Frank Thomas A Really Big Kid

Watching Frank play "the game" of baseball last weekend reminded me of summers on smalltown ballparks around rural Ontario.  Every pitch mattered and every hit felt bigger than the one before.  We played for the pride of our fathers and the admiration of our friends.  Watching Frank pump his fists on second base after a timely double during Toronto's home opener made me realize that even Frank's gigantic stature can't hide the kid inside him.  You can tell by the look in his eye when he steps up to the plate this year, every pitch matters and he wants to make every hit bigger than the one before.

It's tough to predict what a 40 year old man is going to accomplish in a game primarily designed around reaction time even if that 40 year old man is 18th on the All-time Home Run List.

But watching the kid inside Frank come to the plate against the Red Sox for Toronto's opening weekend leads me to believe that Frank Thomas is going to reach as many home runs this year as years he has lived.  If I stand correct, he will be one of the determining factors for the Jays to make the playoffs in '08.  And that bodes well for young Jays fans playing in smalltown parks around rural Ontario.