A Question
Okay, so, watching the last two games, there’s one glaring question that comes out of this series – why on earth haven’t the A’s signed Barry Bonds yet?
Unlike the Mariners, they don’t have a fan base to offend. No one comes to their games anyway, so a decrease in attendance isn’t really a worry. They have hit six home runs all year (Mark Ellis is the only guy on the roster with more than one), and they’re slugging .339 as a team. If they’re willing to stick Jack Cust’s absurd defensive inabilities in the outfield to squeeze the last drops out of Mike Sweeney’s career, then it’s safe to say they have an opening for the DH position.
As we mentioned prior to the start of the season, the A’s aren’t a horrible team. They have some decent arms, they can play defense, and the bullpen is good. They just need to figure out how to score some runs if they’re going to do more than float through the year as a .500 ball club that wins 2-1 games a few times a week.
We know he’s not coming to Seattle (no, seriously, it has zero chance of happening – give it up), but I can’t really come up with a reason he’s not already hitting cleanup for the A’s yet. It makes too much sense.
Comments
84 Responses to “A Question”
I bet Bonds would help them sell more tickets.
Dave thank god you wrote:
Barry Lamar stay away from our beautiful city!
Yeah, I’ve been thinking the same.
Jl – That is sort of the point. Giants fans would flock A’s games just to see Barry. I’d be willing to bet there’d be as many Giants jerseys in the stands as A’s. It really is just too perfect of a fit for it not to happen.
Dave: How would the signing of Bonds fit in with the ‘Moneyball’ strategy? What would bonds sign for? Would the A’s even want to make that investment … do you think he would yield any return on the field?
It might sell more tickets considering his ONLY loyal fan base is located one bridge away …
I just don’t see Barry Lamar back in baseball until some desperate semi-contender wants to make a mid / late season push.
Why waste the money? Even with Bonds, they’re not going to win this year. He’s got enough pride that he will not come cheap.
Kind of makes you wonder what would happen to the attendance numbers at McAfee. You know nobody’s going to games at AT&T this year because the Giants suck. How many casual fans would follow Barry across the Bay, and how many people who flocked to AT&T to watch him last year just don’t give a crap any more?
I think it’s simple – money.
I doubt he would step back on the field for less than a high-seven-figures salary, and no team is obviously willing to make that commitment to him.
The issue is the guy is a huge liability and you’ll be paying for half a year, which makes his prorated salary gargantuan. Additionally, what happens if the Feds come knocking with an indictment? What safeguards does one have. Then again, perhaps this could be used as a bargaining chip and a way to get a couple million bucks off the top or less guaranteed. I also think a lot of teams are ‘keeping him out’… He’s got his record, is still a great player, just is bad PR for the MLB and a huge liability. He’s a negative presence in a club house, isn’t very good defensively anymore. If a team could sign his ‘stats’, they would… Unfortunately, you sign the ‘person’ that comes along with ‘em.
“Giants fans would flock A’s games just to see Barry”
I disagree. I live here in the bay area and know quite a few Giants and A’s fans. From what I’ve seen, Giants fans are just that, Giants fans. They love the team for the history, the stadium, and the rivalry with LA. They loved Barry when he was a Giant, but I don’t think it will last. I don’t think they will stick with him if he’s not a Giant.
The A’s are more that “Just a bridge away”. The A’s are the ugly stepchild of Bay Area baseball. Of the fans I know, people are either Giants fans or A’s fans. Not both. I don’t know a Giants fan that would go to the concrete cavern that is the Coliseum to watch a ballgame that didn’t include the Giants(unless it was nearly free, like $2 Wednesday). They would prefer to go to the City, sit in their lovely PacBell/SBC/AT&T park and watch their Giants lose gloriously.
I understand what you’re saying but don’t think there’s as good a match as you might think.
My guess is that the conversations have already taken place but that they can’t come together. The A’s would be willing to take on Barry’s baggage at a minimal price but Barry won’t come down on his price and he wouldn’t want to play in McAfee Stadium because it’s too hard to hit homeruns there.
