Wells Lowers The Boom on Hurt

NetShrine · 05-05-2001, 09:50 AM

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 · 05-07-2001, 07:55 AM

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 · 05-07-2001, 08:54 AM

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 · 05-07-2001, 09:00 AM

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

ChrisCary · 05-07-2001, 09:21 AM

A true Battle of The Bulge

NetShrine · 05-07-2001, 10:31 AM

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 · 05-07-2001, 11:39 AM

Quote:

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

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

NetShrine · 05-07-2001, 01:08 PM

Quote:

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

Yeah, he's the introvert poster child.

jpalexa · 05-10-2001, 12:53 AM

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 · 05-10-2001, 07:35 AM

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

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 · 05-10-2001, 07:53 AM

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 · 05-10-2001, 10:20 AM

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 · 05-10-2001, 11:13 AM

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 · 05-10-2001, 11:20 AM

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 · 05-10-2001, 11:45 AM

Quote:

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

Ditto.

05-07-2001, 09:00 AM	#4
BuzzBuzzard NetShrine's Conscience Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: The bowels of Shea Posts: 3,062	Boomer vs. Hurt. That would be a heavy weight match-up I'd like to see. __________________ Buzzard You Gotta Believe

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05-05-2001, 09:50 AM	#1
NetShrine Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 4,617	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."

05-07-2001, 07:55 AM	#2
Jen All-NetShrine Team Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: It's all relative Posts: 487	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. )

05-07-2001, 08:54 AM	#3
ChrisCary High and tight Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 1,281	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

05-07-2001, 09:21 AM	#5
ChrisCary High and tight Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 1,281	A true Battle of The Bulge

05-07-2001, 10:31 AM	#6
NetShrine Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 4,617	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?

05-10-2001, 12:53 AM	#9
jpalexa Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 397	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?

05-10-2001, 07:35 AM	#10
Jen All-NetShrine Team Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: It's all relative Posts: 487	Speaking of injuries...that face-pounding that Stynes took last night looked painful. 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?

05-10-2001, 07:53 AM	#11
NetShrine Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 4,617	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?

05-10-2001, 10:20 AM	#12
jpalexa Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 397	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.

05-10-2001, 11:13 AM	#13
NetShrine Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 4,617	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.........

05-10-2001, 11:20 AM	#14
ChrisCary High and tight Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 1,281	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.

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