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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Lots of boos and little else for Barry Bonds at Dodger Stadium.
Back on the road, Bonds stayed stuck at 754 home runs when he went 0-for-2 with two walks in the San Francisco Giants' 3-1 victory over Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
Since moving with one of Hank Aaron's record on Friday night in San Francisco, Bonds is 1-for-9 with seven walks.
This was the opener of a six-game trip that ends in San Diego. Loved at home but reviled on the road, Bonds' main solace was that he got to head to his own home in Beverly Hills. He finished work early, too, coming out in the seventh inning for a pinch runner.
"I thought they were great," Giants center fielder Dave Roberts, a former Dodger himself, said of the fans. "There was a lot of anticipation with us coming to town. I tip my hat to them. They were excitable."
Earlier Tuesday, two other stars also missed chances for milestones -- Alex Rodriguez failed to hit his 500th home run at Yankee Stadium and the Mets' Tom Glavine was denied his 300th victory when his bullpen wasted a lead in Milwaukee.
Bud Selig returned to see Bonds resume his quest after the commissioner missed the Giants' weekend series against Florida in San Francisco to be in Cooperstown, N.Y., for the Hall of Fame induction.
Dodger Stadium might be the ballpark where Bonds is most despised -- and 56,000 fans let him know it at every opportunity. The sea of Dodger Blue in the sellout crowd booed lustily when Bonds' name was announced, then again every time when he touched the ball on defense or stepped out of the dugout to make his way to the on-deck circle.
"They were doing their booing, but it wasn't out of hand," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who wasn't sure whether Bonds would play Wednesday night. "He's feeling pretty good. He's getting his swings in. We'll see how he feels."
Bonds emerged from the clubhouse after the game and found a horde of media waiting to enter. He took a couple of steps forward and the camera crews converged before he quickly retreated and shut the door.
A Bonds lookalike escorted by a man dressed as Bonds' incarcerated trainer, Greg Anderson, made quite the entrance to their third-row seats behind home plate right when Bonds was coming up to bat in the first. Scott Keighley, a 47-year-old general contractor, carried an extra-large makeshift syringe that security confiscated.
His son, 22-year-old Scott Jr., sported a full gray Giants' road uniform and wore brown makeup on his face and over a swim cap to appear as a black man -- and posed for many photos. He waited outside the Giants' clubhouse postgame. They had a 3-foot asterisk taken away at the gate.
"We're not here to root for him," Scott Sr. said. "We're just getting a point across -- nothing obscene."
When Bonds headed out to left field in the bottom half, a soccer ball was thrown onto the warning track behind him.
Thousands of fans chanted a popular phrase questioning Bonds' ability.
Batting practice before the game was exceptionally lively.
"I love you Barry!" someone yelled from the upper decks.
Bonds saluted a fan behind home plate before stepping in to take a round of cuts.
"We heard talk about this being a distraction for our team," Roberts said. "That couldn't be any further from the truth. We're where we are because of the 25 guys in this clubhouse, not only because of Barry Bonds. At the same time, we're ready for this to be over."
There's no question Bonds would like to break the record soon.
He struck out on three pitches from All-Star Brad Penny (13-2) ending the first, walked intentionally in the third and drew another free pass in the sixth. He reached in the seventh after shortstop Rafael Furcal dropped the high popup in shallow left-center. Fred Lewis then entered to run for Bonds and took over at his spot in left field.
The Giants aren't the only ones growing tired of the hype around Bonds' pursuit.
"I don't really want to talk about Barry right now," Penny said. "I'm done answering questions about the Barry thing."
Next up is Mark Hendrickson, a 6-foot-9 left-hander who starts Wednesday night for the Dodgers. He hasn't surrendered a home run to Bonds in eight at-bats.
Still, Bonds was happy to get to sleep in his own bed for a few nights.
"Isn't it always nice to be home?" Bonds said before the game, sitting at a locker that's not in the corner for a change.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Barry Bonds looks as if he's lost that picture-perfect swing.
With thousands of cameras flashing at every pitch that came his way, the slugger struggled again to find the impeccable hand-eye coordination that has defined his 22-year career.
Bonds went hitless and remained at 754 home runs and one from tying Hank Aaron's record in the Giants' 6-4 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday night.
The Giants' biggest rival sure has made Bonds look bad lately, giving Los Angeles fans a lot to cheer about.
Bonds went 0-for-3 with an intentional walk and is hitless in 19 at-bats against the Dodgers since a single on April 26.
"Let's not talk about that too much," the Dodgers' Russell Martin said. "We don't want to jinx ourselves right now, but we're pitching him tough, and the pressure's on his side. He's the one who has to break the record."
Bonds could be seen in the dugout showing his batboy son, 17-year-old Nikolai, how his swing is out of whack. Bonds' .186 average in July was his lowest in a month since April 1991 when he hit .177, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That includes months in which he had at least 15 at-bats.
