Thomas angry with benching

Blue Jays designated hitter Frank Thomas was livid Saturday after getting benched in favor of Matt Stairs and being told by manager John Gibbons he can expect further cuts to his playing time.

Thomas did not shake hands with his teammates following Toronto’s 3-2 victory over Detroit on Saturday and left the clubhouse without speaking to reporters.

“I’m angry, I know I can help this team. My career isn’t going to end like this,” he said before the game.

The 39-year-old Thomas is hitless in his past 13 at-bats and has gone 4 for 35 since homering in three straight games April 5-8. He has 516 home runs, putting him 18th on baseball’s career list.

Thomas signed a two-year, $18-million contract with Toronto in November 2006. The deal includes a $10 million option for 2009, but only if Thomas makes 376 plate appearances this season.

Thomas is batting .167 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 60 at-bats. He said the Blue Jays are cutting his playing time to prevent the option from kicking in.

“It’s pretty obvious,” Thomas said. “Sixty at-bats isn’t enough to make that decision.”

Gibbons would not specify how frequently he planned to use Thomas.

“I’m going to put the team out there that gives us the best chance to win,” Gibbons said.

Farnsworth suspended

New York Yankees reliever Kyle Farnsworth was suspended for three games and fined for throwing a fastball behind the neck of Boston slugger Manny Ramirez earlier in the week.

Farnsworth said he was “shocked” by the decision and would appeal the penalty, which was to start Saturday night against Baltimore. He will be eligible to pitch until a hearing is held.

Ramirez hit two home runs Thursday night in Boston’s 7-5 win over New York. When he came up again in the seventh inning, Farnsworth threw a 97 mph pitch behind the star.

“The ball just slipped,” Farnsworth said. “I didn’t hit him. I’m not going to intentionally hit a guy in the head and maybe end his career.

“It wasn’t my intention to hit him. I don’t understand it. I didn’t hit him. No one was ejected. So I don’t know why he ruled the way he did.”