www.baseballyarn.com   The Frank Thomas Enigma (Part III)
a baseballyarn investigation 		  www.baseballyarn.com
The Manuel Years
 Games at DH and Avg.

  • 1998: 146         (.261)
  • 1999:   82         (.281)
  • 2000: 127         (.321)
  • 2001:   16         (.259)
  • 2002: 140         (.253)
  • 2003: 124         (.252)
  • Frank's 1B/DH batting stats didn't make sense to people
  • Some simply didn't believe them and some ignored them
  • Others said "Well that was in the past, but it's no longer true"
  • Many felt he could hit well as a DH if he only wanted to
  • Frank himself complained at times about playing first. . .
  • . . . and said he was now a Designated Hitter
  • It was clear that he and Manuel did not like each other. . .
  • . . . and the media reported on any differences between them
    • The Manuel Years
    Games at 1B and Avg.

  • 1998: 14         (.302)
  • 1999: 50         (.346)
  • 2000: 30         (.354)
  • 2001:   3         (.000)
  • 2002:   4         (.308)
  • 2003: 27         (.352)
    • However he felt about Frank, Jerry slotted him as the Designated Hitter right to the end of his managerial tenure
    Quick Quote
    "We're designed to where Konerko would play
    first base and Frank would be our DH."

    Jerry Manuel, July 2003

    Note--This is Jerry's way of explaining why Frank
    Thomas will not play first base any more in 2003.
  • In the first half of the 2003 season Konerko batted .197
  • That's why Frank got to play those 27 games at first
  • At the time of this quote, Jerry moved Paulie back to first. . .
  • . . . because the team is designed to have him at first base. . .
  • . . . regardless of what his batting average is
  • Somehow, this logic never made sense to us!
    • Previous screen In our opinion, Jerry Manuel was a disaster for Frank Thomas, and did
    more to hurt his hitting career than anything else     		Next screen
    More Sox Stuff Quick Quotes Start Features