Frank Thomas hits #500

[inari]

Not much to say about it, but it's quite a feat. Congrats to the Big Hurt.

[Garwilly]

Congrats Frank.

[killthegoat06]

Nice job Franky.

[Bixby]

http://www.icecreamplanet.com/AA.snickers.jpg

 

I'll have one in his honor tonight.

[cbbryan]

So is Big Hurt a HOFer, or is he also guilty by association?

[Drew Doughty]

So is Big Hurt a HOFer, or is he also guilty by association?

 

he should be and there shouldn't be much question about it.

Edited June 28, 2007 by Drew Doughty

[NewUserName]

So is Big Hurt a HOFer, or is he also guilty by association?

 

 

Wasnt he always kind of outspoken with the test me stuff and what not. He also was a TE at Auburn so he was big when he came into baseball and hasnt really gotten any bigger. I am not naive and if it came out next week he was a user I wouldnt be shocked. I just dont think there is any evidence at all that points a finger at him. First Ballot HOFer.

[cbbryan]

So is Big Hurt a HOFer, or is he also guilty by association?

 

 

Wasnt he always kind of outspoken with the test me stuff and what not. He also was a TE at Auburn so he was big when he came into baseball and hasnt really gotten any bigger. I am not naive and if it came out next week he was a user I wouldnt be shocked. I just dont think there is any evidence at all that points a finger at him. First Ballot HOFer.

 

This is what annoys me about the steriod issues. Getting bigger doesn't mean a guy has or hasn't used steriods. I'm not saying that I think Big Hurt doesn't deserve to be in the HOF, in fact I believe he does deserve to be in.

 

I'll be interested to hear what networks like ESPN have to say about guys like Thomas, Griffey Jr., ARod, etc. that all played in the "steriod era" and are HOFers in my mind. If you don't vote guys based on suspicion, or because they're guilty by association then none of these guys get in.

 

The whole situation intrigues me, to be honest.

[inari]

Looking at Frank's numbers, there's really no way you could justify keeping him out of the Hall. It's not like he's a compiler; he was perhaps the best right handed hitter of the 90's.

[Soul]

So is Big Hurt a HOFer, or is he also guilty by association?

 

 

Wasnt he always kind of outspoken with the test me stuff and what not. He also was a TE at Auburn so he was big when he came into baseball and hasnt really gotten any bigger. I am not naive and if it came out next week he was a user I wouldnt be shocked. I just dont think there is any evidence at all that points a finger at him. First Ballot HOFer.

 

This is what annoys me about the steriod issues. Getting bigger doesn't mean a guy has or hasn't used steriods. I'm not saying that I think Big Hurt doesn't deserve to be in the HOF, in fact I believe he does deserve to be in.

 

I'll be interested to hear what networks like ESPN have to say about guys like Thomas, Griffey Jr., ARod, etc. that all played in the "steriod era" and are HOFers in my mind. If you don't vote guys based on suspicion, or because they're guilty by association then none of these guys get in.

 

The whole situation intrigues me, to be honest.

 

I think Frank has escaped the suspicion because he's always been a big man, and he's always seemed to be willing to be tested, even speaking out about it.

 

He'll get in, IMO. Probably not first ballot, but he's a HOF at least in my mind. He had some absolutely fantastic years, and after his mid-career slump he's hung on and provided some longevity to boot.

[SouthSideRyan]

He deserves to go easily even with a DH penalty, which I think needs to be taken in account when evaluating HOFers.

 

I could see him having to wait a long time though.

[cbbryan]

Looking at Frank's numbers, there's really no way you could justify keeping him out of the Hall. It's not like he's a compiler; he was perhaps the best right handed hitter of the 90's.

 

I agree. I also never thought that a media that loathes Barry Bonds and makes every excuse that he should be elected into the HOF even though he's implicated in almost every facet of the "steriod era" would keep a guy with 600 HR out of the HOF that has no link steriods whatsoever.

 

Let me clarify, I think that Sosa, McGwire, Bonds, and nameless other guys have taken some form of enhancemnt drugs. But the hipocracy of people surround the situation is more than annoying. The only guys that should not get in when they have the "milestone numbers" are the guys that are PROVEN to have broken baseball rules. (ex. Palmerio)

 

Any thoughts?

[jersey cubs fan]

So is Big Hurt a HOFer, or is he also guilty by association?

 

 

Wasnt he always kind of outspoken with the test me stuff and what not. He also was a TE at Auburn so he was big when he came into baseball and hasnt really gotten any bigger. I am not naive and if it came out next week he was a user I wouldnt be shocked. I just dont think there is any evidence at all that points a finger at him. First Ballot HOFer.

