Thomas has been a money player for A's

OAKLAND, Calif. -- He was Billy Beane's annual gun-for-hire.

Other teams stayed away from Frank Thomas as if he had leprosy, but the A's general manager, the original ``Moneyball" guy, took a chance that if Thomas was physically fit, he'd be the prototypical ``value player," with a good on-base percentage.

Beane has said that this was one of the few times he's signed a player based on his heart rather than statistics. The declining numbers, and the whispers out of Chicago that Thomas was a disruption in the clubhouse (the White Sox bought out the last year of his contract for $3.5 million), made him risky business. Not to mention a foot injury that didn't seem to heal.

But the story goes that Thomas promised Beane his foot would keep healing and that he would be a factor on offense for the A's. What a factor he was. Thomas, who hit 39 homers and drove in 114 runs with a .381 on-base percentage, will likely get some MVP votes.

``In spring training, he told me, `Don't worry. I don't need any at-bats. I'll be ready,' " recalled A's manager Ken Macha, whose team opens up the American League Championship Series tonight at home against the Detroit Tigers. ``We were just trying to get the guy healthy.

``He had a hard time even running. Some of the big days in spring training, Frank jogged 50 feet. Well, that's progress. And then he steps up in his first at-bat in spring training and hits one up in the rocks in Phoenix.

``As the season went on, from the All-Star break until we clinched, he played every game."

Much the way Bill Buckner used to soak his ankles in ice buckets before games, Thomas has soaked his feet in ice before and after games.

``That thing they say on TV -- `don't try this at home' -- it's not very pleasant, but he does that every night to get himself out there on the field," said Macha. ``He puts a lot of work into it."

With career totals of 487 homers, 2,226 hits, a .424 on-base percentage, 1,579 RBIs, and a .305 batting average to go along with two MVP awards, Thomas, 38, is a likely Hall of Famer.

``The change this year for me has been wonderful," said Thomas. ``I never knew what to expect from change, but it's been a lot of fun this year. It's just motivated me to play at a high level again and also to prove a lot of people wrong because I've always been that type of player that I've always played better with my back against the wall."

Thomas has been offered a two-year deal by the A's that could earn him about $8 million a year. This year, he played for what amounted to $3.1 million -- a $500,000 base and $2.6 million in incentives. He will have a tough decision to make, but he's been rejuvenated in Oakland.

``He blends in very well here," said outfielder Jay Payton. ``He's been one of our leaders. He sets the tone for us. I think Frank knows how much he means to this organization now."

Thomas thinks any leadership he provided stemmed from his work ethic more than anything he's said or done.

``I think it's more of a working attitude that I brought," Thomas said. ``From Day One, I pretty much tried to outwork everybody day in and day out. The guys have seen me work. They say, `He's nuts. He's working out again.' That's been my attitude all along. To keep that visual for the guys that it's all about working hard."

While the White Sox felt he had become a distraction, Thomas vowed that wouldn't happen with the A's. He wanted a brand new start. Maybe it was being out in the Bay area, where the A's are considered second to the Giants in popularity. But Thomas was able to blend in.

``I knew I could," he said. ``My goal when I first got here was not to be a distraction. My goal was to fit in as a good teammate and help them get to the next level. This has been an eye-opening experience for me because you've got a bunch of guys that are so loose and have so much fun. But when we get between the lines, it's all business."

``We pretty much knew what we were getting in Frank," said lefthander Barry Zito, who will start Game 1 tonight. ``Just to see him have a year like he's had in person, almost single-handedly carry us in the playoffs, has been fun to watch. I'm not taking that for granted, and it's something I'll always remember."

Last year, Thomas had to watch the White Sox celebrate a World Series championship as a spectator. It was almost like Drew Bledsoe winning a championship ring in 2001, knowing the Patriots were Tom Brady's team. While he was happy for his old teammates and proud to receive a ring, Thomas is excited about being an active participant this time around.

``I guess I got some experience in that last year, watching," Thomas said. ``I'm definitely that veteran guy in the clubhouse right now telling guys, `Hey, this is Step One, this is Step Two.' I saw it unfolding underneath my eyes last year.

``It just seems really weird to me that this has happened in my first year here. It's been a special year. Hopefully this will continue, because so far, it's been one hell of a ride."