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An ongoing feature on the TBBL web
site will include monthly
interviews with some of our
league members. In our
second installment of 2011, Jeff
Thomas is on the hot seat:
TBBL: Hello and thanks for
taking the time to be
interviewed. How are you doing
today?
Jeff:
Pretty Well. Works busy so
that’s a good thing. Painting
exterior of house, which is so
much fun.
TBBL: Please tell us a little
bit about yourself. Married?
Kids? Where did you grow up,
what college did you attend (if
you did), and where do you see
yourself in 10 years from now?
Jeff: I
grew up in and currently reside
in Bay Area, trading North Bay
Area for the East Bay now.
Attended Portland State,
transferred and graduated from
University of Oregon. Also
graduated from Le Cordon Bleu
Culinary Academy in SF
Married
in 2007 to my wonderful wife
Shannon ( Giants fan also), 3 yr
old son, Connor.
10 years, possibly relocating to
Pacific Northwest, long time 10
yrs, so who really knows.
TBBL: Since you've been a member
of the Thunder Bay Baseball
League, your team has been on
the verge of making some noise
in the playoffs the past few
years. What is your best memory
of your team last year?
Jeff: Couple of ugly seasons,
when I took over, managed to put
some trades together and some
picks panned out, now we are
very competitive club, 2011
playing well, so hoping
postseason appearance again.
2010 team we played Salem in
ALSLDS and swept the series so
we we’re felling pretty good
about our chances, then next
opponent was LA Halos, so I was
worried, they have a heck of
ballclub and smart owner. We
took the ALDS in 6 from them and
had visions of WS in our heads.
Dave Pittners club was standing
in our way. Going 7 games we
lost and Dave went on to win the
WS, RIP Dave.
TBBL: Do you have any players on
the trading block currently?
Jeff: Not really, seems
more of buyer past few seasons,
picking up pieces for playoff
runs.
TBBL: If there was one trade
that you could take back, which
trade would that be? And what's
the best trade you've made to
date?
Jeff: So far dealing for bit
parts for playoff push, weakens
my early picks past 2 years, but
as an old DMB’er loves to remind
me “Championship Flags Fly
Forever”.
Best trade was going with the
2009 acquiring KMorales for a 2nd
rd pick, but broken leg and 2
lost seasons, will see if Kendry
can play in 2012, I really like
the 2011 Hellickson for
Gutierrez and Guerrier deal,
hoping I have my ace for 7-10
seasons
TBBL: Shifting to the MLB
now, who's your favorite team
and why?
Jeff: SF Giants, grand
parents, parents all we’re fans,
went to a ton of games as a kid,
was able to take my dad to his
only game at Pac Bell Park
before his passing, I had great
seats and he was able to talk
with Willie Mays ( his seats
we’re next to us)
TBBL: Which baseball stadiums
have you visited and which is
your favorite?
Jeff: With my wife being a huge
Giants fan, we travel each year
to a city or 2 were the orange
and black are playing, so we’ve
seen a lot of ballparks, also
have been to every major league
park on west coast even a few
minor league parks
Favorites- Wrigley for day
games, St Louis, COL, great fans
TBBL: Who is your favorite
baseball player, both current
and all time?
Jeff: Favorite players
Michael Jack Schmidt, Willie
McCovey, Will Clark
Current players- Adrian
Gonzalez, Tim Lincecum
TBBL: What is your favorite
movie of all time?
Jeff: Have a few that are
tie- Rudy, The Natural, Saving
Private Ryan
TBBL: Tell us something about
yourself that may surprise us.
Jeff:
Was bored doing the 9-5
after a few years from college,
so decided to give culinary
school a try, ended up
graduating second overall in my
class with honors, worked as
sous chef in Vegas and Houston
and Executive Chef in SF.
Specialty- SouthWest style and
pit master, 6 first place
trophies
in competitions.
TBBL: Who do you have the
biggest rivalry with in the TBBL
and why?
Jeff: Gotta say Halos, seem
to be just ahead of me past 2
seasons and really enjoy playing
Greg h2h, wish more h2h was
played, but life gets in the way
often.
TBBL: What other DMB leagues are
you apart of and tell us a
little about your favorite
league (other than the TBBL of
course)
Jeff: Been in several since
1988, one still am member of
since 1990 (BBML), currently a
mainly h2h league in EBL, a few
throwback leagues 1970 and 1980
leagues, Sandlot Slugger and
Beer league been a member for a
few seasons, VRBL since 1995,
GMBL since 2006. Really enjoy
EBL h2h play. SSBL & Beer
league, defending champ in each.
TBBL: If you were TBBL
commissioner for a day, what
would you change and why?
Jeff: Not sure I would change
anything, maybe promote more h2h
play. The TBBL has one of the
best websites and run extremely
well.
Possibly interleague, don’t know
to many owners in NL.
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