There’s obviously tons of players that go hand-in-hand with Major League Baseball in the 1990s. There’s Ken Griffey Jr. and Greg Maddux. Right below that? Craig Biggio and Frank Thomas, who have continued to chip away at hallowed baseball achievements. Both of their chases completed yesterday, with Biggio gaining his 3,000th hit and Thomas hitting his 500th career homer.

Biggio became the 27th player in MLB history to reach the remarkable 3,000 hit plateau, a testament to his incredible longevity. Biggio came up with the ‘Stros in 1989 and has played through three different uniform eras with the team. He’s had to change positions several times but hasn’t stopped hitting. In a way, I think he’s been underrated for much of his career. Seeing fellow Astros legend Jeff Bagwell come out to congratulate Biggio was a nice touch. I’m sure he feels a bit extremely slighted by the organization. But that didn’t stop him from coming to congratulate his friend. The Killer B’s were together again last night.

Unlike Biggio, Frank Thomas has had to take his slugging services to new teams the last couple years. But he’ll be remembered for his time with the Chicago White Sox, where he slugged 448 homers and got a World Series ring. Having to reach this hallowed achievement with Toronto is a bit unconventional, but it’s not the first time a baseball legend has done something like it. Thomas celebrated his 500th jack by later running his mouth and getting ejected. I’d say that’s a first.

This is a commercial that the Toronto Blue Jays tried to run, but unfortunately were not permitted to. I don’t quite understand, there really isn’t anything wrong with Frank Thomas being involved in a pillow fight. The commercial is absolutely hilarious, I’m just upset it can’t be run. Thanks to youtube however, we get to see it. Of course there is a lesson to be learned in this one, don’t hit a guy who is twice your size with a pillow.

Ryan gave his opinion on why Frank Thomas should have reconsidered going to the Blue Jays, by looking at the Big Hurts’ side of the story. Now I want to look at it from the side of the Jays, who are the ones shelling out the $18 million over the next two years. And don’t forget about that $10 million option in the third year of the contract.

I really think that this is a mistake. I want to back this up by acknowledging that I am a huge Frank Thomas fan. I always have been, and I always will be. The Big Hurt is great. I remember watching him with the White Sox when he dominated, and I remember playing his video game. So this isn’t a personal vendetta against Frank Thomas, in fact, I was incredibly happy he did as well as he did in Oakland this year. I contend he could even be the MVP he really catalyzed his team.

With that said, spending $18 million over two years is not the best financial move the Blue Jays have made. And not because of the accusations that he is a clubhouse cancer. I think that’s just a personal grudge the White Sox GM has. I think this is a mistake for the simple fact that Frank Thomas is old. He’s 39, and turns 39 on May 27 (I know this because we share the birthday. As does Jeff Bagwell).

Thomas had a great year last year, by anyones standards. But can he keep it up this coming year? And what about the year after? We saw how his body was wearing down, in the playoffs it was at the point where he could barely run out base hits. His knees are shot, can he take another year of abuse? I’m really not sure. Can he take two more years? I doubt it.

I know that the Blue Jays have to spend like crazy to keep up with the Yankees and the Red Sox, but this much on Frank Thomas? Maybe they should have someone in the front office to warn them away from deals such as this, and the one AJ Burnett signed. That one worked out real well. Wait, spending half the year on the disabled list isn’t good?

I’m not a Blue Jays fan, but I am a Frank Thomas fan. So I hope that this works out for his sake. Unfortunately I don’t foresee that happening. I see the Jays throwing away their money, and struggling to a 2nd or 3rd place finish in the AL East, again.

In case you were living underneath a rock from April to October, Frank Thomas resurrected his career in Oakland this past season. He’s really rewarding Oakland for the faith they had in him. Sources say that he’s nearing a two year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Thomas says he greatly enjoyed Oakland’s laid back atmosphere in the clubhouse and the easy going management. So why in the hell is he going to Toronto? After all, they’re coached by a crazy bastard in John Gibbons. Gibbons is the same guy that fought Ted Lilly in the tunnel during a game. He also was the same guy who publicly challenged Shea Hillenbrand to a fight; the same guy who Hillenbrand called a “cancer, a coward, and a joke”. Frank Thomas doesn’t exactly have the smallest ego in Major League Baseball. He had lots of run-ins late in his tenure with the White Sox and appeared to find a new home in Oakland. How long will it be before Gibbons goes after him?

It was the A’s that installed Thomas as their everyday DH from the minute they signed him. They offered him a contract heavy with incentives and likely would have offered Thomas a nice deal to stay in Oakland for another season or two. I know Toronto gave him a nice deal (2 years, $18 million) but Thomas leaves a very good team to join the Blue Jays, a team that has failed to live up to expectations. He left an A’s team that reached the ALCS to join the Blue Jays, a team that seems destined to finish 3rd in the AL East for the rest of their existence. The move doesn’t make much sense but in the end, money is talking for Thomas.

Whatever happened to loyalty? Thomas had few takers this past offseason but Oakland was one of them. They threw him in their lineup, kept him happy, and he had a great year. He hit 39 homers and drove in 114, followed by a couple homers in the ALDS upset over Minnesota. And now, he’s gone. Thanks for nothing Oakland. Or should I say Fremont?