Cubs: April 2008 Archives

The Red Line is a weekly feature about Chicago baseball, talking about what is going on both at the Addison stop in Wrigleyville and at the 35th Street station on the South Side.

So now that the Toronto Blue Jays have cut Frank Thomas, one has to wonder how the future Hall of Famer will end his career. The career home run leader in White Sox history was given his leave a day after complaining that he was being benched because Toronto didn't want him to get enough at-bats to trigger a $10 million bonus.

Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi said it was more about him hitting .167 through his first 60 ABs this year.

"I told Frank our decision is based on performance," Ricciardi said, "and his decision is based on not being able to be in the lineup.

The Jays are still on the hook for roughly US$8-million of Thomas's 2008 salary, whether or not he signs with another team.

Either way, Frank Thomas is available. The Big Hurt has a bat (and $8 mildo of Blue Jay dollars) and he certainly could be an asset for a playoff team despite being nearly 40 years old.

Bad Kermit over at hirejimessian.com is betting that the Cubs will undearchieve in the run-scoring department this season and asks the question, "Will the Cubs score fewer runs than the Naperville Central Redhawks?" So far, the Redhawks are trailing 63 percent to 37 percent in the poll. What do you think? To vote, click here.

CHICAGO - The crowd at U.S. Cellular Field chanted "Ozzie! Ozzie!" on Monday afternoon. The White Sox manger had jumped from the dugout in the third inning to argue balls and strikes with home-plate umpire Phil Cuzzi and was promptly ejected.

"I'm here for my players," Ozzie Guillen said. "That's my job -- to protect them."

After a 7-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins, and feeling good overall about the club's 5-2 start, Guillen was notably restrained, opting to keep quiet and not criticize Cuzzi.

"One thing about this business," Guillen said, "if I say what I have on my mind, I might lose a couple days."

At this point Guillen's players still appreciate his willingness to cover them, and his ability to create a certain atmosphere around the organization.

"Ozzie's our leader," third baseman Joe Crede said. "He's a guy that really makes us feel loose out there, especially in the clubhouse and in the dugout. That's one of the biggest things that everybody, you know, rallies around."

How do you see the next six months playing out for Guillen and his players? How will the 2008 season end for the White Sox and their combustible manager?