomas, their leading homer run hitter and RBI man from last year and that is just plain stupid. In a division with the Yankees and the Red Sox you need a proven player like Thomas to produce and they do have another good one in Matt Stairs but he is not Frank Thomas. Frank Thomas has one of the best eyes for strikes and balls that the game has ever seen. He still has tremendous power and walks all the time. He started in a slump but tons of players start out in slumps in April its not that big of a deal, they play 162 games over 6+ months he has plenty of time to get the bat swinging right. You just don't cut they player who led your team in homers and RBI's a season ago.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Dec 11, 2007
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Frank Thomas always does bad in april. I don't think its right that he didn't go out after the win last night to celebrate with his team. To me he seems like a poor sport. The fact that he had that $10 million option for next year definantly played into the decision.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 25, 2008
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I agree with you, but we only know what the team wants us to know. Maybe he was a poison in the clubhouse. He didn't interact with teammates after yesterdays win which tells me that something was up. Like I said.... We don't know what was truely going on.
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Reputation:78
Level:Pro
Since:Feb 4, 2008
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I don't see what the big deal was about this move, the guy is old and he's not even close to the hitter he once was. Sure he led the team in HR's last year with 26 but that was because of all the injuries the Jays had. Seriously you think he would've led the team in HR's again this yearwith a healthy Wells, Rios or Rolen (assuming he comes back 100%)??. Frank Thomas has not hit .300 in almost 10 yrs folks!! Good luck for him finding a starting job and it sure will have to be in the AL since he can't play 1b anymore.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 4, 2007
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I don't claim to be an expert on Toronto, but I am surprised by this. Sounds like he must have been pretty upset about being pulled. Too bad. I did see him hit a big homer on TV a couple weeks ago and I hope I get to see him do it again somwhere other than Toronto.
Realistically, he does need to realize that his contribution to any team is going to be limited. He doesn't have the speed to compete anymore at the same level that most players can. So the best he can hope for is a DH spot.
War Eagle, Frank T.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 27, 2006
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The man gets to sit on his but for 2 years and earn millions of dollars each year for doing it.
I don't feel sorry for him, especially after reading about his behavior towards the team (you cant call it his team) when he refused to shake hands with them. You may be upset with management but you support your team.
It will be amusing to see if another team picks him up and if he stinks it up there as well. The Mariners might do it...
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Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 21, 2006
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I don't think Thomas is going to sign anywhere, no one will want his act. There are better options out there who are spare parts on their current teams that should be traded for. I'd rather have Juan Rivera (LAA) or Dmitri Young (Was) than cancer Frank. Each player will hit 50 points better than Thomas can and knock out about as many home runs. Neither has a starting job on their team so can probably be had for a half decent relief pitcher.
The Jays should try to get Rivera. He's a much better right handed left field/DH option than Stewart is. Anaheim's pitching is hurting, so we can send them one of our spare pitching parts for their spare hitting part.
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Reputation:58
Level:Pro
Since:Apr 20, 2008
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Frank Thomas always does bad in april. I don't think its right that he didn't go out after the win last night to celebrate with his team. To me he seems like a poor sport. The fact that he had that $10 million option for next year definantly played into the decision.
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Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 9, 2006
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Yeah, he led the Jays in HR last year. But at 26 that's like being the smartest kid in summer school.
It's hard to play someone that all they are supposed to do is hit to be batting .167. There are pitchers in the NL with better numbers at the plate. They could have just used him against pitchers he has a history of success against but that doesn't look like it was an option with him.
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Reputation:88
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 2, 2008
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Agree completely. This team needs power and sure he is in a slump, but it isn't as if the rest of the team is going gangbusters. This appears to solely be a $$$ play and it will come back to get the Jays.
I wouldn't expect Thomas to be out of a job for long. Plenty of teams need help and depending upon who is responsible for paying his remaining salary, I could see him ending up in KC or Oakland or another small market club.
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Reputation:86
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 19, 2007
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No way he ends up anywhere other than a team that expects to contend at the end of the year, and only then if they have a spot for him. Frank Thomas has been a me-first individual forever, and that doesn't fit on any team trying to stress the team concept or a team with impressionable players. I wouldn't be surpised if the guy doesn't even own a glove anymore--the way he used to bitch and whine about having to play the field and how that hurt his hitting. Good riddance Big Skirt.
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Reputation:77
Level:Pro
Since:Aug 23, 2006
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I see nothing stupid about this other than the money the Blue Jays will be spending this season while he either sits at home or on someone else's bench. But in reality, they are paying the money when he sits on their bench and he is also taking a roster spot from some youngster ready to prove his major league worth.
I think it is a good move to get his sour attitude out of the clubhouse and off their bench. As several other posters pointed out, his contributions are minimal and if he isn't hitting, what value is he really adding to the team.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 18, 2006
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Yankees could use his bat.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 22, 2006
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Ricciardi is a genius. He makes Sabean look like a fool. Yeah right..Both GMs are idiots. Cutting Thomas with $18 million remaining on his contract doesn't make sense. I suppose we can expect Ryan to get cut loose once he can no longer contribute. Thomas is in a slump now, but then he was in a slump when he was with the A's during the early part of that season. The Blue Jays don't have patience. As proven by their signing of overrated talent such as B.J. Ryan. and others. I would have played Thomas about 3-4 times a week hopeful that he will find his stroke and then perhaps trade him to another team for something...anything. What the Blue Jays did was get nothing for Thomas. Good move Ricciardi. The Blue Jays will continue to be awful as long as he is running the show.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Apr 15, 2008
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There has to be more to the story than they are letting us know. It is kind of sad. But business is business, eventually had to happen. I guess I will drop him from my fantasy team now. Curious to see if he ends his career this way, or if some team will pick him up. Rangers could use his bat. I wouldn't think he would cost that much at this point.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Sep 1, 2006
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This makes no sense to me either. Granted he's probably a pain in the ass in the clubhouse but he's still going to get you 25 HR and 90+ RBI. I guess if 7 Million dollars to you is chump change then go ahead and cut him otherwise make him sit his sorry ass on the bench if he's hitting .167. If you're hitting .167, you've don't have a lot of leverage with managment even if you are a good hitter. You obviously suck at the present time and when the management decides you're ready, you'll play again. This just seems like a poor move on Managements part to me.
7 Million Dollars, please, Frank Thomas is laughing all the way to the bank.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Feb 25, 2008
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