If J.P. Ricciardi was a paragon of truthfulness, it wouldn't be hard to believe his story of a mutually agreed-upon parting of the ways between the Toronto Blue Jays and Frank Thomas. But he's an admitted liar to the press (and the public). So forgive my feeling he isn't fessin' up about the end of the mistake that was the career of Frank Thomas, Toronto Blue Jay.
I'm on the record as to my dismay at Thomas' signing and his continued presence in the starting line-up until, well about the time of my last posting. After last season's sonorous start to the season, I thought it fairly obvious that the best the Blue Jays could do was to platoon Thomas and Matt Stairs as DH, with the lefty Stairs getting the lion's share of the at bats, until the weather and the notoriously slow-starting Thomas heated up. Then, let the best hitter swing away. I have no reason to believe that couldn't have worked this season.
In fact, I felt quite hopeful after Saturday's announcement, despite the presence of Rod Barajas as the DH. Stairs was apparently needed in LF where the gimpy (Surprise!!!!) Shannon Stewart was supposed to roam. It would be gauche of me to point out Reed Johnson's .342 average over in Chicago, but why pile Ricciardi error upon error. Absolutlely no other Ricciardi error (ahem, Burnett, ahem) will subsequently be dissected in this posting.
The reasonable Saturday announcement was followed by a petulant Thomas press conference. He put the motive behind the demotion squarely on the lap of penny-pinching Blue Jay owner Ted Rogers. Now, I have my problems with Rogers and the team mismanagement pair of Paul Godfrey and Ricciardi, but they are spending money and lots of it on such high-returning players as Vernon Wells, Troy Glaus, Burnett, Eric Hinske and the Big Hurt himself. Just to name a few. Oops, picking on the GM again.
Now, as far as I'm concerned, Thomas was out of line airing out the company laundry. His rationale was self-serving and no more on the mark than was his batting average. Which was less than I weigh. Lots less. He deserved to be squelched, and fast. Mind you, it would have worked a little better if Ricciardi had thought ahead and had a man ready to come to Toronto, rather than play the game short-handed. A nice civil mutual decision would have put Thomas on the bench to pinch-hit, and then split after the game.
Sunday morning he got squelched, and told to take his big butt back south of the border. The team played nice press-wise, but in no way is it believable that it was a mutual decision. Thomas could NOT show up in the dugout Sunday after fobbing off his demotion as just bank account balancing.
Seattle, Tampa Bay, Texas ... the list of potential Thomas employers isn't long, and it's close to imaginary at the numbers just listed. Seattle has disappointing Jose Vidro and Tampa Bay injured Cliff Floyd holding down the DH spots. But, as disappointing as they've been, both Vidro and Floyd's replacement Hinske (yeah, THAT guy), are still more productive than Thomas. And Texas has three guys outdoing Thomas.
Shea Hillenbrand had this role in an earlier soap opera (in San Fran, after being shipped out of Toronto due to anti-social behaviour combined with low output). Once an All-Star, Hillenbrand found his particular noxious combination did not lead to continued employment. Thomas, a many-time all-star, must be in danger of never playing again. Somebody will get hurt, giving him a chance. But realistically, barring that Wally Pipp moment, we've seen the last of Frank Thomas.
It's too bad. Up until Saturday, Frank Thomas had been nothing as advertised. He wasn't the offensive force Ricciardi hoped he would be. And he wasn't the clubhouse cancer and PR Nightmare Kenny Williams and the ChiTown folks made him out to be. Two days later, he vindicated Williams' low opinion of him.
Stairs and Stewart will now DH. Let the Adam Lind era begin.
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