Frank Thomas Officially Retires

[yeszir]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4908616&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

 

Dude is the man. Now, the question is will he be a first ballot hall of famer?

[BSN07]

The Big Hurt was is premier player right in my hay day of baseball. Seeing a prominent player from my youth retire makes me feel old... But he provided many good memory's, so thanks Frank, you had a great career. I think he may be a first ballot HOF, but with the voters you never know.

 

Speaking of childhood icons, glad to see Griffey playing another year. Not sure how I'll react to my childhood favorite player will be. Maybe a mid life crisis will ensue LOL

[yeszir]

I think I'll feel old when Nomar retires.

 

And I think that's probably going to happen soon. Last I read he was looking for a job in television. Has anyone heard anything about that recently?

[Spudboy]

I think I'll feel old when Nomar retires.

 

And I think that's probably going to happen soon. Last I read he was looking for a job in television. Has anyone heard anything about that recently?

 

Nomar made his TV debut a couple of days ago. He was asked to make an assessment of the Dodgers. He responded with some benign dribble. But he seemed comfortable.

 

Predictably Ordway and the Big Show were all over it criticizing Nomar for joining the media when he spent his career being aloof and unfriendly with sports journalists.

 

 

http://boston.barstoolsports.com/random-thoughts/nomar-kills-in-his-espn-debut/

[yeszir]

Nomar made his TV debut a couple of days ago. He was asked to make an assessment of the Dodgers. He responded with some benign dribble. But he seemed comfortable.

 

Predictably Ordway and the Big Show were all over it criticizing Nomar for joining the media when he spent his career being aloof and unfriendly with sports journalists.

 

Oh crap, I had no idea.

 

I am old. Is this a permanent gig or was he doing a guest reporter bit?

[Spudboy]

Oh crap, I had no idea.

 

I am old. Is this a permanent gig or was he doing a guest reporter bit?

 

I don't know. Merloni says that Nomar wants to play this year.

 

I provided a link in my previous post so you can see his debut.

[yeszir]

If the sellout streak is every in jeopardy, the Sox should sign Nomar to a one year contract.

[Spudboy]

If the sellout streak is every in jeopardy' date=' the Sox should sign Nomar to a one year contract.[/quote']

 

 

Even with this s*** economy there seems to be an endless supply of pink hats with enough expendable income to continue the streak.

 

I'd love to see Nomar back. But it won't happen. I had the good fortune to see him in Pawtucket and of course, at Fenway. I met him three times (almost ran him over once too!).

He was always respectful and friendly to me. And he was articulate. I'll always remember him as one of the most exciting players I've ever watched. Even when making erratic throws to first!

[RedSoxRooter]

I met him three times (almost ran him over once too!).

 

I knew I knew you from somewhere. lol.

[yeszir]

I knew I knew you from somewhere. lol.

 

:lol:

 

How's Mia Nomar!?

[MDF3530]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4908616&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

 

Dude is the man. Now, the question is will he be a first ballot hall of famer?

There is one simple answer to that question.

 

 

 

YES.

[Keeper]

Unquestionably a first ballot Hall of Famer. Was a DH, yes, but also played a lot of games at 1B (971). Easily one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time. Never a whisper about steroid use. In fact, it's well-documented how outspoken he was against PEDs dating all the way back to 1995. Only player to cooperate with the Mitchell Report.

[Emmz]

I believe it when Frank Thomas says he did not use steroids. I think he definitely was clean, and if he wasn't, he'd have either been caught, or not been cooperative with the Mitchell Report.

 

I just think he was that great of a hitter. Definitely first ballot IMO.

[Emmz]

I knew I knew you from somewhere. lol.

 

[Dojji]

I disagree that he's a first ballot HOFer. Great hitter, good longevity, one of the best of his generation, but I don't think The Big Hurt was ever the best hitter of his time, and he missed a ton of time with various injuries. And he loses some points by being a DH for much of his career, a lot of writers in NL towns will discount him a bit for that.

 

I hasten to add that I rate Thomas in about the same way I rate Schilling -- great players who held their peaks long enough to be more than worthy of the Hall, but probably not the equal of the very greatest Hall of Famers and so probably not really first-ballot guys. I certainly don't think there's any chance at all that he'll outright MISS the hall, especially with the Chicago media by and large pulling for him. But first ballot I don't see.

[Dipre]

Top 30 all-time in the following categories:

 

 

OBP: 21st.

 

SLG%: 25th.

 

OPS: 15th.

 

HR: 18th.

 

BB: 9th.