One thing I can say, being from the Bay Area myself, is that RAIDER fans would go see Barry Bonds. They could give a Rats behind what a guy does off the field as long as he produces on the field. I think Barry would be VERY well supported in the Oakland.
Beane loves Barry. He draws walks, he hits the ball well, and Beane thinks he is prob. the best pure hitter of all time.
8 –
I don’t think potential legal issues are a factor; a team could add a clause in the contract to take care of that.
I agree that the A’s are the one organization with the on-field need and front-office confidence to not care about any of the “stuff” that surrounds Bonds. He can help add wins to this year’s team, and those few wins may be enough to get them into the postseason. I imagine that’s good enough for Billy Beane.
But money is money, and the A’s aren’t swimming in it. For a prorated $15MM, Bonds would be happy to be an Athletic. For $3MM, he’ll stay home.
9 – you are right, those bay area fella’s love those Giants
12 – Really, this might make things interesting … is there any return on investment with a Barry Lamar signing to the A’s? Would it drastically change their team? Wouldnt he want above 15 million?
Not true at all. Barry wants to play and reach a couple more milestones. How do you figure he’d not come cheap when we are almost a month into the season and he hasn’t got a single call? He has no option but to play for incentive based deals if anyone comes knocked at this point.
I think the A’s are waiting for an OK from Al Davis to remodel the lockerroom so Barry can fit the TV, barcalounger and posse into his private space.
It makes sense for him to play for the A’s depending on the contract.
I still wish Bonds was coming to Seattle.
15-
He doesn’t need to come back. His out is retirement. If a team (the A’S) want him bad enough… they may need to pay up.
15 –
First, we have no idea what type of interest Bonds has had. It’s just as likely he’s rejected offers from 15 clubs at this point than “he hasn’t got a single call”.
Second, Roger Clemens got a prorated $28MM in late May from the Yankees last year. That likely hasn’t escaped his attention, and simple pride will likely keep him from taking a “paltry” few million for his efforts.
(no, seriously, it has zero chance of happening – give it up)
I don’t see why we should give up harping about it. Barry Bonds being unemployed is beyond stupid.
Barry will probably get some large offers come summer. Some team will beed a big bat in July.
I think the Cards should sign him. Imagine both Pujols and Bonds on the same team.
17 / 20
This may be a principle thing, but I hate everything Bonds stands for. He is the anti-Mariner, he is the anti-Integrity. He is rude to the media, rude to the fans. He is exactly the person I do not want on my team.
Anyone care to look at his postseason numbers? If Bonds comes on the M’s I will puke.
Could it be that Barry is sick of baseball and the hassles (of the media, travel, losing, etc.) it bring to him?
As much as I can’t stand LaRussa, he lobbied hard for Bonds and was overruled. I would have loved to have seen him hit in front of Pujols.
13-
They could take care of the money issue, sure… However, what happens if they start becoming a contender, they need to rely on him. Basically, you’re signing a guy that could go on the ‘federal DL’ at any point. Plus, $15 million is a lot of money for half a year. As a Gm, if you spend that moolah, it better work or you’re going to look like a total jackass. Additionally, the issues aren’t just another bat, it’s waking up the entire team. I see Bonds alienating ‘em, rather than standing on one of his mammoth leather chairs and spouting the benefits of ‘being a team, playing with guts, being a selfless player, taking the walk…’ His deal is to hit, he’s just gonna have to hit a ton to make that $15 million worth it.
##
The A’s signing Bonds is akin to the classic Bavasi move: the rubrik for success is so high that anything short of all-star, league leading performance makes the deal horrible. Putting it all on one ‘savior’ player is dangerous.
23
I always thought of Bonds as an attention whore… so I doubt it.
25
If I can trust what I’ve read, Bonds’ trial begins in in November at the earliest (and probably will start much later than that).
jspektor,
I won’t ask your opinion about several players who are current and former Mariners who violate what you want in a player. Instead, what amount of losing are you willing to tolerate before modifying your attitude? Is there a threshold that must be reached before you will change your standards – e.g. 35 straight years of never appearing the World Series, 6 straight years without a division flag?
