Deadspin
I love it when a team says that they have released a player "by mutual agreement." That usually means that the team says: "We're not going to start you anytime in the near future, and if you don't like it, then $#%! you." And the player responds: "&%$! me? No, &%$! you!" Various doors are then slammed.
Anyway, Frank Thomas is no longer a Blue Jay. And he must have really been a pain in the ass, because Toronto is eating $7,081,967 of his $8 million salary this season. Mmmm, bitter regret. And hey, with Frank on the market, good luck finding a job now, Barry Bonds!
The file on the Big Hurt: Last season he led the Jays with 26 homers and 95 RBI. But this year he's off to a .167 start, is hitless in his past 13 at-bats and has 11 RBI. Your Toronto Blue Jays are 10-9, 2 1/2 games behind first-place Boston in the East, and can't really afford a .167 black hole in the lineup at this point. But, is Thomas not an historically slow starter? Well, San Francisco Giants, here he comes. Toronto beat Detroit 5-3 on Sunday behind David Eckstein's three-run homer, the Tigers falling to 6-13.
• Eric The Half-A-Bee. Jimmy Rollins was banished to the 15-day DL, but Chase Utley was 3-for-3 and had two homers and Pedro Feliz had one homer to lead the Phillies past the Mets 5-4. Eric Bruntlett likely saved the game for Philadelphia with a diving stop on Carlos Beltran's hard grounder up the middle with two outs in the ninth and runners on first and second. Bruntlett threw out Beltran at first. Sweep avoided!
• More Injury Intrigue. Alex Rodriguez blew a tire in the sixth inning — prognosis not certain at this point — but not before he doubled and scored a run in the Yankees' 7-1 win over the Orioles. Andy Pettitte threw seven scoreless innings, Johnny Damon homered and Derek Jeter had a three-run double for the Death Star. That brings the Yankees to .500 (10-10).
• Strange Days. John Bowker has three career home runs — all against the Cardinals this month — and that's how weird this series has been. The Giants won it 4-3, with all seven games being played in the past 11 days. SF prevailed 8-2 on Sunday, behind Bengie Molina's three doubles and three RBI. Anyway it was all likely pretty annoying to this guy.
• Game Fish. And now a little Marlins love, as they retained first in the NL East (a half-game ahead of the Mets) with a 6-1 win over the Nationals. Time for Washington to break out that bucket of balls that the Pope blessed!
Comments
Frank Thomas Blue Jay commercials > Frank Thomas Blue Jay stats
"behind David Eckstein's three-run homer"
Shh! Not so loud!
I remember when my girlfriend and I mutually broke up. She agreed to break up with me and I agreed to stalk her for the next 4 months.
I love you Stacey.
Scott Olsen has been a charged man this season.
Worse than us losing a series to the Giants? Allowing 3 doubles to the Slowest Molina.
@Proverbial: Hot.
Goodbye, Frank. Toronto will miss your timely double plays and your ability to turn it on when they have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
I hope they use the $9 million they will save on his option to buy Lyle Overbay some new intro music.
And Joba gave up a run? Trade him now!
Who needs Frank Thomas when the Jays have a historically awesome lineup?
(Our 5-6-7-8-9 hitters yesterday: Rod Barajas, Marco Scutaro, Lyle Overbay, Gregg Zaun and John McDonald)
Hey, Oakland needs a power hitter. Also, so does Toronto but J.P. Ricciardi is just too much of a stubborn dago.
The Jays cut Thomas to save $$---he had an option getting picked up if he hit some silly low number of AB's.
Has Gagne's penchant for blowing games become so commonplace that they don't even get a mention? I was there yesterday, and it was awesome. Almost caught Encarnacion's homerun ball, too.
@Rob Iracane:
I resent you using that word. That's our word for makin' fun of you!
@Gourmet Spud: Nonsense. Nothing can get a batter more pumped up than a 17-year-old song about middle school suicide.
What an idiot.
/Kenny Williams
I'd be pissed if I got benched in favor of Matt Stairs too.
