| Daniel Chanin. 14th September, 2006 - 4:10 pm
 Let's face it A's fans, without the "Big Hurt" this season would have been a "Big Disappointment." Prior to the season's start, a handful of experts picked the A's to be the last team standing in October. After all, Oakland had acquired Esteban Loaiza to boost an already talented rotation and added switch-hitting sparkplug Milton Bradley to the equation. With Eric Chavez leading the way, and young guns Nick Swisher and Dan Johnson a year older, there was no stopping these A's. Oh, and they also acquired Frank Thomas, who though invaluable in his prime, only played in 108 games the previous two season combined. The 2005 White Sox won the World Series without their former ringleader so how much of an impact could big Frank possibly make?
As the season got under way, the A's looked like they were more destined for mediocrity than success. Loaiza's fastball (or lack thereof) and driving record made headlines for all of the wrong reasons. Bradley couldn't stay healthy. Chavez couldn't hit his weight and, after a horrific start, the, A's decided Johnson couldn't stay with the ball club.
That's where the Big Hurt stepped, or rather stomped in. There's still two weeks left in the season yet Thomas has already played in more games (120); hit more home runs (36); and collected more RBIs (98) than 2004 and 2005 put together. He's also helped teach the team's younger stars discipline and poise at the plate, which is something that Chavez, the alleged leader of the team, still hasn't learned for himself.
'It's not only what he can do on the field," Swisher told one reporter. "But what he can give the young guys in the clubhouse. He's helped me out a tremendous amount. He's been like my big brother this year and helped me get through some tough times." < http://www.topix.net/content/kri/2726405276007678308918735565963537322710 >
Swisher's production in his sophomore season reflects a more patient hitter who in turn, has seen more favorable offerings from opposing pitchers. The man who helped make "Moneyball" famous has drawn 31 more walks than last season, which has helped him surpass his batting average and hits, runs, homers, and OPS totals from 2005.
However, Thomas' value this season shouldn't misconstrue the reality of where he will stand (or sit) in the future. The A's have made a killing by squeezing one final productive year out of so-called has beens. The Beane policy has always been get the bang for your buck and cut em loose after the immediate dividends are paid. That's why the A's dumped Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Jason Isringhausen. All three former Oakland All-Stars got a big increase in pay and returned the favor with a big decrease in their performance. The Thomas scenario should be no different. Despite his amazing season, only a fool would lock up Thomas for anything more than another one-year incentive-laden deal. He may look like the Thomas of old, but looks can be deceiving. Thomas is 38 and anyone whose watched him "run" the bases knows that his legs might as well be 80. Granted Thomas' baserunning abilities aren't the reason he's going to Cooperstown, his legs are the reason he played in less than 75 games three times in the past six seasons. Moreover, his bat speed isn't getting any faster and he's hitting .258 over the past five years, which is well below his career .306 mark.
All good players have one final year that reminds everyone of their prime before they abruptly flameout. The A's saw that firsthand when John Jaha cranked 35 home runs in 1999, while earning a modest $525,000. Oakland subsequently increased Jaha's salary by five times and he returned the favor by hitting just one home run the rest of his career because of injuries.
Baseball is a business and that means the A's don't owe Thomas anything. If the shoe was on the other foot and Thomas put up dismal numbers while earning millions, do you think he would take a significant paycut so he could give back to the team that overpaid for him? He certainly didn't project that sentiment in Chicago.
Does Thomas deserve a raise? Probably. But it would go against everything the A's stood for if they were the team to give it to him. |
