Torontoist: Doubting Thomas

Stephen Johns

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:51:48 -0500

Why wouldn't he get better? He certainly did last year; what could've possibly happened during the offseason that would suddenly make Frank Thomas "done?" I still maintain it was largely a knee-jerk reaction, and at least partly due to a(n apparently sudden) realization that the team would likely be on the hook for $10-million next year if Thomas was anywhere decent in 2008. But I certainly don't think he's done, not by any means, and I don't think "everyone" else thinks so...I mean, one of the most astute general managers in baseball just picked him up and stuck him into the starting line-up. Let's revisit this conversation in the fall; whoever's more right owes the other person a beer. ;) btw, the Jays are in the midst of a truly regal collapse against the Kansas City Royals. *sigh*.

Joe D

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:25:37 -0500

The Jays didn't dump Thomas just because he put up crappy numbers in the beginning of the season, and they didn't dump him because he costs a lot of money. They dumped him because Thomas is done, and everyone knew it. You don't throw away millions of dollars just because of a slow start -- you do it if there's no reasonable expectation for performance to get better. Thomas is done, plain and simple.

wardnikoff

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:57:51 -0500

Bah! There were plenty of reasons to let loose Thomas. The main one is flexibility - both in financial terms and roster terms. Thomas could only play one position - DH. That means none of the other jays could take a day off in the feild and still get some hacks up at the plate, with a feilder at DH, Gibbons can move guys around and bring up some kids to hit or play the feild. Also, there was the fact they copuld squirm out of his contract NEXT year by him not getting the ABs to qualify for the option to kick in. Sure signing him was still a potential bad movebut releasing him was smart.