You have a very valid point – I guess there does come a time where you have to choose between winning and having a likable team.
My point is that Barry Lamar is literally the only person I wouldn’t want on my team.
I remember how likable those mid 90′s teams were, and some of these championship teams from other cities.
I guess, just give me 1 championship – I’ll see how it feels then formulate my opinion then
Wouldn’t that be funny if Bonds won his World Series in Seattle. HAHA
27
That may be fine and good. However, a Federal trial isn’t golf, charity work or any other off-season pursuit. I see it being a pretty big distraction and fairly important. I imagine he’s gotta be quite concerned about putting together a defense and might be called in to give statements and could be arraigned on on other charges. To my knowledge, there’s perjury and tax evasion. The IRS aren’t the coolest of folks. Afterall, they had an agent in the stands at the game that guy caught Bonds’ homerun… Point is, this is a big deal and he could go down swinging in Oakland or make sure that he crosses his “tees” and dots his “i’s” legally, lest he wind up playing in a prison softball league. Generally, if there is an indictment, a trial date and this much moolah being spent and scrutiny, there is likely a case.
People sure are throwing around a lot of numbers for what the believe signing Barry would take. Where are these numbers coming from? Speculation alone?
Furthermore, I pose the following question:
What does Bonds really offer a team. What’s realistic?
i.e.
What does ($15 million, $1.00) buy you? What’s it cost? He may be a douche bag and clubhouse cancer as a dude… That said, what is a realistic expectation for the moolah? What’s realistic moolah? Is $15 likely, too high, too low, etc.
Sidebar: I am in the camp that if it’s anywhere near $15million per half season, that’s gonna be hard to defend.
Thanks Dave, you nearly had me spray my chewed up doughnut on my monitor!
The obvious answer is that the commissioner’s office has probably warned teams not to sign him, just as they warn teams about not abiding by draft slotting.
Signing Bonds for $15M, pro-rated, would actually be OK for Oakland, I think. But is he really that much better at 43 than Jack Cust is? It seems like all Bonds could do last year was draw a walk, which is really nice, but is it really worthpaying $15M pro-rated for 100 points of OPS over Cust, who’s making $410K?
It is true … I believe this city would flip out … but then again we are flipping out over the Sonics …
30
Complete speculation, but, to me I think that baseball would be a welcome distraction for Bonds: let’s face it, the guy isn’t the warmest of people and probably desperate for something to do– why do you think he was so desperate for a job? It’s not like he has anything left to accomplish.
34
Bonds slugged .580 last season, he’s basically Jim Thome with an even platoon split. Put him at DH where his knees will take less abuse and he’ll probably be able to tread water for another season.
I sense an eternal M’s fan base divide on this Bonds issue…
when last we heard from Barry ….
Re how much Barry might be worth over Cust, check out the projections. Anywhere from still pretty good to MVP candidate.
I think Oakland is in rebuild mode. If they had kept Haren and Swisher, it would’ve made sense to get BB and go for it. Now, they probably look at it simply from the extra revenue it would generate and consider it not worthwhile for the price BB may be asking. BTW, since Clemens was mentioned as a standard, another comparable with a very different figure is Frank Thomas’ 1 year deal with the A’s.
My prediction is that the Yankees sign him for between $6-$8 million, DH, maybe 1st base, Giambi gets benched. They use the lure of ‘contending’ and his legal issues to get him to agree to less moolah.
I don’t see why we should give up harping about it. Barry Bonds being unemployed is beyond stupid.
Yea, probably, but there is literally a better chance that I’m DH’ing for the M’s later this summer than Bonds is. I don’t know if there’s any less productive use of one’s time than trying to lobby the Mariners to sign Bonds. It’s the baseball equivalent of trying to get the Atkins Diet to endorse Krispy Kreme or holding a barbeque as a fundraiser for PETA.
