Post by #1 Jays Fan on Feb 19, 2008 13:37:37 GMT -5
Sportsnet.ca -- Blue Jays designated hitter Frank Thomas is ready to move on from the current Mitchell Report scandal, but not before one last shot over the bow of the Major League Baseball Players' Association.
Speaking at spring training in Dunedin, FL, Thomas voiced his concerns over the players' association and the decision to counsel players not to speak with former U.S. senator George Mitchell.
"To me," Thomas told The Globe and Mail at the Blue Jays' spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla. "It's just one of those things where I'm more disappointed with the players association because I know the way they didn't want guys participating. I feel that this is over with now and we've got to move forward.
"It's at the point now where, who really cares? You can't do anything about what happened 10 years ago, eight years ago or seven years ago. You just can't look back on it now."
Thomas was the only player to volunteer his time with Mitchell, and knows that if he did not step forward he would be answering the same questions about his career right now.
"I think so," he said. "There were a lot of guys who wanted to speak out. I'm glad I did speak out because if I didn't, I would've been on that list of `Wouldn't talk to George Mitchell.'
"That would've put a stain on my career and I'm not going to let anyone stain my career. I know the work I've put in for many, many years. I'm not going to let that happen to myself."
The two-time AL MVP feels that it is time for the game to move on and move ahead with complete drug testing.
"They should test for everything," Thomas said. "They're testing for amphetamines, they're testing for everything now. Why not that? That stuff is illegal."
Speaking at spring training in Dunedin, FL, Thomas voiced his concerns over the players' association and the decision to counsel players not to speak with former U.S. senator George Mitchell.
"To me," Thomas told The Globe and Mail at the Blue Jays' spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla. "It's just one of those things where I'm more disappointed with the players association because I know the way they didn't want guys participating. I feel that this is over with now and we've got to move forward.
"It's at the point now where, who really cares? You can't do anything about what happened 10 years ago, eight years ago or seven years ago. You just can't look back on it now."
Thomas was the only player to volunteer his time with Mitchell, and knows that if he did not step forward he would be answering the same questions about his career right now.
"I think so," he said. "There were a lot of guys who wanted to speak out. I'm glad I did speak out because if I didn't, I would've been on that list of `Wouldn't talk to George Mitchell.'
"That would've put a stain on my career and I'm not going to let anyone stain my career. I know the work I've put in for many, many years. I'm not going to let that happen to myself."
The two-time AL MVP feels that it is time for the game to move on and move ahead with complete drug testing.
"They should test for everything," Thomas said. "They're testing for amphetamines, they're testing for everything now. Why not that? That stuff is illegal."
