Apr 22nd 2008 9:00AM by Josh Alper
If you’re a fan of a National League team, you may not have much knowledge of how things work in the Junior Circuit. They’ve got this designated hitter deal over there which provides a haven for players who can’t field but can still hit. Some people hate it, some people love it but one thing everyone agrees on is that it exists.

I bring this up because the good folks at are wondering if the Mets should be looking into signing Frank Thomas.
Now I’m not saying Frank Thomas is the end all be all, but it would not hurt to have a power hitting right hander off the bench or even to play first against left handed pitching where Delgado is an easy out, hitting .200 with a putrid .273 on base percentage. Even though Delgado’s average is still just .200 against right handers, his on base percentage is a respectable .341.
The Mets should find an alternative to Delgado but Thomas isn’t it. Thomas is looking to play everyday, not to extend his career as this season’s Julio Franco for the Mets. Pinch-hitting is not going to be a selling point to him and he wouldn’t be an asset to an already iffy clubhouse.

As for playing first, I’m guessing this is one of those NL-only fans I mentioned above because you’d have the same success sending out three infielders as playing Thomas at first. He can barely move, hasn’t played the position since 2004 and wasn’t all that good at it back then.