Frank Thomas seems to be enjoying his return to the Oakland A’s after being released by the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this season. The ‘Big Hurt’ has seen an increase in all of his offensive numbers since leaving the province of Ontario.

Thomas has almost tripled his hits total, bringing up his batting average, on base percentage and slugging percentage since returning to the Bay area.

While in Toronto for last season and the first of the 2008 season, Thomas’ numbers were declining from previous years, including the sharp drop to begin this season. Maybe it was the Rogers Centre that did not agree with Thomas’ swing or playing for a team that didn’t exactly want him around this season. Either way, the Big Hurt is back and doing well in Oakland.

I think it’s safe to say that when Thomas is inducted into the Hall of Fame, he won’t be wearing a Blue Jays hat.

If you don’t live in or near Toronto (or listen to six hours of ESPN Radio a day, like I do) then I won’t blame you for not knowing that the Toronto Blue Jays released 19-year veteran Frank Thomas after yet another early season slump. People around baseball, as well as Toronto Blue Jay fans, are split on whether or not releasing Thomas was a good idea… well… okay, maybe not Blue Jays fans, but many analysts are split on the idea. So, being the all around decent guy I am, I’ll present both sides to the argument to you.

Good:
Frank Thomas is washed up! Sure he hit 26 home runs last season, but he only hit .277! “The Big Hurt”? Yeah, no kidding. 10-for-60 (.167) and 13 strikeouts sure as hell makes ME hurt, I’ll tell you. What were we thinking to bring in a guy like him? Old man has one decent season in Oakland and we sign him to a multi-year deal? What’s that?! The man hadn’t hit over .270 before that one season in Chicago, and hasn’t hit over .300 since 2000.

Besides, we get rid of the dead weight in Thomas, and we can go after Barry Bonds!

Bad:
Frank Thomas is notorious for slow starts, but has always turned it around. He’d hit .200 in April, and finish out the season hitting .350. It’s just how he is, and you look at the past two years and you could see how he’s been turning it around. .270 average in ‘06, .277 in ‘07. His power numbers dropped a little, but it’s to be expected when you play 81 games in the SkyDome (Yes, SkyDome).

Besides, who are you going to pick up? Barry Bonds? A guy who has a history with injuries and a federal trial hanging over his head? Hell, he hasn’t even played a game this year, Spring Training or otherwise. You have to be out of your mind to think that it’d be a good idea to bring in a guy like that!

So who’s right? Well, if you ask me — everybody is. If the Blue Jays are willing to take on the weight and responsibility of Barry Bonds, with his legal issues and steroid allegations and constantly growing skull, then so be it.

(Image from Wikipedia, as always)