Teammates: Don't expect Thomas at SoxFest
Source: Hurt still sore about Guillen's digs
Friday, January 16, 2004
By Joe Cowley
Staff writer
Frank Thomas has been a late addition to the SoxFest lineup in recent seasons, but if any members of the White Sox organization are waiting for the Big Hurt to announce he'll be attending this year's fan convention, they'd better not hold their breath.
Apparently still unhappy about comments made by new Sox manager Ozzie Guillen in November, Thomas has told several teammates it's very unlikely he'll attend the 12th annual SoxFest, to be held Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at the downtown Hyatt Regency.
"He might still change his mind at the last minute, but I wouldn't count on it," one source said. "There's a reason that he and Ozzie still haven't spoken. I'm sure Frank will handle it like a professional once spring training starts, but if he doesn't have to talk to (Guillen) right now, he's not going to."
Guillen will be on hand at SoxFest, along with current Sox players Mark Buehrle, Carlos Lee, Esteban Loaiza and Jose Valentin, to name a few.
Thomas has been a regular at SoxFest, even last winter in the wake of the team exercising the "diminished skills" clause in his contract, which put him on the free-agent market. He did, however, refuse to speak to members of the media after a lengthy autograph session at last year's event.
The Sox aren't counting Thomas out for this year's SoxFest, but they hadn't included him in their scheduled lineup of events as of Thursday.
"The way it works is they extend invitations to current and former players," Sox public relations director Scott Reifert said. "He might still call a week from now and still come; he hasn't said no. We are still adding people. He's not the only one. They're still in the process of putting a list together."
In fact, Thomas isn't the only big-name Sox player who had his name in headlines this offseason and so far hasn't agreed to participate in this year's SoxFest. Right fielder Magglio Ordonez, who would have been traded to Boston for shortstop Nomar Garciaparra and relief pitcher Scott Williamson if Texas and Boston had completed the Alex Rodriguez-for-Manny Ramirez deal, isn't scheduled to be at the event.
"Who's to say what the final lineup will end up being?" Reifert continued. "We can't say why (Thomas won't be coming) because it hasn't occurred yet."
Other current players scheduled to attend include Joe Crede, Jon Garland, Willie Harris, Miguel Olivo, Aaron Rowand and Kelly Wunsch.
Third-base coach Joey Cora and hitting coach Greg Walker are among the former Sox players on the SoxFest roster, as are Harold Baines, Britt Burns, Ed Farmer, Kevin Hickey, LaMarr Hoyt, Darrin Jackson, Jack McDowell, Bill Melton, Minnie Minoso, Billy Pierce, Moose Skowron and Bobby Thigpen.
General manager Ken Williams, assistant general manager Rick Hahn, broadcaster Ken Harrelson and 2003 Branch Rickey Award winner Roland Hemond are also on the roster.
