Sosa would rather retire than "beg for a spot" - Page 2

thomamon · 02-14-2006, 05:26 AM

Sosa did it to himself. Nobody can forget the corked bat situation. Whether he did it other times or not, it will always unfortatenately hang over his head.

JDOldSchool · 02-14-2006, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana91

[Chisox fan]

Frank Thomas too

[/Chisox fan]

That's ignorance typical of a Sox fan right there. Only White Sox fans would hold a grudge against a man who is bitter he couldn't play his whole career for them. In a day and age where very few guys care where they play, Thomas wanted to play his entire career in Chicago. Kenny Williams finally ran him out of town after four years of trying and Thomas isn't happy. I don't see how anybody could fault the man for being upset by that even if he did say a few harmless dumb things.

JDOldSchool · 02-14-2006, 06:00 AM

dola,

I appreciate that Sammy Sosa has finally revealed himself to the entire nation as the tool many people in Chicago always knew him to be. The guy isn't worth a $1 million contract. He won't play above a replacement level, especially in that park.

Jestor · 02-14-2006, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDOldSchool

That's ignorance typical of a Sox fan right there. Only White Sox fans would hold a grudge against a man who is bitter he couldn't play his whole career for them. In a day and age where very few guys care where they play, Thomas wanted to play his entire career in Chicago. Kenny Williams finally ran him out of town after four years of trying and Thomas isn't happy. I don't see how anybody could fault the man for being upset by that even if he did say a few harmless dumb things.

I'd appreciate it if you didn't paint all White Sox fans with the same broad brush, thanks. I for one didn't want to see Thomas go and was hoping he'd recover from his injuries enough to be able to come back strong next year. I'll wish him well next season.

NCBeachBum · 02-14-2006, 06:16 AM

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

KurtBevacqua · 02-14-2006, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDOldSchool

dola,

I appreciate that Sammy Sosa has finally revealed himself to the entire nation as the tool many people in Chicago always knew him to be. The guy isn't worth a $1 million contract. He won't play above a replacement level, especially in that park.

But he played most of his career in Chicago, cut the man some slack.

(Note: I'm still trying to figure the significance of a guy looking for his 5th franchise spending most of the time in one city that has two teams)

Nirvana91 · 02-14-2006, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDOldSchool

That's ignorance typical of a Sox fan right there. Only White Sox fans would hold a grudge against a man who is bitter he couldn't play his whole career for them. In a day and age where very few guys care where they play, Thomas wanted to play his entire career in Chicago. Kenny Williams finally ran him out of town after four years of trying and Thomas isn't happy. I don't see how anybody could fault the man for being upset by that even if he did say a few harmless dumb things.

No, if you paid attention to the acutal situation, you'd see that he was upset that he wasn't offered a ton of MONEY to stay in Chicago. Hello? Do you really think this was about staying in Chicago? HELLO? Are you serious?

MONEY.

We just won a championship without him. He's been whining for the past 5 years. He's coming off injury after injury after injury after injury. Yet we should keep him around huh? He "ran" himself out of town by whining, crying, and BEING HURT ALL THE TIME.

You should be a GM. That way you can sign all your over the hill players to big long contracts, and watch them waste away as clubhouse cancers, mere shadows of the players they once were.

He can't even DH anymore, for Chrissakes.

Nirvana91 · 02-14-2006, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jestor

I'd appreciate it if you didn't paint all White Sox fans with the same broad brush, thanks. I for one didn't want to see Thomas go and was hoping he'd recover from his injuries enough to be able to come back strong next year. I'll wish him well next season.

Yeah, Albert Belle too right?

jaxmagicman · 02-14-2006, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana91

Yeah, Albert Belle too right?

Albert Belle couldn't hold Frank Thomas' jock starp. Thomas is probably the best hitter of the 90's. Or at least second. He has had a great career and should be first ballet Hall of Famer. You are upset he wanted to stay in Chicago? I am not sure what to call that type of statement.

abailey3313 · 02-14-2006, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana91

Yeah, Albert Belle too right?

Oh, we're just referencing all the Orioles greats in here!

eriqjaffe · 02-14-2006, 10:27 AM

Frank Thomas has always been an enigma, and his biggest fault is his inability to keep his mouth shut and take the high road. Always has been.

...and the Chicago media loves him for it because it gives them something to write about. Thomas had spent his entire professional career with the Sox organization - heck, he was the only player on the 2005 squad whose tenure dated back to Old Comiskey. I don't blame him for being bitter about the Sox buying out his contract.

Then again, he stuck around after the infamous "diminished skills clause" incident - so who's really to blame him for holding some bitterness against the Sox?