 

This is what annoys me about the steriod issues. Getting bigger doesn't mean a guy has or hasn't used steriods. I'm not saying that I think Big Hurt doesn't deserve to be in the HOF, in fact I believe he does deserve to be in.

 

I'll be interested to hear what networks like ESPN have to say about guys like Thomas, Griffey Jr., ARod, etc. that all played in the "steriod era" and are HOFers in my mind. If you don't vote guys based on suspicion, or because they're guilty by association then none of these guys get in.

 

The whole situation intrigues me, to be honest.

 

I always found it funny that everybody assumed Frank had to be clean because he was a big college football player, as if big college football players never take steroids.

[The Voice of Reason]

So is Big Hurt a HOFer, or is he also guilty by association?

 

 

Wasnt he always kind of outspoken with the test me stuff and what not. He also was a TE at Auburn so he was big when he came into baseball and hasnt really gotten any bigger. I am not naive and if it came out next week he was a user I wouldnt be shocked. I just dont think there is any evidence at all that points a finger at him. First Ballot HOFer.

 

This is what annoys me about the steriod issues. Getting bigger doesn't mean a guy has or hasn't used steriods. I'm not saying that I think Big Hurt doesn't deserve to be in the HOF, in fact I believe he does deserve to be in.

 

I'll be interested to hear what networks like ESPN have to say about guys like Thomas, Griffey Jr., ARod, etc. that all played in the "steriod era" and are HOFers in my mind. If you don't vote guys based on suspicion, or because they're guilty by association then none of these guys get in.

 

The whole situation intrigues me, to be honest.

 

Thomas, Arod and Griffey go in on the first ballot.

 

Bonds (Game of Shadows), McGwire (Congressional testimony) and Sammy (skeptical media, Interpreter at hearing, corked bat and size change) will have to wait a while.

 

I'm not saying that it's fair or that I agree with it but IMO that's how it will fallout. If there is the slightest suspicion, the voters will hold that against the player - see McGwire.

[cbbryan]

So is Big Hurt a HOFer, or is he also guilty by association?

 

 

Wasnt he always kind of outspoken with the test me stuff and what not. He also was a TE at Auburn so he was big when he came into baseball and hasnt really gotten any bigger. I am not naive and if it came out next week he was a user I wouldnt be shocked. I just dont think there is any evidence at all that points a finger at him. First Ballot HOFer.

 

This is what annoys me about the steriod issues. Getting bigger doesn't mean a guy has or hasn't used steriods. I'm not saying that I think Big Hurt doesn't deserve to be in the HOF, in fact I believe he does deserve to be in.

 

I'll be interested to hear what networks like ESPN have to say about guys like Thomas, Griffey Jr., ARod, etc. that all played in the "steriod era" and are HOFers in my mind. If you don't vote guys based on suspicion, or because they're guilty by association then none of these guys get in.

 

The whole situation intrigues me, to be honest.

 

I always found it funny that everybody assumed Frank had to be clean because he was a big college football player, as if big college football players never take steroids.

 

Well, again, I don't know if Frank took enhancement drugs, or not.

 

My point isn't that he should be held out. I just look at the situation and wonder how guys justify there position.

 

Another example would be Ripken Jr. I don't think he did anything, but a guy w/ 430 HR, almost 650 extra base hits, and over 3000 hits and did part of it in the "steriod era." Again, it's not an attack on Ripken because I don't think his career is in question. I just find it bizarre that a media that questions everyone didn't question Ripken at all.

[cbbryan]

So is Big Hurt a HOFer, or is he also guilty by association?

 

 

Wasnt he always kind of outspoken with the test me stuff and what not. He also was a TE at Auburn so he was big when he came into baseball and hasnt really gotten any bigger. I am not naive and if it came out next week he was a user I wouldnt be shocked. I just dont think there is any evidence at all that points a finger at him. First Ballot HOFer.

 

This is what annoys me about the steriod issues. Getting bigger doesn't mean a guy has or hasn't used steriods. I'm not saying that I think Big Hurt doesn't deserve to be in the HOF, in fact I believe he does deserve to be in.

 

I'll be interested to hear what networks like ESPN have to say about guys like Thomas, Griffey Jr., ARod, etc. that all played in the "steriod era" and are HOFers in my mind. If you don't vote guys based on suspicion, or because they're guilty by association then none of these guys get in.

