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No More Hurt

Edgy DC Feb 11 2010 08:52 PM

Frank Thomas. I hear that name and I want to pencil 100 RBI and 100 walks, though it's only been true once since the turn of the century. I linked him, Griffey, and Kenny Lofton in mind from the getgo, as American League stars who appeared on the scene around the same time. Each was far less HallofFamey, as it turned out, after turning thirty.

Valadius Feb 11 2010 09:27 PM Re: No More Hurt

And what, exactly, prompted this post?

Edgy DC Feb 11 2010 09:30 PM Re: No More Hurt

He's exactly officially announced his exact retirement.

Valadius Feb 11 2010 09:32 PM Re: No More Hurt

I didn't realize he'd been hanging in Barry Bonds limbo.

metsguyinmichigan Feb 11 2010 09:48 PM Re: No More Hurt

Tip of the cap to the Big Hurt, one of my favorite players. I inflict this story on people too often, but here's the tale of Frank and Tiger Stadium. [url]http://metsguyinmichigan.blogspot.com/2005/06/frank-thomas-and-magical-m_111912087774598565.html

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 11 2010 09:51 PM Re: No More Hurt

I like his shirt in that photo. I'm sure it's size 58 or something. Almost scary how great he was out of the box, but really ground to a halt in latter years.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 11 2010 10:04 PM Re: No More Hurt

Yes, but the stripes are slimming. Decline or no, he's on a plaque in my head.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 11 2010 10:05 PM Re: No More Hurt

Sure is.

Valadius Feb 11 2010 10:33 PM Re: No More Hurt

First ballot.

Frayed Knot Feb 12 2010 07:34 AM Re: No More Hurt Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 12 2010 07:59 AM

I conflate Thomas with Jeff Bagwell. Not that you'd ever confuse the two but both were 1st sackers born on the exact same date: 5/27/68 Bagwell was the better all-around player but injury-shortened seasons and an injury-shortened career kept those cumulative totals low enough to the point where it could keep him out of the HoF where I think Hurt gets in pretty easily. I suppose the possibility exists where Bagwell misses his first couple of tries before the two wind up with two dates in common to celebrate.

metirish Feb 12 2010 07:41 AM Re: No More Hurt

Never really got to appreciate Frank Thomas , just never saw enough of him. When they got to the WS in 2005 he was not on the roster. Numbers Career statistics Batting average .301 Home runs 521 Hits 2,468 Runs batted in 1,704 per wiki He is part of an elite group of four players (including Mel Ott, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams) to have at least a .300 batting average, 500 home runs, 1,500 RBI, 1,000 runs and 1,500 walks in a career.

Frayed Knot Feb 12 2010 07:54 AM Re: No More Hurt

The real impressive number for Big Frank is .419 - as in career on-base pct. - That's 21st highest ever; - 18th highest among those with 5,000+ ABs; - only Pujols (.4271) and Helton (.4273) are higher among actives; - only Rogers Hornsby, Jimmie Foxx and Pujols higher among RHBs; - from the group ahead of him only those with self-inflicted wounds: Barry Bonds and Joe Jackson, are NOT in the HoF

TransMonk Feb 12 2010 08:02 AM Re: No More Hurt

I really wish the ChiSox would have kept him past 2005. It was really foreign to see him hit his 500th in a Blue Jays uni. Class act and first ballot guy all the way in my book.

Edgy DC Feb 12 2010 08:11 AM Re: No More Hurt

The Sox seemingly have a history of bad endings with institutional players. Even Carlton Fisk, though he stayed on the payroll to the end, seemed to spend the last five years of his career there under a neon sign that said, "We don't want you here."

HahnSolo Feb 12 2010 08:52 AM Re: No More Hurt

I'm sure there are others, but The Big Hurt is the first power guy I can remember where his ability to take a walk was seen as a positive and not as a liability (of course I wasn't around for Ruth, et al). He shattered the notions of "you're a power guy, if its close, you gotta swing" and showed people that there's usually nothing wrong with taking pitches and taking a walk.

sharpie Feb 12 2010 09:24 AM Re: No More Hurt

Darrell Evans was the first guy I associated with that. He wasn't nearly the player Frank Thomas was and would hit around .230 with 30-40 homers but always put up the big walk numbers.

