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Monday, April 21, 2008

Griffin: Mailbag: Frank Thomas edition

With Michael Kay seemingly away forever tracking down The Poubelle Twins and Parts and Labor for his show…we are stuck with Richard Griffin.

Q. Hello Richard, Goodbye Frank Thomas and hello Barry Bonds? It’s hard to see him fit into a Jays lineup, but his name has been popping up recently. If winning this year is the number one priority and management is on a short leash, would the Jays ever consider signing the ’roids king?

A. Barry Bonds? You have got to be kidding. Just what we need, a huge barcalounger in the clubhouse in front of Barry’s locker, his own Plasma HD-TV, personal lackeys running around the clubhouse and IRS and DEA agents behind every pillar. Can he get a work permit for Canada if he is being investigated by a grand jury. Just what the Jays need. A guy that walks every time there are runners in scoring position, leaving it up to the other guys that have been failing with runners in scoring position. The Jays will not do that. They want to keep the payroll under $100 million. Besides, the Giants averaged 73 wins per year the last three seasons with a younger Bonds in their lineup.

Repoz Posted: April 21, 2008 at 06:11 PM | 7 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. As foretold by the prophesy (JFSE) Posted: April 21, 2008 at 06:43 PM (#2753258)

Wow, it must be a feat to lose 3 wins through intangibles alone... that would completely nullify the Eckstein effect!

2. Robert Machemer Posted: April 21, 2008 at 07:00 PM (#2753276)

Just what the Jays need. A guy that walks every time there are runners in scoring position, leaving it up to the other guys that have been failing with runners in scoring position.

Hmmm...

The Blue Jays have a bunch of hitters who apparently don't hit well enough when it counts.

Option (1): get a DH who will be so good in those situations that opposing teams would rather walk him whenever possible. Option (2): get a DH who won't be especially good, leading teams to just get him out in the first place without having to worry about continuing to get out the other Blue Jays.

Brilliant.

3. JPWF13

Posted: April 21, 2008 at 07:24 PM (#2753298)

A guy that walks every time there are runners in scoring position,

Last year Bonds had 138 PAs with RISP, he was unintentionally walked 19 times, which does not seem excessive, he was intentionally walked 40 times- which is, of course excessive- he slugged "only" .545 in 2006 and .565 in 2007- the reason he still gets walked at that absurd rate with RISP is
1: Last year he was followed most often by Durham and Klesko.
2: Manager still remember when he slugged .800+

But by 2007 it was mostly # 1. The offensive gap between Bonds and the men following him is almost like that between a #8 hitter and a pitcher. Not because he's slugging .800, but because the men following him blew chunks (Durham: .218/.295/.343; Klesko .260/.344/.401).

4. As foretold by the prophesy (JFSE) Posted: April 21, 2008 at 07:40 PM (#2753310)

Well, if he does get a job, we can measure collusion level by # 2, but if he gets a job, that might end the collusion charge. Brilliant.

Regardless, they can just fire him after his first 0/3 game.

5. Sheer Tim Foli

Posted: April 21, 2008 at 11:55 PM (#2753507)

Griffin articles make baby Jesus cry.

6. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: April 22, 2008 at 03:44 AM (#2753769)

He's right about one thing. If the reason JP and Thomas "mutually agreed" to "part ways" was really that JP didn't want to pay next year's salary (and tangentially didn't want a malcontent in the clubhouse), adding Bonds would create a near-exact replica of that situation.

7. John Northey Posted: April 22, 2008 at 04:54 PM (#2754129)

Bonds as a Jay would be fun, but only would happen if A) Lind comes up and fails or B) someone (Stairs, Lind, Wells, or Rios) gets seriously hurt. The Jays have two left handed hitters for LF/DH who both should provide acceptable offense. Thomas was ideal if he'd have accepted a platoon arrangement but his ego was too big. Bonds would be great, but at this point the dollars vs benefit just isn't there for the Jays.

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Monday, April 21, 2008

Griffin: Mailbag: Frank Thomas edition

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