Frank Thomas is operating out of the same Turner Sports studio this week where Charles Barkley does his thing.
It’s a tough act to follow the greatest showman in sports television, and Thomas isn’t about to try.
“He’s a good friend of mine,” Thomas said, speaking of the fellow Auburn alum. “Nobody’s going to have that kind of outgoing personality. There’s only one Chuckster.”
And there’s only one “Big Hurt.” The former White Sox slugger is taking a spin at television, working as a studio analyst for TBS coverage of the playoffs.
TBS wanted a current player to join Cal Ripken and Ernie Johnson. With his career winding down, Thomas jumped at the opportunity.
“I was excited,” Thomas said. “I’ve thought a lot about TV [after I retire]. It’s a way to stay connected and pass along the experiences I’ve enjoyed over 17 years.”
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Thomas did do some local television with WFLD-Ch. 32’s Corey McPherrin during his days in Chicago. But he now is on a bigger stage, working the playoffs in front of a national audience.
That has opened him up to considerable scrutiny. Thus far, many of the critics haven’t been kind, rapping him for being tentative, among other things.
“Thomas is a big man without a studio presence, a current player loathe to sting.” wrote Richard Sandomir in the New York Times.
When asked about Thomas, Turner Sports President David Levy said he wanted to talk about the big picture for the entire studio show.
“We’re a network that didn’t work the regular season,” Levy said. “We started out with the crown jewel. We went from 0 to 60 in one day. People still are getting to know each other. Overall, I’m pleased with the start.”
As for Thomas, Levy said: “We think Frank is a terrific personality who gives terrific sound bites. Frank getting comfortable is something we would like to see. I’m sure he will over time.”
Thomas didn’t arrive at Turner’s home base in Atlanta until Tuesday and had only a brief rehearsal before he spent more than 11 hours in the studio Wednesday.
It is a learning process. Thomas never kept a scorecard until Wednesday.
There are few naturals like Barkley. The biggest challenge for a current player is being willing to criticize fellow players when they still are on the field with them.
Thomas has faced more than his share of criticism as a player, deserved or otherwise. Obviously, it is going to color his perspective in this department.
“It’s one thing to criticize,” Thomas said. “It’s another not to lose touch where you come from and where you’ve been day in and day out. I won’t be super critical. There are ways of saying this is right and this is wrong without attacking.”
If anything, his frankest comments came off the air when Thomas was asked to put on his analyst’s hat and break down the White Sox’s collapse of 2007.
“Honestly, I wasn’t surprised,” Thomas said. “They didn’t have the pitching depth and experience. They had the starters, but their bullpen was all young guys. That’s very dangerous. Even though they have good arms, when you have guys who can’t lean on each other with experience at the end of the game, that’s tough.”
Thomas thinks the Sox can turn it around, but only if a couple of their pitchers “grow up fast.”
“And they will grow up,” Thomas said. “It is easy to go in the other direction because they’ll get more comfortable.”
Thomas’ immediate concern is with his own team, the Toronto Blue Jays. He said he was happy to show everyone he could play a full season on artificial turf, as he had 26 homers and 95 RBIs in 155 games.
Thomas, 39, still has two years to go on his contract, and then he will decide what he wants to do from there. He hopes television will be a part of his future.
Thomas said he tried to call Barkley to talk about his TV gig, but he never reached him. However, he knows he eventually will get a complete review from his old friend.
Knowing Barkley, it could make all the other critiques tame by comparison.
“Oh, he’ll give it to me,” Thomas said. “I’m sure he’ll say something funny. I can handle it.”
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