Japanese club working to sign Thames
ByVia NPB Tracker, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks are working to sign free agent outfielder/designated hitter Marcus Thames. Thames, of course, was fantastic after signing a dirt cheap minor league deal with the Yankees last year, exceeding all expectations by hitting .288/.350/.491 (.365 wOBA) overall. He was brought in to mash left-handers and he did just that (.365 wOBA), but he was much better than expected against right-handers as well (.382).
At 33 years old (34 in March) and coming off his best season in half-a-decade, Marcus is probably looking to cash in on what his likely his last opportunity for a big payday. If Softbank offers him two or more guaranteed years at something like $1.5-2M annually, I’m not sure Thames could turn that down.
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Tuffy Rhodes, yo.
Yikes. I was hoping he’d return to the Yankees as insurance as they work their way through the Montero/Posada catcher/DH situation. If Montero needs more seasoning, Posada will be catching more, and a good righthanded bat would be a good thing. A good righthanded bat off the bench is always a good thing to have, even if Montero breaks with the club.
The market for DH-types is flooded, so even coming off his solid year, I don’t expect Thames would get too much more than he got this year. If that’s the case, he is probably Japan bound.
Montero’s bat needs no more seasoning. He can DH if there is a problem with his catching. I do not think there will be a problem. Once Jorge starts catching too much-we will want Jesus back in there.
Maybe Marcus will go to Japan, start doing some whiskey commercials and meet a young girl who isn’t happy with her marriage.
Very nicely done. Make it Santori time.
http://www.refinery29.com/pipe.....ents-1.jpg (NSFW)
I’m at work, but I want to click it so badly. Are you sure its really NSFW?
It’s mildly NSFW. Nothing graphically explicit, but certainly objectionable. Proceed at your own risk.
(It’s buttcheeks in see through underwear. There, I spoiled the surprise.)
It’ll crack you up..
I would hate to see that…
Marcus Thames in: Mr. Baseball 2: Black to Japan
Sayonara, Marcus-san
Calling Mr.Rameriz…..Mr.Rameriz…pick up line 212 please.
Rameriz?
Davie Rameriz, he batted fourth behind Manny Ortez on the 2004 Red Sox.
Your welcome,
John Kerry
That reminds me, I wonder if Wisconsin Senator-elect Ron Johnson will have his January inauguration ceremony simulcast live at “Lambert Field”.
Best of luck to Marcus. Wouldn’t mind seeing him return to the Bronx, but its fairly unreasonable to expect a repeat performance.
I wonder how his game would translate in Japan. Do they have the DH there? I know they have to two leagues, like in the US. Aren’t most ballparks there domed? Having to play Marcus in the OF on a fast turf could be highly problematic.
Yes on the DH. It’s like the NL v. the AL; the Pacific League (where the Fukuoka franchise is located) uses the DH, the Central League doesn’t.
Domo Arigato.
I believe one league in Japan has the DH (Central), and the other does not have the DH (Pacific), just like MLB. The team Thames is linked with here plays in the Pacific though, so maybe the defensive standards in Japan are much lower? Or they thought Thames looked really good at 3rd base in his one game and are going to convert him to an IF.
Nevermind I got it twisted. Central doesn’t use the DH, Pacific does, Google fail.
Good for him. They will love him over there and he gets his money.
I always like Marcus, so I will miss him. However, he is certainly replaceable and if this is best for him financially he should do it.
Good luck.
“He not Big Popi!”
God for him, I hope he gets like 3/10 or something.
we have dh for 2011…name is jorge posada…
The Yanks already have a great power bat off the bench. Jorge Vazquez. Thames even had his number-38. El Destructor will make you say Thames who? In the last four years in the Mex lg he put up huge numbers. He averaged for a full season, 52hr, 150rbi, .350. Last year with Scranton had 18hr and 62rbi in 76 games. And 12 of those pitchers had Big League exp. Played for Mex in World Baseball Classic and hit a grand slam 475ft in his first AB. He is ready for NY!!!
he did look good carrying Jesus’s bats around for him. He may also be slower than Molina.
Happy Thames has to come back!
Fukuoka? That’s pretty far south. I wonder if they have barbecue?
Hate to see Thames go, he took hold of that role after beating out lance berkman and he deserves a lot of credit.