Unassisted
08-23-2008, 09:09 PM
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/23/SPTO12GNDJ.DTL&type=printable
DH says losing teams have more strikes called
Susan Slusser
Saturday, August 23, 2008
(08-23) 04:00 PDT Seattle - --
Frank Thomas said he has seen this many times before, and considering that he's been in the league 18 years, he probably knows of what he speaks.
Thomas said that as the season draws near an end and two non-contending teams are playing, umpires often start calling more strikes. That's one of the things that's happening to him lately, as the A's DH has gone hitless in 23 consecutive at-bats.
"That's just the way it is," Thomas said. "Right now, with two teams out of it, it's all about pace of game, so they call a lot of first-pitch strikes so everyone starts swinging the bat. It's a frustrating way to hit."
In the first game of the series, home-plate umpire Bill Hohn called first-pitch strikes on Thomas in each of his three at-bats. After the third, Thomas backed away and began complaining, and Hohn tossed him out.
"Enough is enough," Thomas said before Friday's game. "If I'm not patient, I'm not doing my job. If they continue to do that purposely, I don't have time for that. But that's the way it's going to be the rest of the season, I've seen it happen before."
Thomas knows he might be looking for another job next year if the A's decide to look for a younger impact bat in the offseason. He had hoped to finish on an up note after missing more than two months with a severe quadriceps injury. Instead, he's got the longest hitless streak of his career, and his average stands at .227.
"I was trying to finish the year strong and instead I'm basically spinning my wheels," Thomas said. "It's tough - I want to make things happen. I'm not here just to be here. If I didn't care, I'd just drag the bat up there and then drag it back to the dugout."
DH says losing teams have more strikes called
Susan Slusser
Saturday, August 23, 2008
(08-23) 04:00 PDT Seattle - --
Frank Thomas said he has seen this many times before, and considering that he's been in the league 18 years, he probably knows of what he speaks.
Thomas said that as the season draws near an end and two non-contending teams are playing, umpires often start calling more strikes. That's one of the things that's happening to him lately, as the A's DH has gone hitless in 23 consecutive at-bats.
"That's just the way it is," Thomas said. "Right now, with two teams out of it, it's all about pace of game, so they call a lot of first-pitch strikes so everyone starts swinging the bat. It's a frustrating way to hit."
In the first game of the series, home-plate umpire Bill Hohn called first-pitch strikes on Thomas in each of his three at-bats. After the third, Thomas backed away and began complaining, and Hohn tossed him out.
"Enough is enough," Thomas said before Friday's game. "If I'm not patient, I'm not doing my job. If they continue to do that purposely, I don't have time for that. But that's the way it's going to be the rest of the season, I've seen it happen before."
Thomas knows he might be looking for another job next year if the A's decide to look for a younger impact bat in the offseason. He had hoped to finish on an up note after missing more than two months with a severe quadriceps injury. Instead, he's got the longest hitless streak of his career, and his average stands at .227.
"I was trying to finish the year strong and instead I'm basically spinning my wheels," Thomas said. "It's tough - I want to make things happen. I'm not here just to be here. If I didn't care, I'd just drag the bat up there and then drag it back to the dugout."