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Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Big League Stew: Why Frank Thomas belongs in this year’s All-Star Game

“Send the Big Hurt to the Big Apple”...(inabigspotinabiggame.dietcoke)

Thomas’ on-the-field accomplishments, of course, would alone deserve such a career honor. He won the AL MVP in both 1993 and ‘94 and might have been awarded a third in 2000 if Jason Giambi hadn’t been juicing. As of this writing, he has a .302 career average and 516 home runs. He was the first player to hit over .300, score 100 runs, drive in over 100 RBI and take over 100 walks in seven straight seasons. Ask yourself this question: Were there any scarier sights for a pitcher in the ‘90s than Thomas’ hulking frame looming over a 3-1 count?

Yes, Frank had a phenomenal career — and it’s possible it could continue past ‘08 — but this campaign is motivated by more than just Thomas’ impressive numbers. It’s also rooted in the fact that over the past few years, we’ve scolded suspected star after suspected star for possible steroid use. Yet we’ve done absolutely nothing to reward and applaud the players who have actually spoken out against it.

Part of the reason for that inactivity is that there haven’t been many of that latter category. Yet Thomas has been the only one to shirk the clubhouse code of silence and the players’ unbreakable lockstep formation with its union. Think about it: When’s the last time you saw a column lauding Thomas for taking a very public stance against performance-enhancing drugs?

Repoz Posted: May 07, 2008 at 05:21 PM | 3 comment(s)
  Related News: GeneralChi White SoxOaklandSteroids

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   1. Blackadder Posted: May 07, 2008 at 05:34 PM (#2772668)
"might have been awarded a third in 2000 if Jason Giambi hadn’t been juicing"

He is probably right about what the writers would have done, but neither of them was close to deserving it; ARod was having possibly the best shortstop season since Honus Wagner, while Pedro was having the most dominant pitching season ever.
   2. As foretold by the prophesy (JFSE) Posted: May 07, 2008 at 05:47 PM (#2772693)
Were there any scarier sights for a pitcher in the ‘90s than Thomas’ hulking frame looming over a 3-1 count?

Are there any scarier sights for a pitcher this year than Thomas' aging frame looming over a 2-2 count?
   3. (Master) Greg K Posted: May 07, 2008 at 10:42 PM (#2773136)
I think Frank Thomas is deserving of all kinds of honours, 2008 All-Star is fairly low on the list though.

If only there was some way to honour a player for career achievement. Perhaps a place where we might place his name and likeness as well as a short description of his career with other likewise worthy players.

But, since there isn't...I suppose we have no choice but to use All-Star games to reward the ends of careers...it's what the All-Star game is about after all!

(PS: I hope this isn't construed as an angry lament by a Jays fan, I wish Thomas all the luck in the world in Oakland and hope he is immediately enshrined in Cooperstown as he richly deserves...this article is just dumb)
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