Thomas won't rekindle White Sox criticism

PHOENIX --Frank Thomas didn't say much. Then again, there wasn't much left for him to say about his former team.

So with the Chicago White Sox in town Monday to play the Oakland Athletics, Thomas kept his mouth shut. Sort of.

"I'm gonna be honest," he said. "I've got nothing to say about the White Sox. Frank has left the building."

Thomas did say that his left foot is coming along fine and he hopes to be ready by April 1, when the Athletics host San Francisco in an exhibition game in Oakland.

But about those White Sox? Thomas kept quiet.

He did not accompany the Athletics to Tucson last Tuesday, so Monday was the first time he and the White Sox were in the same building since parting ways in December.

Thomas had already made it clear he wasn't happy about the way his 16-year run ended, claiming the White Sox portrayed him as an injured player even though he's fine, before he sounded off in an interview with The Daily Southtown of suburban Tinley Park, Ill., last month.

He criticized owner Jerry Reinsdorf for not calling him before the White Sox decided to part with the two-time MVP, saying they treated him like a "passing-by player" and "I've got no respect for that." The White Sox bought him out for $3.5 million.

Thomas said he and Williams did not see eye-to-eye after Williams became general manager in October 2000. And Thomas said in that article that he would have not participated in several ceremonial functions during the postseason had he known he wasn't coming back.

Williams lashed back by saying Thomas is "an idiot. He's selfish. That's why we don't miss him." Then, Williams returned a call from Thomas and the two had a heated conversation.

The drama continued last week when another former White Sox slugger, Seattle's Carl Everett, took sides with Thomas and told reporters before a game that the team lacks leaders and will finish third in the AL Central. Chicago also let Everett go in the offseason.

While the bad feelings between The Big Hurt and Williams linger, Thomas clearly has his friends in Chicago.

Bullpen catcher Man Soo Lee smiled, threw his arms out and screamed like he was seeing a long lost friend relative before the game. Thomas shook hands with and hugged third base coach and former teammate Joey Cora, who said, "I miss you."

And so it went. There were hugs and handshakes, smiles and laughs.

There was Cora shouting "F eight!" as Thomas lifted a fly to center during batting practice. And afterward, there was a lengthy conversation with Chicago batting coach Greg Walker.

"There are no hard feelings with my teammates over there," Thomas said. "They're friends and family forever. That won't change."

In 16 years, Thomas set numerous White Sox offensive records, including home runs (448) and RBIs (1,465). But he was hurt most of last season, when the ballclub won its first World Series championship since 1917.

Thomas began the year on the disabled list while recovering from surgery on his left ankle and finished the season there after breaking a bone in the ankle.

In between, he hit 12 homers in 34 games, but he became expendable after the White Sox re-signed Paul Konerko and traded for Jim Thome.

"There's no bitterness," Thomas said. "There's nothing. ... There's no ill will. I spent a long time there. I said what I said, and it's over."

And to White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, that's a good thing.

"I think he should talk about the Oakland Athletics," Guillen said.

Thomas' remarks about Reinsdorf bothered Guillen, but he said Thomas "did a lot of great things in Chicago."

Thomas got his ring last season. And now, he gets a fresh start with Oakland.

He ran hard for the first time on Monday and "felt great." Thomas said he might have rushed back last season, contradicting what he said at the time. He plans to play in some spring games with the minor-leaguers and hopes to get in a few with the Athletics.

Manager Ken Macha said if Thomas is ready by opening day, great. But there's no rush.

"Our doctors told us to be very careful with this guy," Macha said, adding Thomas will probably undergo tests on the bone before camp breaks.

Thomas was adamant: He wants to be ready for the opener.

"I've done all the rehab," he said.

He looks around the clubhouse and sees something similar to last season's White Sox: a good vibe. A good pitching staff.

He sees an opportunity, and he sees no need to look back.

"Turn the page," he said. "I'm not interested in any Chicago news. I'm done with that, bye, bye."