Oakland may be rebuilding, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of contention. Bonds could easily narrow the gap between the A’s and Angels/Mariners.
And I don’t think the Oakland FA cares about Bonds’ off-field issues, any subtle threats from MLB, or whether he can play left field worth a d*mn. They may not even care how many more butts he puts in seats during the regular season; he can help them get to the postseason, and that added revenue will more than pay for his salary – as long as it’s reasonable. And my total WAG is that what the A’s would like to pay Bonds to play for them and what Bonds is demanding to step on the field are far apart. Close that gap and Bonds is an Athletic.
At least Seattle fans don’t have a double standard (COUGH
Mike MorseCOUGH) when it comes to PED usage.To think, this organization makes me so angry yet there’s no chance I abandon ship.
Well, my optimal scenario would be for Barry Bonds and PEDs to be never mentioned in my presence again. I’m so tired of hearing and talking about it.
That being said, since that’s never going to happen, there’s really no sensible excuse for the Mariners not to sign him. But then again, that probably pretty much assures as Dave says that it’ll never happen.
fwiw, from Jayson Stark this spring:
“All these explanations make just enough sense, on all sorts of levels, that you can see how impossible it would be for the union to prove there was any kind of conspiracy to blackball this man. You can’t blame some people for suspecting it. But how could they prove it?
“There’s no collusion here,” said one official. “None. There has never been any discussion, from the commissioner’s office or among the clubs, to say: ‘Don’t sign this guy.’ Collusion means an intentional, overt act to affect the market, where teams talk to each other, saying, ‘Don’t sign this player.’ In his case, that hasn’t happened. It doesn’t have to happen. It’s obvious. Everyone’s got the same issues.”
“You know, it’s not just him that doesn’t have a job,” said Official B. “He may think everyone is just ostracizing him, but it’s not just him. How about [Sammy] Sosa, [Mike] Piazza, [Kenny] Lofton, [Roger] Clemens, [David] Wells? Those are all guys who will get Hall of Fame votes. And none of them has a job. Look around. Teams are trying to get younger.”"
22 – I’m ill of hearing about Bonds interfering with the ‘family-friendly’ Mariners fans. Carl Everett was signed to be a really bad player and person. Al Martin beats his wife when he gets irritated. Even Seattle’s GOLDEN BOY, Mike Morse, is a cheating turd who is a bad batter and a far worse fielder than anyone browsing this blog.
If we don’t sign Barry Bonds, let’s at least accept the fact that it’s because we’d rather sign the low-key scumbag who isn’t even good then the high-key annoyance who would actually make us a genuine contender.
I understand the Clay Bennett has contacted Barry about playing for the Sonics in Oklahoma next year but that Howard Schultz is filing a lawsuit to stop him.
Intentional collusion would be illegal (or at least violate CBA) wouldn’t it? The guy isn’t a very good deal, plain and simple.
You take into account:
-Value of his production for the money.
-Discounted defensive production
-He’s kind of a jerk that can be a distraction and sap up the ‘bandwidth’ of a clubhouse
-He might get dragged out of town in cuffs.
Again, savior players seem like a bad idea across the board, unless they are a ‘deal’.
Convert the guy to 1B or DH him, use the lure of a championship and a straight-forward assessment of his skills and liabilities, give him $6-8 million for the half year. That’s reasonable.
DH/1B leaves NY and Boston, I think it’ll be NY… However, if Ortiz or Giambi are still struggling by mid-end of June… Very unique situation here
1B also opens things up a bit to other National League teams.
1B
Granted, he isn’t a very tall dude, nor does he have the condor-like wingspan of Sexson… However, he isn’t gonna ‘hang’ in the outfield much longer and could play another couple years at 1B or DH.
Sorry ‘defensive production’ doesn’t make much sense… Unless I was talking about that Span-guy’s errors in last night’s Twins-Rays game.
