Deer Big (Always) Hurt
- From: "Goro" <evilninjax@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 27 Feb 2006 06:53:21 -0800
I donut think Kenny Williams likes you so good.
-goro-
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/baseball/mlb/oakland_athletics/13972310.htm
PHOENIX - The ill will between A's slugger Frank Thomas and his former
Chicago White Sox general manager, Kenny Williams, escalated Sunday
when Williams called Thomas ``an idiot.''
Williams was speaking to Chicago reporters at the team's spring
training site in Tucson in response to comments Thomas made to The
Daily Southtown, a Chicago-area newspaper, in which he reiterated his
disappointment over the manner in which he was released after 16 years
with the White Sox.
``He's an idiot,'' Williams said. ``He's selfish. That's why we don't
miss him. And we've held it in for far too long.
``But I've got something to say directly to him. And I'm holding back
as much as I can because, unlike him, I'll say it man-to-man,
face-to-face.''
Thomas told the newspaper that Williams never called him to let him
know the team was not going to retain him after it exercised the $3.5
million buyout in his contract. Thomas appeared in just 108 games the
past two seasons because of left-foot problems. He also said he should
have been traded after the 2000 season and criticized the multiyear
deals given during the off-season to Paul Konerko and Jon Garland.
Williams was upset with Thomas' continuing criticism of chairman Jerry
Reinsdorf and the White Sox organization.
``Jerry doesn't deserve that, especially in regards to Frank,''
Williams said. ``Jerry has done everything over the course of 16 years
to protect that man, to make accommodations for him, concessions for
him, loaned him money at times when he needed money. And for him to
forget that, for him to turn his back on that, is a crying shame.
``Believe me, it's not easy to deal with an idiot. ''
Williams contended that he left a message with Thomas on his cell phone
after the team acquired first baseman Jim Thome this off-season.
``We don't miss him, by the way,'' Williams said. ``And if you go out
there and ask any one of my players or staff members, we don't miss
him. We don't miss the attitude; we don't miss the whining. Good
riddance.''
The A's face the White Sox for the first time this spring March 7 in
Tucson, but Thomas is recovering from a fractured left foot and almost
surely won't be ready to play.
``He's an Oakland A's problem,'' Williams said.
· Huston Street didn't need a lot to work on after he won the
American League rookie of the year award last season, but the A's have
urged him to polish his change-up.
Street, relying mostly on a fastball and nasty slider, had 23 saves and
a 1.72 ERA after he replaced injured Octavio Dotel as closer last year.
Street said nearly half of his 25 pitches in batting practice Sunday
were change-ups.
``I got some big outs with it last year, but I didn't throw it much,''
Street said. ``It's just a step-by-step thing. The good thing is I have
the grip and the arm speed down, now it's trying to get the location.''
.
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