 

The whole situation intrigues me, to be honest.

 

Thomas, Arod and Griffey go in on the first ballot.

 

Bonds (Game of Shadows), McGwire (Congressional testimony) and Sammy (skeptical media, Interpreter at hearing, corked bat and size change) will have to wait a while.

 

I'm not saying that it's fair or that I agree with it but IMO that's how it will fallout. If there is the slightest suspicion, the voters will hold that against the player - see McGwire.

 

Again, I agree. In Sammy's defense, size proves nothing in and of it self. I'll try to find the book, I forgot the name of it, but it talks about corked bats and has scientific evidence that a corked bat actually diminishes the distance a ball is hit.

 

I hope Sammy does well. Produces in a "steriod testing era" and gets 660. I don't know that it will matter, but I think he deserves to be in.

 

McGwire has been named by teammates as being a user. Bonds is connected to BALCO and his Grand Jury testimony that was leaked seem to solidify the fact that he used steriods.

[Guest]

Good for Frank, he's a no-doubt HOFer.

 

He was just amazing in the 1990s.

[Brian]

Here's my question, who returns as a guest of their respective Chicago team first Sammy or Frank?

[weis21]

Here's my question, who returns as a guest of their respective Chicago team first Sammy or Frank?

 

I doubt either will. I definitely wouldn't if I was Frank after my GM basically called me a pansy to the world when I left.

[The Voice of Reason]

Evidently Big Frank was in a hurry to start celebrating.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=270628109

 

The Toronto slugger hit a three-run shot in the first inning of the Blue Jays' 8-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, becoming the 21st major leaguer to reach 500.

 

He also had an RBI double and tied his season high with four RBIs, then was ejected in the ninth inning by plate umpire Mark Wegner after being called out on strikes for the second time in the game. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons came out to argue and was also ejected.

[tkenm356]

I think he goes to the Hall. Dh or not, that .985 career OPS is hard to ignore. It's a lot better than Molitor and Edgar Martinez, who were notorious for their DH'ing

[Balsa]

Frank deserves the Hall.

 

Always one of my favorite players, and it was great to see him clean up last year with the A's and prove Kenny wrong.

[Roast]

Frank is a great hitter, but....

 

I've always wondered how he is such a great hitter with such a HIDEOUS swing. God that's ugly.

[NewUserName]

Frank is a great hitter, but....

 

I've always wondered how he is such a great hitter with such a HIDEOUS swing. God that's ugly.

 

 

I had a coach in HS who said that we shouldnt try to emulate Major league hitters, especially the great ones, because a lot of them get there more on talent and less on fundamentals. That was 25 years ago.

[NewUserName]

So is Big Hurt a HOFer, or is he also guilty by association?

 

 

Wasnt he always kind of outspoken with the test me stuff and what not. He also was a TE at Auburn so he was big when he came into baseball and hasnt really gotten any bigger. I am not naive and if it came out next week he was a user I wouldnt be shocked. I just dont think there is any evidence at all that points a finger at him. First Ballot HOFer.

 

This is what annoys me about the steriod issues. Getting bigger doesn't mean a guy has or hasn't used steriods. I'm not saying that I think Big Hurt doesn't deserve to be in the HOF, in fact I believe he does deserve to be in.

 

I'll be interested to hear what networks like ESPN have to say about guys like Thomas, Griffey Jr., ARod, etc. that all played in the "steriod era" and are HOFers in my mind. If you don't vote guys based on suspicion, or because they're guilty by association then none of these guys get in.

 

The whole situation intrigues me, to be honest.

 

I always found it funny that everybody assumed Frank had to be clean because he was a big college football player, as if big college football players never take steroids.

 

Well, again, I don't know if Frank took enhancement drugs, or not.

 

My point isn't that he should be held out. I just look at the situation and wonder how guys justify there position.

 

Another example would be Ripken Jr. I don't think he did anything, but a guy w/ 430 HR, almost 650 extra base hits, and over 3000 hits and did part of it in the "steriod era." Again, it's not an attack on Ripken because I don't think his career is in question. I just find it bizarre that a media that questions everyone didn't question Ripken at all.

 

 

I am usually not one to defend Ripken so dont take this wrong. I kind of think that reporters are closer to the situation than we are and probably strongly suspect more than they are allowed to report. For instance I know the people on my line who do drugs. I am there supervisor and may have a better feel for human nature or maybe its my past abuse, I dont know. I do know the ones who do drugs though. I am guessing that there are some reporters who kind of know who is doing what.