Re: Stark:
I don’t think it’s the Commissioner’s Office saying “don’t sign the guy”. It’s more like them saying “Gosh, wouldn’t it be nice if we could put this steroid stuff behind us? It’s given us a really black eye in Congress…” while winking, at the very most.
I think Bonds has been unofficially blackballed the same way Palmeiro and Canseco were (Canseco, while not as GOOD a hitter as Bonds was, was still useful at the end of his career, with a well above average OPS to league, and Palmeiro’s very similar), by a combination of age and realizing that you can’t reward the ringleaders of the steroid era with roster spots and millions of dollars and expect to be taken as seriously addressing the steroid problem. If you are a minor leaguer in some team’s system, and you get the annual speech about “steroids are bad, mmmmkay?”, and then you notice that the only penalty Barry Bonds is suffering for using the cream and the clear, courtesy of BALCO, is getting yet another multimillion dollar contract… well, it becomes obvious that what your organization’s REAL message is to you is “don’t get officially caught and we’ll treat you like Barry”. I would guess organizations might not want to send that message to their players.
51
Amen.
51 –
Agreed, nicely put.
So at what dollar amount is it worth it for a team to um, un-blackball Bonds? I still think that’s the only hang-up to him playing this year – or this week.
To all of you who don’t want Barry: are you telling us that you think we’re better off with Turbo as DH? From a performance standpoint, if you figure that $4 million is worth a win, Barry projects to be well worth $15 million (or $10, as I’ve heard). Especially if that’s what puts us into the playoffs.
As many have pointed out, the M’s don’t shy away from scum like Al Martin. It sure seems like it’s almost appropriate for the M’s to sign Barry, since it seems like we’ve got more PED-convicts top-to-bottom than any other organization. I personally don’t give a rat’s kiester about the issue, but it’s worth highlighting the hypocrisy.
Signing Barry would make the M’s a better team. It’s not ever going to happen, I know, and that in itself is too bad.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3353025
Longoria will be a rich TB Ray. I wish this franchise was ran like the Rays are.
My complete speculation is that I would be shocked, shocked if eponymous coward’s idea were true. On the other hand, I think Bond’s ego is still expecting a contending team to give him lots of money.
Be interesting to see if he’s still unemployed after the All-Star break.
49-
Outside of Jeff Kent, I’ve never heard of any Bonds teammate every having issue with him (and Kent’s had run ins with more than one teammate).
Bonds would be a great pickup for the A’s, and signing an older bat to DH isn’t unprecedented for them (Thomas, Piazza).
As many have pointed out, the M’s don’t shy away from scum like Al Martin. It sure seems like it’s almost appropriate for the M’s to sign Barry, since it seems like we’ve got more PED-convicts top-to-bottom than any other organization. I personally don’t give a rat’s kiester about the issue, but it’s worth highlighting the hypocrisy.
I actually don’t think it’s hypocritical to have a front office policy that goes something like this:
- any of our players who get caught using PEDs are going to be dealt with through the rules under the CBA we have with players, and we will evaluate what we do with them on a case by case basis, and,
- if we have a choice in free agents, we prefer to sign ones NOT at risk of perjury convictions for lying about PED use to a federal grand jury.
Here’s the thing: Mike Morse WAS penalized for his PED use (twice, actually, and the arbitrator called out that the second penalty was likely a case where he was being punished twice for the same offense… but those were the rules). Barry Bonds? Not so much, unless you consider millions of dollars and holding cherished major league records a “penalty”.
But let me pose a question: your argument seems to be that PEDs be damned, Barry didn’t get caught breaking any MLB rules, and he’s still a great ballplayer, we should sign him. So let me try a slightly different hypothetical: suppose Barry is STILL taking PEDs, but his doctor in the Dominican Republic is slick enough to make up the right cocktail of HGH and whatever to avoid detection on MLB drug tests. We find out about this after the season is over and the Mariners have a World Series win and a shiny trophy, couretsy of signing him. Do you care? Is that trophy tarnished at all? Seems to me if your standard is “it ain’t cheating if you don’t get caught, so there’s no logical reason not to sign Barry Bonds”, you should be fine with having active juicers on the team as well as past ones, right? Why does it make any more sense to punish Mike Morse for steroid use, and then keep handing Barry Bonds contracts, than it does to just go “screw it, juice away, just don’t get caught because Congress is breathing down our necks”?
