I enjoyed reading that old bet thread, NFH.. reminds me when I used to read the Box for its consistent delivery of non-moron. Do you have a link to the bet resolution thread?

I'm really not sure if Frank is done or not... but I'd be willing to bet some $$ that he is... just because it would be interesting.

How about the purchase of a brand new pillow.

No. This!

Can we get a photo of the Hillenbrand All-Star jersey somewhere? I've never seen it in the flesh and I might have to see a photo to believe it exists.

Why are the Rays purchasing from a place called "Beckett fan shop"?  You just don't aid and abet the enemy.

As I said in another thread, the real issue with Thomas is not whether he will hit .260/.350/.450 or so, but whether any team will give him 500 PAs.  Mention of PAs will bring NFH back to high school too- "oh no, it's John and Simon playing the national anthem on the ukelele and mandolin again".

The number of PAs Thomas gets this year is beyond his control. What the wager is about is whether Thomas is done as a major league hitter.

Why are the Rays purchasing from a place called "Beckett fan shop"? 

The Beckett folks are here in the DFW area ... mostly known for cards, they do all kinds of media anc collectibles: http://www.beckett.com/.

If it weren't entirely on the other side of the Metroplex, I'd be camping out there campaigning for a job.

 

Considering that both could be considered esteemed Posters Emeritus of Batter's Box, would it not be suitable to go old school and make the terms of the bet a pound of actual cuttlefish?

The number of PAs Thomas gets this year is beyond his control. What the wager is about is whether Thomas is done as a major league hitter.

To a degree - I agree with you.  However Sergio Santos is not getting PAs this year because he's not good enough and not because it's beyond his control.  Similarly, in the case of Frank, with so many teams having seen him and the belief (by some) that he's no longer good enough - an extreme lack of ABs is likely an indicator that he's done as a major league hitter.

Maybe include something like if Frank doesn't get more than 100 ABs then he's no longer a major league hitter.

Or to account for DL trips, which aren't an indicator of hitting ability - maybe he needs to have more than 2 ABs per game that he is healthy, or if cut / released / not signed, then that also counts as underperformance.

I'll add the proviso that if Thomas fails to reach 400 PA, the wager is a push.

"To a degree - I agree with you.  However Sergio Santos is not getting PAs this year because he's not good enough and not because it's beyond his control.  Similarly, in the case of Frank, with so many teams having seen him and the belief (by some) that he's no longer good enough - an extreme lack of ABs is likely an indicator that he's done as a major league hitter."

I don't agree with that at all. Barry Bonds has yet to receive a single AB this year but I bet he'd still be one of the better hitters in baseball if he played.  I have no doubt that Piazza could produce in some capacity as well if he played. The problem with Thomas is that he is a DH with only maybe a few spots open for him in all of baseball since the season has already begun. After OPS+ the last 3 years of 131, 140, and 125, I think it's pretty likely he can still be productive is he can get ABs. (Just a nice comparison-Rod Barajas' highest ever OPS+ was 97.)

400 plate appearances or no bet? Nothing like a no-lose proposition, eh Robert? If Thomas truly is finished as a contributing ML hitter and fails to get 400 plate appearances because he doesn't impress whoever signs him for the minimum and he gets released again, the bet is off. Reminds me of Kramer's bet with Jerry.

Levels, Jerry, levels.

I don't agree with that at all. Barry Bonds has yet to receive a single AB this year but I bet he'd still be one of the better hitters in baseball if he played.  I have no doubt that Piazza could produce in some capacity as well if he played. The problem with Thomas is that he is a DH with only maybe a few spots open for him in all of baseball since the season has already begun. After OPS+ the last 3 years of 131, 140, and 125, I think it's pretty likely he can still be productive is he can get ABs. (Just a nice comparison-Rod Barajas' highest ever OPS+ was 97.)

By what you've said, I'm not convinced that there will be a situation where Frank Thomas doesn't get signed and that's not solid proof that his days are over.

By the sounds of it, in Frank Thomas, teams will be able to sign someone who will make the major league minimum and wants to play this year.  This makes playing ability the big determinant for whether or not Thomas gets picked up.  If he doesn't get the job done under those circumstances, I think that has to be a statement that he's not able to contribute.  I don't think the baseball market is completely efficient, but it's at least that efficient.

As to your example of Bonds - Bonds is not playing because of off-the-field circumstances and thus I don't think is a relevant comparison for Thomas.  I don't know of any off-field issues particular to Thomas that would cause other teams to shy away.  If you feel there are, I'm then in complete agreement with Bonds being an accurate comparison - but otherwise, have to disagree.

As to the Piazza thing - I'd describe him as a former all-star with a big name / market draw, generally perceived (I believe) as a solid locker room guy, 39 years old, had an OPS+ of 96 last year, hits righties worse than lefties, can only play DH now, and had a sizable stint on the DL last year.  With all those factors, I take the fact that he hasn't been picked up as a reasonable outcome based on the idea that he's done as a hitter.  I'm quite surprised that you have no doubt he can produce in some capacity.

Similarly, if Thomas isn't able to beat out other team's current DHs at a major league minimum cost, I don't know how that can't be a statement that his days are over.  Don't forget - we're not talking here of someone who said he is sticking around with a goal of winning a ring - he wants to stick around and get 600 HRs, so the team shouldn't be a big issue to him.

Outstanding idea, TA.  I need to think of my own cuttlefish bet now.

I need to think of my own cuttlefish bet now.

Cleveland Bullpen Bet II?
Hillenbrand v. Menechino, the Sequel?

I'd also like to see the jersey. You may have one the shirt, but the loser clearly won the bet. I'd be careful NfH.

This.

In a really nice frame.