3 Reasons why no one wants Barry
edmundfitzgerald
Posts: 4,306 ✭✭
in Sports Talk
1. TOO OLD, TOO INJURY PRONE, TOO LATE
Bonds is 44. He hasn't faced big league pitching since Sept. 26, 2007. Now he wants a team, preferably a contender, to sign him for the stretch run?
"I don't care who he is," said the general manager. "I don't know anybody who can sit out in his 40s, and then think you can just polish him up for a week and play. How can you get him ready now? It's not 12-inch softball. It isn't three days of BP and you're ready."
Baseball Prospectus, which publishes an exhaustive annual preseason guide, said Bonds was good for 20 home runs and 70 RBIs in 2008. But it also said he had a 62 percent chance of collapsing this year. And the projections were made with the assumption that Bonds would sign with a team during the offseason and have a full spring training to prepare himself. Instead, nothing.
"How productive would he be?" said one high-ranking team executive. "I think our team would be better off without him."
2. NOT AN EVERYDAY OPTION
Even though Bonds made his job plea to Torre and the Dodgers the other day, there's hardly any scenario where a National League team could afford to take a chance on him. The consensus was he'd be too much of a defensive liability.
"He can't run … he's not nearly what he was," said the GM.
American League teams could use him as a DH, but would he play in day games after night games? Would he pout if dropped below his customary No. 3 or No. 4 spot in the lineup? In San Francisco, Bonds had a habit of dictating his availability. And it was a given that Bonds would bat in the three or four hole of the lineup.
3. HE ISN'T WORTH THE TROUBLE
One of the executives, whose NL team briefly considered signing Bonds, put it this way: "Baseball people felt he was not a fit, and that was that."
And this from the other executive: "I don't think what he brings is what we're looking for … The distraction he would bring would be amazing."
There's no way around it. Bonds has rarely, if ever, been beloved by his teammates. Of course, you could easily argue that without him, the Giants wouldn't have made four of their playoff appearances. But with him, the Giants won exactly zero World Series rings.
"Almost nobody liked playing with him," said a team executive. "I wouldn't want him around … Collusion? Give me a break. Nobody wants him because of the way he treated people for 20 years."
At least one AL team, the Tampa Bay Rays, discussed taking a chance on Bonds. It happened earlier in the season, but team officials later said the discussions never advanced to a serious stage.
Meanwhile, a telling sign of Bonds' lack of appeal is that the Rays, even with recent injuries to outfielder Carl Crawford and third baseman Evan Longoria, remain uninterested in the all-time home run leader. An AL executive said he understood why the Rays would be reluctant to sign Bonds for emergency duty.
"It could be a stain that really lasts for a while," said the executive. "You've got a story now -- the little engine that could. God forbid if [Bonds' signing] didn't work."
And maybe it's a coincidence, but the Bonds-less Giants won their 50th game Aug. 10, compared to Aug. 13 with Bonds a season ago. If they go 22-23 during their last 45 games, the Giants will surpass their win total of 2007.
What's the word on the street? For Bonds, there is no word, only silence. Too bad he's the last to realize it.
Bonds is 44. He hasn't faced big league pitching since Sept. 26, 2007. Now he wants a team, preferably a contender, to sign him for the stretch run?
"I don't care who he is," said the general manager. "I don't know anybody who can sit out in his 40s, and then think you can just polish him up for a week and play. How can you get him ready now? It's not 12-inch softball. It isn't three days of BP and you're ready."
Baseball Prospectus, which publishes an exhaustive annual preseason guide, said Bonds was good for 20 home runs and 70 RBIs in 2008. But it also said he had a 62 percent chance of collapsing this year. And the projections were made with the assumption that Bonds would sign with a team during the offseason and have a full spring training to prepare himself. Instead, nothing.
"How productive would he be?" said one high-ranking team executive. "I think our team would be better off without him."
