11/05/24
January 25, 2006
The Big Hurt Becomes an A: Frank Thomas has been signed to a one year deal with the Oakland A's. It remains to be seen if Thomas will actually play or will get hurt in spring training and spend the rest of the season standing around the dugout looking pissed off.
He surely won't make a difference. He hasn't in Chicago for several years. He never impressed me much!
posted by jusafan at 07:18 PM on January 25, 2006
The man could flat out change the course of any game--10 years ago. As a White Sox fan, we have grown used to not having him for half the time. His swing has changed quite a bit, unfortunately, and he no longer drives the ball to the gaps like he once did. I think Oakland could get lucky but not likely. Once we got Jim Thome from the Phillies the "Big Skirt" was obsolete.
posted by wdminott at 07:46 PM on January 25, 2006
How many guys have found new life by going some place new? Maybe Frank will find the fountain of youth in Oakland.
posted by dbt302 at 08:05 PM on January 25, 2006
It's only been 3 seasons where his numbers dwindled due to injury.Before that, he was the most dominant player naturally and i'm glad i had the chance to see him jack some dingers.I sort of feel bad for him,minus the money and hookers,he was there for a long time and deserved props for stellar numbers.Like i said,one of the few guy's who did it naturally.He'll have 50 homers no doubt with the A's and change is good for some of these guys late in thier careers.
posted by irishmic2004@sbcglobal.net at 08:26 PM on January 25, 2006
He never impressed me much! Then whoever did?
posted by yerfatma at 08:44 PM on January 25, 2006
it's probably too late for the A's to get anything great out of Thomas this year. I loved watching him in his prime. He probably would have been a Hall of Famer with 3 or 4 more seasons of his typical production. Without looking up his stats, he was the prototypical A's or "moneyball" player. He hit for power, average, and walked a 100 times per year. I would like to know what his OPS was during the prime years of his career
posted by erkno11 at 08:45 PM on January 25, 2006
He'll have 50 homers no doubt with the A's and change is good for some of these guys late in thier careers. If he does that he will be a big difference maker. He will not hit 50.
posted by Termite at 09:30 PM on January 25, 2006
As a long time A's fan I am certainly sceptical but I think as long as he stays healthy (I doubt it) then he could be fairly productive. All he has to do is protect Chavez in the line up and he will play mostly on the west coast (optimal whether for hitting). As an added bonus he also gets to play in the Texas Rangers stadium, which lets be honest. I could probably jack 10 homers a year there.
posted by kjones00 at 09:56 PM on January 25, 2006
He and Jeff Bagwell were born on the same day of the same year and have almost identical power records, Bagwell was better on defense and a better baserunner and if he can get one more decent season in, will probably make the Hall
posted by C5Sam at 09:57 PM on January 25, 2006
Here here on Jeff Bagwell, but unfortunently his own team is pulling some serious crap on him by trying to say he's injured and all. In this age where we all talk about comeback stories, wouldn't his return from shoulder surgery to a strong year be amazing? Wouldn't Thomas's "fountain of youth" year be great? I see the Big Hurt possibly hitting 20 this year in more of a part time role, but who knows...we'll see what happens as the year goes on. Astros fan for life!
posted by chemwizBsquared at 10:44 PM on January 25, 2006
"Once we got Jim Thome from the Phillies the "Big Skirt" was obsolete." Uh...Jim ain't exactly an iron man himself.
posted by Masked at 12:20 AM on January 26, 2006
Great move by Oakland because it's a cheap contract full of stay-healthy bonuses. Zero downside, loads of upside. I'm hoping things work out for them all -- A's could be dangerous if they do.
posted by diastematic at 02:54 AM on January 26, 2006
It's worth a try, especially at the relatively bargain price. Do I think he'll be healthy the entire year? Absolutely not. But, weirder things have happened. It will be interesting now to see what Mike Piazza prices himself at.
posted by dyams at 07:17 AM on January 26, 2006
I will miss him as a Sox fan. However, I am glad to see him still out there. When healthy, he can still rake it. He hit 12 HRs in just 105 at bats last year, and he wasn't completely healthy then. Good luck to him.
posted by VandySoxFan at 08:59 AM on January 26, 2006
I think that regardless of what Thomas does or does not do over the remainder of his career (and irrespective of what he has (or has not) done over the past few injury-plagued seasons), he is probably a Hall of Famer, based on what he did at his peak and the fact that he was largely the most dominant hitter of the 90s. As to his OPS, he has a career 995 OPS. OPS in his prime years: 1033 (1993), 1216 (1994), 1060 (1995), 1085 (1996), and 1067 (1997).
posted by holden at 10:02 AM on January 26, 2006
kjones, unless we get some pitching here in Arlington, you could probably bump your number up to at least 20!!!!
posted by jenny at 10:22 AM on January 26, 2006
Before the season is over, injury or not, the Oakland franchise will be needing chemotherapy to cure the cancer that they've just been infected by.
posted by umpduck11 at 11:48 AM on January 26, 2006
Once we got Jim Thome from the Phillies the "Big Skirt" was obsolete. It's pretty sickening to see a supposed White Sox fan call Thomas "The Big Skirt". He was pretty much the only thing worth watching in a White Sox uniform for 10 years. He dominates most of the Top 10 single season and career batting records in Chicago. It's not a stretch to say he's the greatest hitter in White Sox history. He deserves a little more respect than that.
posted by grum@work at 01:20 PM on January 26, 2006
grum@work: agreed.
posted by sic at 01:34 PM on January 26, 2006
umpduck -- you may be on to something. but if anyone's a cancer there, it ain't going to be frank thomas. it's that board-games guy oakland picked up about a month ago: milton bradley.
posted by diastematic at 01:51 PM on January 26, 2006
doesnt matter. the hurt isnt a big help to them. he hasnt done much the past 3 or 4 years and is rusty. he had a little luck last year for like the only 2 months he started. he got 13 hr and like 25 rbis. its not like hes gonna play much anyway. chicago has been looking forward to him leaving for a long time.
posted by siouxhocky at 02:53 PM on January 26, 2006
he hasnt done much the past 3 or 4 years and is rusty. 2003: .267 .390 .562, 42HR , 15th in MVP voting I'm pretty sure that's "doing much". he had a little luck last year for like the only 2 months he started. No, that wasn't luck. That was the raw skill and talent he posesses as a hitter shining through a debilitating injury that's kept him off the field most of the time. He's put up similar (or better) numbers in his career. Would you say that his whole career has been "luck"?
posted by grum@work at 03:23 PM on January 26, 2006
As a Cubs fan, even I'm gonna miss the big Smurf. Good guy and practically a Chicago institution for the past decade. Good luck, Frank.
posted by willthrill72 at 04:08 PM on January 26, 2006
As a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fan I will appreciate seeing him, hopefully on the field, 8-10 times this season. Oakland could surely use a big bat but I doubt he will be much of a difference maker.