Well, That’s Ironic
Several sources are reporting that Frank Thomas has signed with the Oakland A’s. Numbers have not been released (update: yep, they got him for a prorated league minimum) but this is probably going to look something like this:
2006: Billy Beane signs Thomas with zero risk, high reward and gets an MVP candidate.
2007: Ricciardi signs Thomas long term, big bucks, and gets a decent player with a slow start.
2008: Ricciardi pays Thomas another 8 million bucks just for the slow start this time.
2008: Billy Beane signs Thomas for the rest of the year with zero risk, and pretty much the same reward again.
Ouch. J.P, I served with Billy Beane; I knew Billy Beane; Billy Beane was a friend of mine. J.P., you’re no Billy Beane.
It’s now 2008. But otherwise, bang on.
Errr….thanks. I knew that.
Maybe BB will let us have Mike Sweeney for two A ball pitchers we don’t think very much of? JP always goes in for his sloppy seconds.
And no, I’m not serious about wanting Sweener.
That last sentence is biting and brilliant.
Well, we always hear that somehow all “moneyballers” think the same way, but as Bentsen would say:
“And frankly I think you are so far apart in the objectives you choose for your ballclub that I did not think the comparison was well-taken.”
I just don’t get how Beane does SOMETHING big every freaking year with no money. Even if it doesn’t work, league minimum!!! I guess we’ve got some bullpen guys for nothing.