I was always a fan of Frank Thomas, and I always will be. I think he should be a first-ballot HOFer, especially considering the steroid cloud that hangs over many other 90's power hitters - that cloud doesn't taint Thomas's numbers. At his peak, he was one of the best hitters the game had ever seen. He could do it all at the plate - hit for high average, power, draw walks. He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of player. Heck, his career .995 OPS ranks 11th all-time, well ahead of legends like Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.

I don't think his poor media relations will hurt his HOF chances nearly as much as the fact that he played a significant amount of his career as a DH. If he plays a dozen games as a DH for Oakland in '06, he will finally tip that scale.

I wish Frank Thomas well, he's one hell of a player. Maybe not the greatest guy, but it's not like he was caught with a corked bat, pretended not to speak English in front of Congress, or beat his wife with a rum bottle.

Sosa is a straight-up jackass, and always has been. He just hid it very well for a few years. Sosa should be happy to take whatever he can get, but his love of himself is much bigger than his love for the game.

eriqjaffe · 02-14-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abailey3313

Oh, we're just referencing all the Orioles greats in here!

In that case,

His Own Bad Self · 02-14-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

Frank Thomas has always been an enigma, and his biggest fault is his inability to keep his mouth shut and take the high road. Always has been.

...and the Chicago media loves him for it because it gives them something to write about. Thomas had spent his entire professional career with the Sox organization - heck, he was the only player on the 2005 squad whose tenure dated back to Old Comiskey. I don't blame him for being bitter about the Sox buying out his contract.

Then again, he stuck around after the infamous "diminished skills clause" incident - so who's really to blame him for holding some bitterness against the Sox?

I was always a fan of Frank Thomas, and I always will be. I think he should be a first-ballot HOFer, especially considering the steroid cloud that hangs over many other 90's power hitters - that cloud doesn't taint Thomas's numbers. At his peak, he was one of the best hitters the game had ever seen. He could do it all at the plate - hit for high average, power, draw walks. He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of player. Heck, his career .995 OPS ranks 11th all-time, well ahead of legends like Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.

I don't think his poor media relations will hurt his HOF chances nearly as much as the fact that he played a significant amount of his career as a DH. If he plays a dozen games as a DH for Oakland in '06, he will finally tip that scale.

I wish Frank Thomas well, he's one hell of a player. Maybe not the greatest guy, but it's not like he was caught with a corked bat, pretended not to speak English in front of Congress, or beat his wife with a rum bottle.

Sosa is a straight-up jackass, and always has been. He just hid it very well for a few years. Sosa should be happy to take whatever he can get, but his love of himself is much bigger than his love for the game.

Excellent post. I'm a Cubs fan, and I was always jealous that the Cubs never had someone like Frank Thomas, until Sosa temporarily got our attention.

I think Thomas will also be hurt in HoF voting by being relatively hidden for the past several years. He's only played two full seasons out of the past five. The greats who stay in the spotlight until the day they retire - like Cal Ripken or Tony Gwynn - those guys don't have that problem.

Also, with regards to Thomas being a DH, I think if Paul Molitor can get it, playing DH as much as he did, then Thomas should be able to as well. Yes, it would help Thomas if he could play defense, but that doesn't take away from his massive contributions at the plate.

One other thing: Thomas was only a five-time All-Star. Not that I think All-Star selections should determine Hall of Fame status, but was there a better player in the All-Star era who played in fewer All-Star Games? Five sounds low for a guy of Thomas' talent.

As for Sosa, he's a cheater, and I hope he leaves the game so I don't have to be reminded what a SOC he was.

eriqjaffe · 02-14-2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdawgsenior

One other thing: Thomas was only a five-time All-Star. Not that I think All-Star selections should determine Hall of Fame status, but was there a better player in the All-Star era who played in fewer All-Star Games? Five sounds low for a guy of Thomas' talent.

He was also a 2-time MVP. He could have had 3, but he finished second to the steroid-enhanced Jason Giambi in 2000.

During the late 90's, I found myself wishing that the Sox hadn't dealt Sosa for George Bell. Now, I find myself kinda glad.

Hotblack Desiato · 02-14-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nirvana91

[Frank Thomas] can't even DH anymore, for Chrissakes.

I have a feeling we'll be seeing this post quoted a lot this season.

TotalEnd98 · 02-14-2006, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotblack Desiato

I have a feeling we'll be seeing this post quoted a lot this season.

Bookmarked!

QuestGAV · 02-14-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomamon

Sosa did it to himself. Nobody can forget the corked bat situation. Whether he did it other times or not, it will always unfortatenately hang over his head.

