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May 13, 2007

Every Given Sunday

This Was a Very Good Team

by John Perrotto

• Frank Thomas knows good baseball teams and players, having spent 18 seasons in the major leagues and hitting 492 home runs.

  So it is instructive when the Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter talks about the team with which he signed a two-year, $18.12-million contract as a free agent over the winter.

  "This is a very good team," Thomas insisted. "This team can contend for the playoffs and the division title.

  "There is no doubt in my mind that when once you see this team all together that we’re going to show everyone what we’re capable of doing."

  The problem is that the Blue Jays haven’t been whole all season and won’t be now that closer B.J. Ryan underwent reconstructive elbow surgery this past week. Ryan’s surgery came one day before staff ace Roy Halladay underwent an emergency appendectomy that will sideline him through at least the middle of June.

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