I call 1992 the calm before the storm. It wasthe only full season Frank Thomas had until 1998 where his OPS is less then 1.000. In a lot of ways, he took a step back but it was still a quality season and he did show some improvement in different areas. He did score more runs (108) and drive in more runs (115) then he did the year before, but the most marked area of improvement was in his strikeout to walk ratio. 1992 was the first season where he walked more then a 100 times, yet struck out less then a 100, a streak that would carry through to the 1998 season. He also set what would be a career high (to date) with 46 doubles, so while he was driving the ball, it seems like they were just falling short. He actually had five more (70) extra base hits then he did in 1991. Definitely a precursor for things to come.
And the writers gave him some recognition despite only hitting 24 homeruns. He finished eighth in the MVP voting. He finished third in the batting race (.323) and for the second straight season, he led the league in OBP (.439). And despite slipping below the 1.000 OPS mark, he still led the league with a .975 OPS. He also led the league in walks (122) and doubles (46).
In the White Sox season opener in Anaheim against the Angels, Frank Thomas got off to a great start. He went two for three with two walks, a homerun, a double three runs and one RBI. He followed that up with two singles and an RBI in the second game of the season, but then went into a pretty rough slump. By April 21, he was hitting only .195 and at the end of April he was up to only .210. Then he opened May with a nine game hitting streak and never looked back. By late July, he was hitting over .300 for good. He had four hits in a game twice, but never drove in more then three runs in a single game.
He absolutely mashed left handed pitching. His final line against lefties was .357/.456/.650. 24 of his 50 hits against left handed pitching were extra base hits. His best month of the season was August, when he went .367/.475/.602. And he absolutely destroyed the Detroit Tigers, hitting their pitchers for a .409/.536/.750 line in 12 games.
At the time, I’m sure most people didn’t view 1992 as an off year for Frank Thomas. He just didn’t put up the numbers that he would in 1993 and 1994 when he’d walk away with MVPs. Let’s take a look at the numbers….
Games 160
AB 573
Runs 108
Hits 185
Doubles 46
Triples 2
Homeruns 24
Walks 122
Strikeouts 88
Stolen Bases 6
Caught Stealing 3
BA .323
OBA .439
SLG% .536
OPS .975
RC 140
RCAA 76
RCAP 68
RC/G 8.98
ISO .213