I don't really think that's the cloud that's going to hang over Sosa's head. It was a stupid mistake, but it doesn't have the pervasive influence of the steroid controversy that he's right in the middle of.

Anyway, I don't really see the problem with Sosa rejecting a contract that's not worth it for him to play for. He used poor judgement in his choice of words, but the guy has made alot of money and the last few seasons have clearly been trying for him. Unless someone is going to make it worth his while to play there's no reason for him to put up with the aggravation.

eriqjaffe · 02-14-2006, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuestGAV

He used poor judgement in his choice of words

Yeah, his poor English skills are well-documented.

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuestGAV

the last few seasons have clearly been trying for him.

He made his own bed, y'know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuestGAV

Unless someone is going to make it worth his while to play there's no reason for him to put up with the aggravation.

True, but he doesn't have to be a whiny bitch about it. All he has to say is, "I am not interested in signing a non-guaranteed contract, I feel that what I have to offer is worth more than that." But his reaction comes off as extraordinarily self-centered - that may have been fine in 2000, but now he can't really afford to pull that sort of crap.

QuestGAV · 02-14-2006, 12:21 PM

Clearly handling a media that isn't fawning over him isn't a skill he possesses. He did make his own bed and it looks like he's preparing to lie in it. I'm just not sure we should be kicking him in the junk while he fluffs his pillow.

WrightWing · 02-14-2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

he doesn't have to be a whiny bitch about it.

That's what I find humorous and puzzling. Sign the contract, retire, or hook up with someone else. His public boo-hooing isn't accomplishing much for him, me-thinks.

If I was the GM, I wouldn't even entertain a performance-based deal at this point. Sosa's shown a lot in the last few years, and not much of it is going to help him in his "negotiations".

Maybe he'd help his cause if he teamed up with Juan Gone-zalez as a package deal. You know, after all they've done for the game and all. That tandem could play some real hard-ball in negotiations.

That is, if Sammy could use a steroid-corked bat and Juan-Gone doesn't have to show up...

02-14-2006, 05:26 AM	#21
thomamon Global Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 5,274	Sosa did it to himself. Nobody can forget the corked bat situation. Whether he did it other times or not, it will always unfortatenately hang over his head. __________________ Thomas A. Montalto Please check out my Stupid Little Blog - http://www.stupidlittleblog.com

02-14-2006, 06:16 AM	#25
NCBeachBum All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Topsail Island, NC, USA Posts: 1,049	Good riddance to bad rubbish. __________________ And ain't that a shame, shame, shame Shame, shame, the way you do Oh, it's a shame, shame, shame Shame, shame on you

02-14-2006, 10:27 AM	#31
eriqjaffe Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Under The Christmas Fish Posts: 7,743	Frank Thomas has always been an enigma, and his biggest fault is his inability to keep his mouth shut and take the high road. Always has been. ...and the Chicago media loves him for it because it gives them something to write about. Thomas had spent his entire professional career with the Sox organization - heck, he was the only player on the 2005 squad whose tenure dated back to Old Comiskey. I don't blame him for being bitter about the Sox buying out his contract. Then again, he stuck around after the infamous "diminished skills clause" incident - so who's really to blame him for holding some bitterness against the Sox? I was always a fan of Frank Thomas, and I always will be. I think he should be a first-ballot HOFer, especially considering the steroid cloud that hangs over many other 90's power hitters - that cloud doesn't taint Thomas's numbers. At his peak, he was one of the best hitters the game had ever seen. He could do it all at the plate - hit for high average, power, draw walks. He was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of player. Heck, his career .995 OPS ranks 11th all-time, well ahead of legends like Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. I don't think his poor media relations will hurt his HOF chances nearly as much as the fact that he played a significant amount of his career as a DH. If he plays a dozen games as a DH for Oakland in '06, he will finally tip that scale. I wish Frank Thomas well, he's one hell of a player. Maybe not the greatest guy, but it's not like he was caught with a corked bat, pretended not to speak English in front of Congress, or beat his wife with a rum bottle. Sosa is a straight-up jackass, and always has been. He just hid it very well for a few years. Sosa should be happy to take whatever he can get, but his love of himself is much bigger than his love for the game. __________________

02-14-2006, 06:00 AM	#23
JDOldSchool Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,023	dola, I appreciate that Sammy Sosa has finally revealed himself to the entire nation as the tool many people in Chicago always knew him to be. The guy isn't worth a $1 million contract. He won't play above a replacement level, especially in that park.

02-14-2006, 12:21 PM	#39
QuestGAV Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2,010	Clearly handling a media that isn't fawning over him isn't a skill he possesses. He did make his own bed and it looks like he's preparing to lie in it. I'm just not sure we should be kicking him in the junk while he fluffs his pillow.