Sorry in advance for the long-winded diatribe that follows...
I wanted to vomit this morning when I saw Thomas popping off on SportsCenter. At what point do we start acknowledging that this kind of crap is more of a cancer than it is a mere distraction? I don't like defending Reinsdorf or KW, but the simple fact is that the Sox gave Thomas more money this season than he was offered by anyone else on the open market. His skills have diminished, that's why the clause in the previous contract was enacted... end of story. Frank: Blame the agent who negotiated it. If by chance he does return to his old form, then his current contract gives him options to escape after this season and earn more money elsewhere. Still, what team is going to want a malcontented, one-dimensional player? Who the hell is advising this guy??? He's not only hurting his own club's chances by reopening these wounds, he's hurting his own longer term marketability.
Frank made great contributions to this club back in the 90s. At one time, he was the most feared hitter in the game, and for good reason. His best days are, unfortunately, behind him. Even the most hardcore Frank fan would have to admit that. What the Sox need from a veteran like Frank is leadership... a clubhouse presence that inspires confidence in his teammates... a consummate professional who puts the best interests of the ballclub first, and serves as an example to his team. Instead, we are getting a thin-skinned malcontent who's going to pop off indiscrimately, and destroy the chemistry of the club.
Buddy Ryan said it best when he said "Trade him for a six-pack. It doesn't even need to be a cold six-pack." Send him to Montreal or Tampa, where his presence might put some butts in the seats, and his attitude won't do any damage to teams with no chance of playing in October.
Living on the west coast, I didn't hear anything about Frank's latest crybabying until this morning. I went to bed last night comfortable with the fact that this team was going to contend. Now, I get that sinking feeling that we are being set up for another season of .500 baseball, finger-pointing, media sniping, and fan apathy. Team chemistry is so damn important during a 162 game season. This isn't the Yankees who can buy so much talent that they can overcome the occasional infighting. The Sox are a team of solid, quiet veteran players mixed with some young, exciting up and comers. They don't need a clubhouse cancer right now.