 

RBI: 22nd.

 

This is all time.

 

Usually likely HOF are held to the "Decade of dominance" standard, which means a guy needs to be absolutely dominant at least across what would be considered a decade of "Prime years".

 

Frank Thomas' decade of dominance:

 

1990-2001: R:1091 H:1770 2B:364 3B:10 HR:348 RBI:1193 29 BB:1198 SO:847 BA:.319 .OBP:438 SLG:.577 OPS:1.015 OPS+167 TB:3198 .

 

That is one of the most dominating stretches of baseball in history.

 

Rest of the way:

 

BA:263 OBP:.378 SLG:.509 OPS:.887 OPS+:131

 

Still upper echelon production,

 

Baseball Reference's HOF monitor ranks him in the following manner.

 

Black Ink Batting - 21 (98), Average HOFer ≈ 27

 

Gray Ink Batting - 200 (39), Average HOFer ≈ 144

 

Hall of Fame Monitor Batting - 194 (45), Likely HOFer ≈ 100

 

Hall of Fame Standards Batting - 60 (32), Average HOFer ≈ 50

 

He was one (if not the) most dominant player in the 1990's. The stats reflect this. The only knock on Thomas is his DH time, otherwise, he's a sure first ballot.

[Emmz]

I think the fact that he's one of the best hitters of all time overrides the DH thing, especially considering he has played a decent amount of time at first base.

[Dojji]

Like I said, it's a slam dunk the guy's a Hall of Famer. No one can make a serious argument why Frank Thomas does not deserve to be in Coopersdown. I just think there's some niggling things around the edges that will keep him from being first ballot.

[Emmz]

Like I said' date=' it's a slam dunk the guy's a Hall of Famer, I just think there's some niggling things around the edges that will keep him from being first ballot.[/quote']

 

Like?

 

DH? But he played games at first, and is one of the greatest offensive powers of all time. I think that should probably get him in first ballot.

[Keeper]

I disagree that he's a first ballot HOFer. Great hitter, good longevity, one of the best of his generation, but I don't think The Big Hurt was ever the best hitter of his time, and he missed a ton of time with various injuries. And he loses some points by being a DH for much of his career, a lot of writers in NL towns will discount him a bit for that.

 

I hasten to add that I rate Thomas in about the same way I rate Schilling -- great players who held their peaks long enough to be more than worthy of the Hall, but probably not the equal of the very greatest Hall of Famers and so probably not really first-ballot guys. I certainly don't think there's any chance at all that he'll outright MISS the hall, especially with the Chicago media by and large pulling for him. But first ballot I don't see.

 

He was the best right-handed hitter of the 90s and one of the best right-handed hitters of all time, and the fact that he was most likely clean makes what he did all the more impressive, IMO. Closers are specialized players. Why aren't they held in the same category as designated hitters?

 

Also, is Manny Ramirez a first ballot Hall of Famer?

[Dojji]

He was the best right-handed hitter of the 90s and one of the best right-handed hitters of all time' date=' and the fact that he was most likely clean makes what he did all the more impressive, IMO.[/quote']

 

Yeah, which is why he's a Hall of Famer. I'm not saying Thomas is not a Hall of Famer. I'm saying he's not the next Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Willy Mays, Roberto Clemente, basically he's not the top of the top of the top. He's comfortably in though, no doubt about that. .

 

Closers are specialized players. Why aren't they held in the same category as designated hitters?

 

Completely irrelevant question. Also, closers do have their work cut out for them trying to make the Hall.

 

Also, is Manny Ramirez a first ballot Hall of Famer?

 

I wouldn't call it a slam dunk. The talent is real, but the negatives are as well. He's definitely a Hall of Famer, but that PED suspension might be a factor in whether he's a first-ballot shoo-in, along with the defense and known attitude issues.

[Keeper]

Closers are specialized players. Why aren't they held in the same category as designated hitters?

 

Completely irrelevant question.

 

Why is it irrelevant?

[Dipre]

There is only one negative thing you can say about Frank Thomas, and it's his DH time. He was one of the most dominant RHH of this generation.

[Emmz]

I don't see any knocks on The Big Hurt besides the DH thing. He's really just that good.

[Dojji]

Why is it irrelevant?

 

1: because closers DO have a stigma against them when it's time for them to be considered for the hall

 

2: Because the relief pitcher is more universally accepted, or at least tolerated, than the DH, which is only accepted in one league.

 

Guys, I'm not, nor is anyone else, saying that Frank Thomas should not be inducted.