Thomas Looking To Have Fun

The smile is back on Frank Thomas' face, and last year's dismal season is nothing more than a bad memory now.

"I'm going to have fun this year. I'm going to make sure I have fun," he said Friday before signing autographs at the team's winter convention. "That's what I think I lost last year."

Thomas struggled through the worst year of his career last year, falling into a hitting slump that he couldn't shake until September. After seven consecutive years of batting .300 or better, his average fell to .265.

It was the lowest average of his career, high school included.

"Last year was not a fun season. But it builds character, and you move on with life," the two-time MVP said. "I had seven excellent years and then one bump in the road. It's over with. It's time to get back to business."

Thomas is the only major league player to hit higher than .300 with 20 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 runs scored and 100 walks in seven consecutive seasons. He won the AL batting title in 1997 after hitting .347 with 35 home runs and 125 RBI.

With Albert Belle and Robin Ventura batting behind him, he should have had another great season. Instead, he got off to a slow start and never recovered. Part of the problem was frustration, Thomas said. Despite just two losing seasons in his first seven seasons, the White Sox had always fallen short for one reason or another.

"I was just tired of finishing second. For eight or nine years we finished second, and it's no fun," he said. "We didn't build on the dynasty we had, so it was real disappointing."

Pitchers also went after him like they never had before, Thomas said. It took him almost the entire season to adjust, finally finding his groove in Septembr.

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Frank Thomas will try to show that last season was the exception, not the norm. (AP)

And his personal life took a toll as well. It was common knowledge Thomas was having marital problems, a distraction that didn't disappear when he walked into the clubhouse.

"While the season was playing itself out, you could tell there was some strain on his life that was a big concern to him, and it began to permeate in the clubhouse," second-year manager Jerry Manuel said. "Guys would come up to me and say, `Frank's a little different this time. This is not really Frank what you're seeing."'

"I think he's put those things behind him," Manuel said. "If not, I think he's got a way of handling them that he didn't last year."

The White Sox lost both Belle and Ventura to free agency in the off-season, leaving Thomas to carry the load for what will be one of the youngest clubs in the major leagues. That's OK, Thomas said.

In fact, playing for a team that no one expects to do much might be a nice change. That doesn't mean Thomas thinks this season will be a wash. Far from it.

"There's a lot of heart and talent in this ballclub. You'll see what we can accomplish with it," he said. "For many years we didn't have a `Big Three' and we still won a lot of ballgames. I feel if these kids grow up like they can at spring training, we'll be a very competitive ball club."

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