Wells Lowers The Boom on Hurt

[NetShrine]

Thomas missed the five games because of a strained triceps in his right arm.

He has said he didn't want to embarrass himself by playing through the injury.

Earlier on Thursday, Wells was asked about Thomas' decision not to play with the injury on his weekly radio show on Chicago's ESPN 1000 and he blasted the slugger.

"If he is afraid to embarrass himself, then he is embarrassing himself right there with that comment," Wells said from California, where the White Sox were playing the Anaheim Angels. "If you don't have the guts to be out there, you know what, you don't need to be here. You need to be somewhere else and learn to play the game with guts and glory."

In the clubhouse before the game in Anaheim, Thomas lashed back.

"He ain't no ... doctor," Thomas told reporters. "If I could be out there, I'd be out there."

[Jen]

It's a good thing Boomer never chose motivational speaking as his career path...though he probably woulda made one hell of a drill sergeant.

Thomas needs to suck it up and quit whining. (Only kidding, an injury is an injury. :) )

[ChrisCary]

Bomer is right but maybe saying it to Thomas privately or in the clubhouse would have been the classier thing to do.

If they didn't know something like this would happen eventually (and many more times) by giving Wells his own weekly radio address, they're crazy

[BuzzBuzzard]

Boomer vs. Hurt. That would be a heavy weight match-up I'd like to see.

[ChrisCary]

A true Battle of The Bulge

[NetShrine]

Hurt has the reach - but Boomer's gut is like a built in cup (thus elminating the low blow). Hmmm......

Agreed Wells should have done this off line. Then again, maybe he did - and when it didn't work, he tried this? Where's the MGR while all this is going on?

[Shel]

Originally posted by BuzzBuzzard
Boomer vs. Hurt. That would be a heavy weight match-up I'd like to see. :loud: :loud: :loud:



Boomer is such a shy, timid guy, isn't he? ;)

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by Shel
Boomer is such a shy, timid guy, isn't he?

Yeah, he's the introvert poster child. :D

[jpalexa]

This incident does open up the debate about playing through injuries. On one hand, you want the high-paid player to heal completely so you don't further damage your investment and so the player comes back at 100% as quickly as possible. On the other hand, you are paying this guy tons of dough, and maybe a 75% Frank Thomas is better than his sub.

Some players in the old days were afraid to come out of the lineup -- they were afraid of losing their jobs (and paychecks) for good. Was this the best thing for the players and for baseball? I am not sure.

These days, some players are sitting out so they don't become even more injured so their free-agent market value doesn't go down. I am not sure I like that mentality either.

If you are truly injured, get healed to the point to where you are the best person to help the club...no?

Thoughts?

[Jen]

Speaking of injuries...that face-pounding that Stynes took last night looked painful. :eek:

But to answer your question, jpalexa, I agree. It always strikes me as a little odd that players work so hard, building strength, endurance, etc...yet it seems to make them more injury prone? Is it just my imagination?

[NetShrine]

The old line should still be true - - if you're hurt, don't play, if you're just in pain, play.

Think ol' Cal was never in pain (or less than 100%) during The Streak?

What the heck was going on in Boston yesterday? Umps get new rules on brushbacks?

[jpalexa]

Re: injuries -- actually, some folks contend that many of today's injuries are *caused* by how bulked up the players are. I have heard people say that about Nomar -- his frame can't handle the torque caused by his muscles and movement. I'm no doctor, Captain Kirk, but I sense the truth in this assessment. Same for pitchers.

Re: Boston Beanballing -- yeah, what the hell?!? I don't know if the throw at Stynes was intentional (I doubt it -- what motivation?), but the retaliation by the Boston pitcher throwing BEHIND Olerud was blatant. The ump should have stopped it right there -- throw out the Boston pitcher on the spot and warnings to both benches. That way the payback was SAFELY complete and the ump has control of the game.

As it turned out, didn't at least two more players (Boston's Ramirez and Seattle's Boone??? I am not sure...) get fastballs in the earholes? THAT is the most disconcerting part -- taking one in the ribs or fanny is one thing and is part of the game. Getting thrown at deliberately at the head is dangerous and just plain wrong.

Poor form.

[NetShrine]

Jimy Williams, Piniella, and Ump Al Clark all were quoted after the game that they were in agreement that none of the close ones were intentional.

