| | ESPN.com
It wouldn't seem possible for someone who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 270 pounds to become invisible, but over the last two seasons, Frank Thomas has somehow managed.
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WHITE SOX LOWDOWN |
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|  | | Are Frank Thomas' best days behind him? The White Sox sure hope not. |
1999: 75-86
Runs: 777, 10th in AL
Allowed: 870, 10th in AL
Key facts
Magglio Ordonez busted out of the gate early last year, hitting 18 homers and driving in 68 runs prior to the All-Star break.
Mike Sirotka won three fewer games in 1999 (11) than he did in '98 (14), but lowered his ERA by more than a full run (4.00, 5.06).
Chris Singleton led all major league rookies with a .300 average and finished second with a .490 slugging percentage.
Tim Kurkjian's scenarios
Best-case: Kid pitchers Mike Sirotka, Jim Parque and Kip Wells keep getting better, again providing a bright future
Worst-case: Frank Thomas doesn't find his stroke from three years ago, the White Sox finally decide to trade him and find no decent offers.
Prediction: 3rd in AL Central
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After seven seasons in which his hitting exploits earned comparisons to Ted Williams, Thomas has become a rather ordinary offensive performer and a lightning rod for criticism in the Chicago White Sox clubhouse.
Thomas insists that his dropoff the last two years is due to a variety of physical ailments, including a foot problem that forced him to miss a chunk of games at the end of last season.
Earlier this spring, Thomas reunited with former hitting guru Walter Hriniak -- much to the displeasure of current hitting instructor Von Joshua -- in an effort to reclaim his old form at the plate.
There are other issues as well. Thomas and manager Jerry Manuel can't seem to get on the same page when it comes to the Big Hurt's defensive workload, and the tug-of-war about first base or DH reportedly spilled over into some confrontations between manager and star last season.
Manuel has other options, including budding star Paul Konerko, but Thomas can't afford to be seen as being above the team. Nor can Manuel look ineffectual by allowing Thomas to dictate terms.
Thomas has said repeatedly this spring that he's determined to rebound, and the White Sox could surely use the kind of .330-40-125 season that Thomas used to routinely post.
Chicago's young pitching staff is ready to blossom, led by Mike Sirotka and Jim Parque, with promising rookie Kip Wells set to contribute. The bullpen is ably manned by Bobby Howry and Keith Foulke.
The White Sox may yet be a season away from putting a real scare into perennial division champion Cleveland. But 2001 may be the season in which the White Sox become factors again -- if Thomas re-appears as a force in the lineup.
-- Sean McAdam
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Lineup comments and grades from ESPN The Magazine
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Player
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Comment
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Grade
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Ray Durham, 2B
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Top leadoff hitter, despite 105 K's. Only Robbie Alomar saw more pitches in AL
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A
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Jose Valentin, SS
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Decent hands and double-figure HRs welcome relief from Mike Caruso's errors
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C
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F. Thomas, 1B
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Now willing to play 1B five times a week. Some concern over loss of bat speed
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B
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M. Ordonez, RF
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Last year's first show of 30-HR power looks legit
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B
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Paul Konerko, 3B
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Little range, but will handle 3B until prospect Joe Crede is ready
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C
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C. Singleton, CF
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Tailed off in second half but spring adjustments have Sox thinking he's for real
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B
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Carlos Lee, LF
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A 35-HR force as soon as he starts generating more consistent lift
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B
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Jeff Liefer, DH
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Spot to be shared by dozens: Jeff Abbott, Greg Norton, Konerko, Thomas, Minoso
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C
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Mark Johnson, C
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How weak are they at C? They'll actually miss Brook Fordyce, out for first month
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D
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Pitching comments and grades from ESPN The Magazine
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Pitcher
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Comment
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Grade
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Mike Sirotka, SP
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Shoulder strengthened by minor off-season surgery
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B
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Kip Wells, SP
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Sky's the limit for total package of stuff, savvy and toughness. Ace by midseason
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B
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Jim Parque, SP
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0-9 second half after losing confidence in off-speed stuff. Came to camp stronger
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D
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J. Baldwin, SP
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A slow start and he's gone. Puzzles everybody why he hasn't put it together
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D
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Keith Foulke, RP
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Will throw his Pedro-esque change on any count. Best setup man in AL?
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A
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Bobby Howry, RP
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Throws gas, working on slider to give hitters a second look. Has closer's belly
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A
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