Dear Bob Geren,

Next Tuesday, May 27, is Frank Thomas's 40th birthday. On that day, the A's are scheduled to start a series against the Toronto Blue Jays, Frank's former team. The media is bound to notice that and give it a little attention.

We, the undersigned, believe that we know the perfect way to celebrate Frank's birthday. We believe he should bat lead-off in that game. According to Baseball Reference, Frank has never started a game batting lead-off. We think he'd get a big kick out of it.

Now I know what you're thinking: "Lead off? Frank Thomas? He's a great hitter, but he's not at all what you want in a lead-off hitter." Yeah, so what? It's not like any of the other guys on the team are classic lead-off hitters either. (Seriously, Kurt Suzuki?) And Frank's hot right now. So what the heck, why not just give it a try?

According to Baseball Reference, although Frank has never started a game at lead-off, he's had two plate appearances in the #1 slot as a pinch-hitter. And you know what? In one of them he walked, and in the other he hit a home run! Of course, we here at Athletics Nation recognize what a ridiculously small sample size that is. Still, you can't argue he hasn't had success there.

Most of all, baseball is about entertainment. Sure, you want to win the game, too. We're all A's fans here. We want the A's to win every game. We would never recommend you do something stupid that would lessen the team's chance of winning. But on a call like this, where maybe it would work or maybe it wouldn't, but strategically it's not likely to make a big difference at all, sometimes you just gotta go with what would be the most fun. Lineup order is mostly psychological anyway, and the guys on the team would love it. Big Frank batting lead-off on his birthday? What's not to like?

If for no other reason, you have to do it because of that: It would be really really funny.

Yours truly,