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Frank Thomas, meet Steve Jobs
2006-01-25 13:21
by Ken Arneson

Can't help but think about the Pixar-Disney deal. It's not a huge surprise, and it seems to make sense for everyone involved.

Everybody is saying how this deal can help Disney get back to its glory days of great animation. Perhaps. I'm more curious about how it affects baseball. A few facts of note:

  • The National TV contract is expiring. The contract could shift from Fox to NBC or ABC/ESPN.
  • ESPN is selling cellphones with video highlights and scoreboard updates
  • Apple is rumored to soon have a iPod-phone.

So with Steve Jobs as the largest individual shareholder in ESPN's parent company...will we soon see an ESPN iPod cellphone? If Disney owned the exclusive rights to all MLB national broadcasts, would that help Apple sell more iPods?

I don't know...I'm just askin'.

* * *

Back in Disney's glory days, one of Walt Disney's main animators was a man named Frank Thomas. So is it a coincidence that the day after the Disney deal is announced, ESPN.com issues a scoop that a Frank Thomas deal is imminent?

I don't know...I'm just askin'. Even if this isn't confirmed yet, it's not a huge surprise, and it seems to make sense for everyone involved.

If Frank Thomas stays healthy...well, we all have imaginations. I'm hoping having Frank Thomas on in their lineup will restore the A's to their glory days, just as the Pixar deal can help bring Disney back to its glory days when Frank Thomas was in their lineup.

Comments
2006-01-25 13:54:55
1.   Bob Timmermann
I see that you are monitoring the situation.
2006-01-25 13:58:18
2.   For The Turnstiles
The Thomas signing is now official.

What a great offseason: the A's have added Thomas, Bradley, and Loaiza, all of whom have pretty big upside, while only losing people who really didn't contribute at all to last year's team, either due to injury (Dotel and Durazo) or just poor performance (Hatteberg and Rincon). I really like the roster as it is now, although I imagine Beane will be tempted to deal Payton to someone desperate for a CF.

2006-01-25 14:03:24
3.   Sam DC
Over at Dodger Thoughts, the conversation has wandered from the Big Hurt of wisdom teeth surgery to the the Big Hurt of Oakland, and now to the ethereal question: "Are the Oakland As' the best team in baseball?"
2006-01-25 14:33:48
4.   Dingus
They could have been the best team in Baseball even if they hadn`t signed Thomas. Without Thomas they might be inconsistent offensively, but almost perfect defensively. They'd be better than last year's team, which should have won 93 games.

With Thomas they`re more dangerous offensively. However, it`s unclear at this point what Thomas can do outside of U.S. Cellular even if healthy. Over the last three seasons Frank has hit .248 .382 .456 (.838) outside of Cellular, compared to .276 .404 .660 (1.064) at home. I love Frank Thomas, and I think he`s a first ballot hall of famer, but I`m not sure if he wouldn`t be holding the team back by not letting DJ dh and Swish play first.

2006-01-25 14:45:19
5.   Bob Timmermann
3

You left out my lengthy argument proving the nonexistence of the state of Delaware.

2006-01-25 16:22:28
6.   Jacob L
ESPN/ABC were among those getting out of the televised golf business, which presumably leaves some sports programming time available. I'd love to see Fox era come to an end, not least, so I could see new episodes of the OC in October.
2006-01-25 16:51:11
7.   jasonungar05
just think 4 you could pay Nomar 5.5 million more dollars to have the same concerns, so it ain't so bad.
2006-01-25 21:38:30
8.   das411
6 - HOCKEY!!!!

Hopefully this will also help bring back some of the Big Hurt's glory days, doubtful he will hit 500 this season but it would be nice to see him, much like Ken Griffey Jr finally did, recapture some of his 1990s awesomeness.

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