In other news, Lastings Milledge really needs to invest in some better shades. That sun ain't going anywhere, big guy.
@josereyes.theroof wishes to perform Tim Harris's sack-dance...: Not every team can have an Alfredo Amezega.
I love a good "&$%# You!" "No, &$&# YOU!" argument.
"Alex Rodriguez blew a tire in the sixth inning"
That's a misprint. It should be A. Tire, first name Aaron.
@MattinglysSideburns:
That's almost as bad as Zaun using Steve Austin's theme music. Here's hoping Rolen doesn't pick something by Linkin Park.
@MattinglysSideburns: not even a rick astley song?
@Gourmet Spud: I like my beer cold, my TV loud and my Guidos FUH-LAMIN'!
@Gourmet Spud:
Sorry, Matt Stairs, not Zaun.
@the earl of weaver: And instantly his prognosis goes from uncertain to herpes.
Goodbye, Frank. Toronto will miss your timely double plays and your ability to turn it on when they have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
Even Hall of Famers go 0-for on Opening Day.
@Secret Identity: Even in Bizarro World, Rod Barajas should not be a #5 hitter. My condolences.
Does Jesse Jackson do work in Canada? Cause if that was the Braves cutting Frank, he would be all over it.
Frank Thomas went home and beat his kids with a sack of oranges instead of a pillow.
I love it when the Indians forget to pack their bats for a road trip. Reminds me of the glorious 1980s of my youth.
Rod Barajas is to designated hitting as David Ortiz is to designated fielding, or Nomar Garciaparra is to designated not-getting-injured.
BTW, way to go Phils' management for pinch-hitting J-Roll for a week and a half when he could have been on the DL resting his ankle. Only two more weeks to order your Eric Bruntlett jerseys, folks.
(Nice play to save the game last night Bruntlett. But you still suck.)
Chase Utley should be shot, or at least never pitched to again.
Hey Castillo, how the f*ck can you bunt for a hit 3 times a game, and not get one down when it actually matters?
@crazyjoedavola: Ditto David Wright. Jesus Christ, I hate watching that guy hit.
The Big Hurt to SF? The Giants moved to the AL in the offseason and no one told me?
@ghostsoftheSCupcountry: Could he possibly play the field any worse than Barry did?
@PenskeMaterial: Yet to be determined. Hell, they should just sign Barry, then
@PenskeMaterial: True, but where would he play? First? Wear your batting helmets on the first base line, then, and hope Knoblauch doesn't show up.
@Pittsburgh Sports and Mini Ponies: I like Barry Bonds right where he is. Sweating his indictment and twisting in the wind.
@ghostsoftheSCupcountry: He could turn a 3-6-3 double play if a refrigerator hit a line drive right to him.
I have every reason to believe Frank Thomas got screwed on this deal.
-Shea Hillenbrand
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Hey Frank,
Please play first base for the Mets. You and Carlos Delgado can be besties. Let me know what you think.
Best,
NYC
@Jefferson Short Bus: if he didn't drop it.
So, when did John Danks turn into Mark Buehrle (the very good version)? Because I like it. And I even checked -- his BABIP isn't some absurdly low number like, say, Gavin Floyd.
@Gourmet Spud:
Matt Stairs looks like a fat Stone Cold Steve Austin. I endorse using his theme music solely for this reason.
@Carlton_Whitfield: Two -- we threw him out at second in the fourth (although I say we give it to him anyway).
/Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?
//Banging head against desk.
@crazyjoedavola: And to think, Ruben Gotay didn't fit on the roster.
/Damn you, Omar
@muggsybogues: NOOOOOOOOOOO! We don't need two slow-starting statues at first.
@Secret Identity: I like when Matt Stairs gets a single or a walk, because then I get to watch him stand next to first base coach Ernie Whitte and try to figure out which is which.
@PenskeMaterial: Whitt, smart guy.
Leitch has rules against mentioning the Cubs in this thing unless they lose, right?