Huh? what game were they watching?

Mest smells a cover up.........

[ChrisCary]

If it's a cover up, then I hope it's one that all umps, managers, coaches and players get behind.

I don't by any means condone hitting a guy on purpose, but I believe that the brushback pitch is essential to many pitchers arsenal and dictating how a pitcher pitches is dangerous to the game.

We expend the game at the benefit of the politicla images of Selig and his cronies. Enough is enough.


And yes, I do believe in retaliation ONLY when the original HBP was intentional.

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by ChrisCary
And yes, I do believe in retaliation ONLY when the original HBP was intentional.

Ditto.

[NetShrine]

More today - - -

Thursday, May 10
Thomas may land on DL
ESPN.com news services


CHICAGO – Frank Thomas may be heading to the disabled list with strained right triceps, White Sox manager Jerry Manuel told reporters on Wednesday.

Thomas returned to the team Wednesday after spending the previous five days in Georgia because of the death of his father, Frank Sr.

Thomas hasn't played since injuring his triceps on April 27. He tested his swing in the batting cage behind the White Sox dugout but continued to feel pain.

Thomas was hoping to be available as a pinch hitter Wednesday -- a 6-5 victory over the Angels -- but Manuel said trainer Herm Schneider said Thomas was still experiencing problems with his right arm. A decision whether to put Thomas on the disabled list could be made later Thursday.

Thomas is hitting .221 in 68 at-bats this season, with four homers and 10 RBI. He has been limited to 20 games. The White Sox were 12-19 entering play Thursday.

[jpalexa]

Funny that the ump and the managers all "agreed" that none of it was intentional. The highlights I saw had Piniella tripping over himself a couple of times to get out and yell at the ump -- Williams at least once.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
News pertaining to the original post:

White Sox 1B Thomas likely out for season with triceps tear

May 10, 2001

CHICAGO (TICKER) -- Someone should tell David Wells that the "Big Hurt" is indeed hurt.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas underwent an MRI on Thursday that revealed a right triceps tear which will require surgery and most likely sideline the two-time Most Valuable Player for the season.

Thomas, nicknamed the "Big Hurt," has not played since injuring his triceps April 27 while making a diving attempt at a ground ball.

Thomas returned to the team Wednesday after spending five days in Columbus, Georgia following the death of his father. He tested his swing in the batting cage but continued to experience pain, prompting the MRI.

"It's been the worst week of my life," Thomas said. "It's been a hard pill to swallow, but you have to keep moving on."

Last week, outspoken lefthander David Wells questioned the severity of the injury during his radio show, claiming "If you don't have the guts to be out there, you know what, you don't need to be here."

Thomas said he has spoken to Wells regarding the pitcher's comments.

"This time he was wrong and he knew he was wrong," Thomas said. "We had conversations about it. There's no hard feelings."

Thomas was placed on the 15-day disabled list and replaced on the roster by infielder Jeff Liefer, who was recalled from Charlotte of the Class AAA International League.

The 32-year-old Thomas has been limited to 20 games this season and is hitting .221 with four homers and 10 RBI. Before the season began, Thomas argued publicly with the White Sox over his contract before later claiming it was a misunderstanding.

The slow start followed a bounce-back season in 2000 in which he hit .328 with 43 homers and 143 RBI and helped the White Sox to the American League Central Division title.

Thomas batted a disappointing .265 in 1998 and played just 135 games the following year due to injury. He has 348 career homers and 1,193 RBI, one of just six active players with 300 homers and 1,000 RBI. Thomas was the AL MVP in 1993 and 1994.

The injury to Thomas is the latest in a series of ailments plaguing the White Sox, who have won four straight games for the first time this season. Pitchers Antonio Osuna and Bill Simas are out for the season while two other hurlers, Jim Parque and Cal Eldred, are on the DL.

Thomas is the second star first baseman who is out with a triceps injury. Anaheim Angels first baseman Mo Vaughn is out for the season with a ruptured biceps tendon.

[NetShrine]

Wish I could hear David Wells radio show this week............

[jpalexa]

You'd hear the sound of a fat guy eating crow...!

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by jpalexa
You'd hear the sound of a fat guy eating crow...!

Give him a beer to wash it down with and he probably wouldn't mind.