We’ve discussed this before. (More than once.)
Incidentally, in that post I tried to calculate the value of a half-time (240 PA) Barry Bonds as DH and came up with $13.6M. But I could’ve fuxor’d the math.
Outside of Jeff Kent, I’ve never heard of any Bonds teammate every having issue with him (and Kent’s had run ins with more than one teammate).
Yes, based on what seemed to be going down in the Dodger dugout last year, Kent seems to a more significant clubhouse cancer than Bonds. However, even if he’s loved by his teammates that doesn’t mean he’s not a net negative. He’s still a headache for management, a distraction, and he could be a bad influence in other ways.
Analogy: I used to work with a guy who was brilliant, but a real cowboy. He’d blow off work to go skiing, and then come in in the middle of the night and do more by dawn than most people get done in a week. But he was also easily bored, and he’d tend to solve the hardest part of a problem and then leave others to fill in around the edges. So we tried assigning junior people to clean up behind him, which also required additional management time because Mr Brilliant wasn’t going to give them direction. These junior guys loved him. He was a legend. They wanted to be like him. Unfortunately, they weren’t as talented, so when they tried to go off skiing on a workday and then busting ass through the night, the result was just a mess. We ended up with a gang of unmanageable guys who had lots of bad habits and overall a far less productive team.
Interesting that Bonds gets vilified out of a contract because he was the best player allegedly taking HGH. If he wasn’t the best player taking them and actually had been on the Mitchell Report he could be playing in Houston (Tejada), Detroit (Shef), NY (Giambi, Pettitte), Oakland (Cust) among many other places. Since he was the best player and has the records he gets the shaft when it comes to the “fight” against steroids. For teams not to sign him because of HGH is stupid, I imagine every team in baseball has or is employing a HGH user right now. If Barry only hit 713 HR’s he might have a job right now.
- to E.C.
I believe that, when players are caught having taken PED’s, they should be punished according to the CBA. Thus, if your hypothetical situation occurred, then his case should be handled as per the CBA. Don’t misunderstand: I think that his pending legal problems and the negative publicity should be considered when you debate whether to sign him, and for how much. But I happen to think that his performance would outweigh the negatives. I also suspect that the scenario you outline is not a very likely one – of course I have no proof of that.
Personally, I think that, more than PED’s, it’s Barry’s body armor that is worth arguing over. It allows him to crowd the plate, and, because it’s hinged, it essentially gives him the ability to exactly repeat his swinging motion each time, so he can focus more on the power aspect…
[nope]
What?
Come on get excited! Its RA DICKEY DAY! Listen to the Dickies and wear a pair of Dickies to celebrate
#55 I just read about the Longoria Deal. I listened to a lot of his games last year on local radio and became a fan.
After I finished reading the article I said the exact same thing to myself…Maybe someday.
64- did you read the article?
Oh, and another thing… Dave, when is the top prospects list coming out?
Captain Poopy …
Which article? The one about the huge contract extension today? (been working all day, wish i was on here more but I have to save the sonics first) … by the way I am so furious about this Sonics situation its unreal.
also … the Rays have been a joke of a franchise for a long long time …
at least that new stadium has … a … uhh … sail?
I would guess organizations might not want to send that message to their players.
I would, if I were the organisation. But clearly my moral flexibility is not widely shared.
JSpektor-
Yea, the one that’s about Longoria signing a 6 to 9 year deal. The Rays aren’t a joke any more. They are building a good young team with a great nucleus.
Bennett, Schultz, they’re both pissing me off. I’m really bummed about the Sonics. The only thing that would make me happy is (if the team leaves) if they allow Seattle to keep the history of the Sonics and the records. Let OK start from scratch. That would only be the saving grace.
