On the list of ways to make it through the day without incurring serious bodily harm, making 6'5", 275-pound men nicknamed the Big Hurt is way down near the bottom. Then again, we already knew John Gibbons is a man who likes to live dangerously. He benched Frank Thomas for the indeterminate future before today's game with the Tigers. Thomas is hitting just .167 with three homers and 11 RBI thus far, and just .125 with three RBI outside of a three-game set with the Red Sox, so it's not like he's been producing at the level expected. But Thomas is still angry about the move, which he feels is based more on his contract than on his play.
"It's pretty obvious. Sixty at-bats isn't enough time to make that decision. I'm angry, I know I can help this team. My career isn't going to end like this."The Big Hurt has an option for $10 million in 2009 which vests after 304 more plate appearances this season. The Jays shouldn't be too surprised by his slow start. Over his long career, Thomas's April numbers are well below his work in other months.
It's also odd given the overall lack of punch in the Toronto lineup. They are slugging but .372 as a whole and have only eight homers from non-Thomas players. Shaking things up is fine but without a better option on the roster it seems pretty clear that the Jays are letting finances dictate their lineup.
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