A premature, preliminary DH comparison: over the winter, KW let slugger Frank Thomas go, concerned about a chronically debilitating foot injury. To replace him, he acquired Jim Thome, of the ailing elbow and back. This site debated some about the relative 2006 prospects of these two aging titans. Much depended on analysis of their respective medical conditions, about which only larry had anything meaningful to say. Now we have a statistical sample- albeit small- to begin arguing about whether Billy Beane or KW is the bigger genius.

Thome: 80 AB, 10 HR, 23 RBI, 24 R, 1.170 OPS

Thomas: 79 AB, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R, .669 OPS

So far, it is obvious not only that Thome has come back healthier, hungrier, and flat-out better than the Big Hurt, but also that he has come back healthier, hungrier and flat-out better than most of the league. So far, KW looks pretty smart.