70- Seattle should get to keep Durant, Green, and Sam Presti, too.
All I know is that we should see a dramatic increase in the amount of HR’s Bonds’ team will hit, if he signs with one, that is. The guy has injected himself with so many needles that the ‘roids effect would probably spread by osmosis.
Bull’s-eye.
I really hope he signs with someone. I know I’m in the minority, but I want to see him get the milestones he’s so close to:
-4 RBIs from 2000
-65 hits from 3000
-114 games from 3,000
-153 ABs from 10,0000
-24 Total Bases from 6,000
-78 runs from tying Ricky’s all-time record of 2295
-37 XBHs from tying Hank Aaron’s all time record of 1477
74 -
At least to save SOME of the already blasted integrity of the game I hope none of the Milestones are reached.
It is already enough of a disaster that he broke Aaron’s record. He makes me sick.
I hope some of you baseball purists can agree with me here.
(1) He’s too expensive.
(2) He is widely perceived as a cancer in the clubhouse. There have been an abundance of stories throughout the season thus far in which Giants players have remarked about how “loose” and “happy” their clubhouse is “compared to last year.” I don’t think Ryan Klesko’s departure is what caused this change. Given how young the A’s are, I think the front office had real concerns about how Bonds might impact the young guys.
(3) On top of all of that, the indictment did seem to have an impact. The rumor out here was that the A’s were pretty seriously considering signing Bonds, but the indictment was the final straw to push them to decide against it.
Baseball purists? So we should only let white folks play, not pay the players a living wage, and require 9 balls to draw a walk?
I’m a big fan of Barry Bonds. Aside from Rickey’s record (because I love Rickey), I hope Bonds gets all of those.
Come on get excited! Its RA DICKEY DAY! Listen to the Dickies and wear a pair of Dickies to celebrate
Yay! I like this! (I wish I could think of appropriate Dickies lyrics.)
Also, take your brass knuckles to the ballpark!
And: the M’s are a .500 team (which I expected) and one game back from the Angels (which I didn’t) and given their last series against the Angels (and their 3 run streak) have a good chance to pull ahead this weekend. Sure, it’s only April, but… ponies!
For a site that always wants folks to back up their comments you guys say this
# Sentinel Says:
All I know is that we should see a dramatic increase in the amount of HR’s Bonds’ team will hit, if he signs with one, that is. The guy has injected himself with so many needles that the ‘roids effect would probably spread by osmosis.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
#
73
currcoug Says:
Bull’s-eye.
77 -
Or we let a pure swinging Ken Griffey Junior, rightful best player of the 90′s who didn’t take steroids slowly climb to 600 … which is scary considering that Junior didn’t even touch steroids.
If he cheated like Bonds and the rest of those scumbags … he would be at 900 (inlcuding years without injury).
And it’s ignorant to say that baseball purists only confine the game to ‘white folks.’ I mean come on.
Bonds helped destroy baseball (he isn’t the only villan, but there are plenty in this story).
FWIW, there was talk this spring that the Ms are interested in talking long term deal with Felix.
should we wear a Dickey, as well?
Just so we have our facts straight:
The perjury trial of Barry Bonds will resume next Novermber at the earliest.
The man has a demonstrated ability of performing on the field irregardless of off the field drama. The trial is a non issue this season.
He also had a 1.000+ OPS last year playing the outfield on 42 year old bad knees while surrounded by arguably the most anemic offense in the bigs. He was seldom pitched to.
If he was primarily DH-ing in stronger lineup, he could very possibly put up some gaudy numbers. To put it another way, he could easily double the offensive output of one fast food eating Jose Vidro……the worst full time DH in baseball.
This team is one power hitting, walk drawing, pitcher intimidating, left-handed bat away from being a real WS contender. Since said hitter is available for nothing more than a modest salary, I’m beginning to feel my longstanding suspicions about our management not being committed to winning are justified.
Without such a hitter our offense just isn’t good enough.
I’m closing this thread because this is an awful discussion.