Methead Feb 12 2010 11:40 AM Re: No More Hurt

I remember watching him play in the Cape League, and he was a monster even then. He destroyed baseballs, and he was actually pretty good defensively too. He made a play at 1B where he had to field a throw from 3B that was to his right, up the RF line, and he sort of stretched / dove to get it - backhanded - on that weird in-between hop that was coming up on him, keeping his toe on the bag. Sickness. Seeing him win the HR hitting contest was cool too though. After games, they'd allow fans onto the field to rub elbows with players, and I took the opportunity to snag a few of his autographs. Makes me feel old that he's finished, but he had a great career.

Ashie62 Feb 12 2010 05:28 PM Re: No More Hurt

[quote="Frayed Knot":bbnu05q2]I conflate Thomas with Jeff Bagwell. Not that you'd ever confuse the two but both were 1st sackers born on the exact same date: 5/27/68 Bagwell was the better all-around player but injury-shortened seasons and an injury-shortened career kept those cumulative totals low enough to the point where it could keep him out of the HoF where I think Hurt gets in pretty easily. I suppose the possibility exists where Bagwell misses his first couple of tries before the two wind up with two dates in common to celebrate.[/quote:bbnu05q2] Thomas HOF Bagwell no chance

metsguyinmichigan Feb 12 2010 05:40 PM Re: No More Hurt

Bagwell's an MVP and ROY with 449 homers and a .297 average. Why no chance?

Ashie62 Feb 12 2010 05:58 PM Re: No More Hurt

He may be hurt be the idea that he was pretty juiced Time will tell

Edgy DC Feb 12 2010 06:33 PM Re: No More Hurt

Well, "time will tell" suggests an unknowingness that "no chance" doesn't allow room for.

Ashie62 Feb 12 2010 08:48 PM Re: No More Hurt

[quote="Edgy DC":2b365vci]Well, "time will tell" suggests an unknowingness that "no chance" doesn't allow room for.[/quote:2b365vci] Edgy..the master of semantics

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 12 2010 08:49 PM Re: No More Hurt

[quote="Methead":bzvbi2vm]I remember watching him play in the Cape League, and he was a monster even then. He destroyed baseballs, and he was actually pretty good defensively too. He made a play at 1B where he had to field a throw from 3B that was to his right, up the RF line, and he sort of stretched / dove to get it - backhanded - on that weird in-between hop that was coming up on him, keeping his toe on the bag. Sickness. Seeing him win the HR hitting contest was cool too though. After games, they'd allow fans onto the field to rub elbows with players, and I took the opportunity to snag a few of his autographs.[/quote:bzvbi2vm] Holy crap, he must have been huge. How little do you feel next to THAT?

Edgy DC Feb 12 2010 09:20 PM Re: No More Hurt

[quote="Ashie62":nt6mlonv][quote="Edgy DC":nt6mlonv]Well, "time will tell" suggests an unknowingness that "no chance" doesn't allow room for.[/quote:nt6mlonv] Edgy..the master of semantics[/quote:nt6mlonv] It's not really a narrow distinction, and it takes no mastery to wonder why one would jump from one position to the next.

Ashie62 Feb 12 2010 09:32 PM Re: No More Hurt

whatever, you are wrong

Valadius Feb 12 2010 10:03 PM Re: No More Hurt

Bagwell, I feel, should go in. And Ashie, you're being ridiculous.

Fman99 Feb 12 2010 10:11 PM Re: No More Hurt

"Hey, Barry, you're right! HGH does taste just like Sunny D."

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 12 2010 10:32 PM Re: No More Hurt

Dante Bichette preferred the purple stuff.

Frayed Knot Feb 13 2010 07:57 AM Re: No More Hurt

[quote="Ashie62":1p0ns4t7]He [u:1p0ns4t7]may[/u:1p0ns4t7] be hurt be [u:1p0ns4t7]the idea[/u:1p0ns4t7] that he was pretty juiced[/quote:1p0ns4t7] Well that settles that.

Ashie62 Feb 13 2010 02:31 PM Re: No More Hurt

unlikely