OPINION

By Gerry Fraley

updated 9:09 p.m. ET April 22, 2008

Self-absorbed Frank Thomas smelled a rat when a rapid sequence of events led to Toronto releasing him. Thomas claimed the Blue Jays benched him on Saturday — and subsequently released him on Sunday — to prevent him from getting enough plate appearances to guarantee his $10 million salary for next season.

"The Big Hurt" always has been unable to see beyond his own situation.

There is heavy pressure on Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi and manager John Gibbons this season. If the Blue Jays, with a payroll at the $100 million level, do not at least contend deep into the season, Ricciardi and Gibbons will both likely be gone.

That affects every decision.

A year ago, the Jays could afford to wait as Thomas found his way out of a slow start and finished with 26 homers and 95 RBIs. They do not have that luxury this season. The reality, which Thomas does not recognize, is that he represented a hindrance to the club.

On Saturday, when Gibbons told Thomas that he would benched for the foreseeable future the Blue Jays' record was 8-9, and they were inconsistent on offense. They had scored three runs or fewer in six of their 17 games.

Thomas was a deadweight. He was hitting only .167 with three homers and 11 RBIs. Nothing indicated that Thomas, five weeks from his 40th birthday, was going to break out of the slump. In his last 35 at-bats with Toronto, he had only four hits — all singles — and one RBI. Those few times Thomas reached, he clogged the bases.

With Thomas as the designated hitter, Toronto received little production from a vital spot in American League lineups. The Jays had already dropped him from batting cleanup last season to fifth this year. Going much lower would defeat the purpose of having a DH on a team not blessed with a deep lineup.

"The decision is the manager's," Ricciardi told reporters of Thomas' benching. "It's based on what he thinks is best for the team. We're scuffling offensively."

Releasing Thomas puts the Blue Jays in position to craft a more suitable lineup. They will be a better club offensively and defensively without him.

Adam Lind, a left-handed hitter, is on course to become the everyday left fielder. Lind is hitting .360 at Class AAA Syracuse, and the pitchers will be glad to see him, too. The left-field platoon of Shannon Stewart and Matt Stairs is poor defensively.

With Lind in left, the Jays can use Stewart and Stairs where they belong: at DH.

"What I do know is we're scuffling offensively," Ricciardi said. "We're putting out what we think is our best lineup to score runs, to give us our best chance at winning. That's all it is."

Also, replacing Thomas in the clubhouse with Scott Rolen, who's on track to return mid-May from a spring training finger injury will change the Jays' internal dynamics for the better. Rolen understands how to establish a productive atmosphere. Thomas never embraced the obligation of setting a tone for an entire team. That the Chicago White Sox won the World Series in 2005 when he was not around did not speak well of Thomas.

And what of Thomas?

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On his way out of Toronto, Thomas defended his work to reporters and insisted that he remains an effective hitter. He still holds out hope of hitting 84 more homers to get 600 for his career, helping his Hall of Fame chances.

"One good week, and I'd be back on top," Thomas said. "I know I haven't hit the ball that well, but I'm not the only player. Look at (Gary) Sheffield with Detroit, (David) Ortiz with Boston. I know I can hit and get on fire.

"This is a shocker. It's terrible. Don't tell me I can't help this team win."

The Blue Jays loudly said that with their actions. When Thomas clears waivers this week, he will become a free agent available for the pro-rated minimum. If Thomas expects a deluge of calls from teams eager to add him, he will be disappointed again. The Big Hurt is the last to realize that he is finished.

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