2. NOT AN EVERYDAY OPTION
Even though Bonds made his job plea to Torre and the Dodgers the other day, there's hardly any scenario where a National League team could afford to take a chance on him. The consensus was he'd be too much of a defensive liability.
"He can't run … he's not nearly what he was," said the GM.
American League teams could use him as a DH, but would he play in day games after night games? Would he pout if dropped below his customary No. 3 or No. 4 spot in the lineup? In San Francisco, Bonds had a habit of dictating his availability. And it was a given that Bonds would bat in the three or four hole of the lineup.
3. HE ISN'T WORTH THE TROUBLE
One of the executives, whose NL team briefly considered signing Bonds, put it this way: "Baseball people felt he was not a fit, and that was that."
And this from the other executive: "I don't think what he brings is what we're looking for … The distraction he would bring would be amazing."
There's no way around it. Bonds has rarely, if ever, been beloved by his teammates. Of course, you could easily argue that without him, the Giants wouldn't have made four of their playoff appearances. But with him, the Giants won exactly zero World Series rings.
"Almost nobody liked playing with him," said a team executive. "I wouldn't want him around … Collusion? Give me a break. Nobody wants him because of the way he treated people for 20 years."
At least one AL team, the Tampa Bay Rays, discussed taking a chance on Bonds. It happened earlier in the season, but team officials later said the discussions never advanced to a serious stage.
Meanwhile, a telling sign of Bonds' lack of appeal is that the Rays, even with recent injuries to outfielder Carl Crawford and third baseman Evan Longoria, remain uninterested in the all-time home run leader. An AL executive said he understood why the Rays would be reluctant to sign Bonds for emergency duty.
"It could be a stain that really lasts for a while," said the executive. "You've got a story now -- the little engine that could. God forbid if [Bonds' signing] didn't work."
And maybe it's a coincidence, but the Bonds-less Giants won their 50th game Aug. 10, compared to Aug. 13 with Bonds a season ago. If they go 22-23 during their last 45 games, the Giants will surpass their win total of 2007.
What's the word on the street? For Bonds, there is no word, only silence. Too bad he's the last to realize it.
0
Comments
Bosox1976
<< <i>Don't forget hat size. Probably need to be a custom job for his bulging cranium. >>
Mickey71
Anyone who thinks that Barry wouldn't have helped a team this year, after watching what he did last year, is a fool. There's a good half dozen AL teams that would be significantly better with Bonds on the roster. Other than Boston, Baltimore, Texas, and Chicago, every other team would be better offensively with Bonds on the roster.
This is about Selig and Co. trying to turn their backs on one of the men who brought baseball back from the brink of destruction (along with Sosa and Mac, who also have been run out of baseball). These owners are making billions, yet the men most responsible for turning baseball fans back on to baseball are shunned.
<< <i> who brought baseball back from the brink of destruction . >>
<< <i>Don't forget hat size. Probably need to be a custom job for his bulging cranium. >>
Did his head get bigger ? Is that a result of steroid use, or just being high on himself ?
Are you from the Boston area? If so, that might explain it -- you know, all of the in-breeding that resulted from the original colonies in the late 1700's.
My advice: Hide the fact that you're a Red Sox fan.
<< <i>You are a Wreck, Edmund Fitzgerald.
Are you from the Boston area? If so, that might explain it -- you know, all of the in-breeding that resulted from the original colonies in the late 1700's.
My advice: Hide the fact that you're a Red Sox fan.
<< <i>
<< <i>Don't forget hat size. Probably need to be a custom job for his bulging cranium. >>
Did his head get bigger ? Is that a result of steroid use, or just being high on himself ? >>
Let's just say he's got a swollen head in more ways than one.
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2. He's a jerk.
3. He's a jerk.
<< <i>1. He's a jerk. >>
<< <i>2. He's a jerk. >>
<< <i>3. He's a jerk. >>
I think I read about you in the bible, "Blackborder" -- and then the rooster crowed 3 times.
Your reasons certainly are eloquent -- how long did it take you to capture those deep thoughts?