"Well, the man's 43," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "To expect him to do what he did in his prime is asking a lot. ... I think without question he's not seeing as many strikes, and they're being very careful. He's not getting a lot to hit right now."
Bonds flied out on a full count leading off the second, then grounded out on the first pitch he saw with one out and the bases empty in the fourth. In the sixth, Juan Pierre robbed him of a hit with a pretty running catch in which he laid out to make the play in center.
Bonds was intentionally walked in the eighth by winner Jonathan Broxton (4-2) after the reliever fell behind 2-0 in the count. Fans booed the pitcher and headed for the exits before Fred Lewis had even made it to first to pinch run for Bonds.
"It's great," Giants rookie starter Tim Lincecum said of the atmosphere. "It's going to be nice when he does break it. It's just the most prestigious record to hold. Everybody wants to see it no matter if they're rooting for him or not."
Last month coming out of the All-Star break, Bonds had back-to-back 0-for-5 games against Los Angeles as the Dodgers swept three games and extended their winning streak to 11 straight in San Francisco. After the series finale, the seven-time NL MVP called himself an "embarrassment," later flipping a laundry cart to the ground. He flew to Chicago mired in an 0-for-20 funk -- one of his worst slumps ever.
On Wednesday, Bonds got ridiculed right along with the Laker Girls.
He shouldn't feel so bad. At Dodger Stadium, this is just what they do -- and he's used to it.
Still, flashbulbs lit up the hazy Southern California sky for the second straight night whenever he stepped into the batter's box.
"I don't see them," Bond said before the game when asked about it.
Commissioner Bud Selig attended the game, but was scheduled to return home to Milwaukee on Thursday before meeting up with the Giants in San Diego on Friday night. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson will represent the commissioner's office in Selig's place Thursday. Giants executive vice president Larry Baer also joined the Bonds' road show Wednesday.
Brett Tomko, a former Giant, is scheduled to pitch the series finale for the Dodgers on Thursday night. The right-hander has given up one homer to Bonds in 22 at-bats with 13 walks.
Bochy said that Bonds would be in the lineup each day as long as he felt good enough to play. Bonds has been taken out early in two straight contests.
"He feels great -- most likely," Bochy said of Bonds playing Thursday.
Nomar Garciaparra upstaged Bonds again, hitting a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth after Luis Gonzalez's tying two-run double off loser Randy Messenger (1-3).
In July 2006, Garciaparra also hit a tiebreaking, two-run shot in the eighth at Dodger Stadium to trump Bonds' 720th career home run.
"I don't know if I'm trying to steal anybody's thunder," Garciaparra said. "I'm just trying to win ballgames, and today was a good win. We needed that win."
Bonds was booed lustily for the second straight night when introduced before the game. He walked to the top of the dugout steps in the first as fans hollered at him from the upper decks, then more boos moments later when he stepped into the on-deck circle. Also any time he touched the ball in left field.
Before the game, Bonds pumped his fist in the air to greet a fan behind the Giants' dugout. After he caught Gonzalez's foul fly ball to end the first, he made a quick behind-the-back pass and threw the ball into the seats along the left-field line.
"I've always liked that," Bonds said of interacting with the hostile Dodger crowd. "I'm not here to feed the frenzy on what other people think."
Since moving with one of Aaron's record on Friday night in San Francisco, Bonds is 1-for-12 with eight walks. He is batting .118 (4-for-34) against the Dodgers this year.
New Giants outfielder Rajai Davis, a rookie acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh on Tuesday that sent righty starter Matt Morris to the Pirates, got to start in center field alongside Bonds on his first day.
"That's really an honor to be on the same field as a man of his status," Davis said. "I definitely wasn't picturing this."
<< <i> If he had class he would stop and let Aaron keep it................period >>
Are you serious? Should all athletes stop just shy of a record becuase the guy who holds the record is deemed the rightfull owner? Records are meant to be broken and after Bonds breaks it, I am sure someone like AROD will come along and break it yet again.
Collecting all cards - Gus Zernial
Post Cereal both raw and PSA Graded (1961-1963)
<< <i> If he had class he would stop and let Aaron keep it................period >>
Are you serious? Should all athletes stop just shy of a record becuase the guy who holds the record is deemed the rightfull owner? Records are meant to be broken and after Bonds breaks it, I am sure someone like AROD will come along and break it yet again. >>
Well, how many of Barry's home runs can be linked to steriods?
25, 50, 100, 200 or more?
All those possible tainted homers between Bonds, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, makes Hank Aaron's 755 homers that much more remarkable, don't you think? (Give Sosa a few more tainted zingers because of his corked bat! LOL!)
getting over the hump is his problem now, same as arod getting his 500th,it working on their minds,after that they be fine, then arod can pass barry i hope!pretty funny last night with that last walk and then the guy behind em knocked the runs in-if iwas the pitcher id just throw him 2 about 30 mph and get it over with so they can talk about something else!funny before the game ,the old timers talig about him, they had nothing good to say about him at all!maybe tonight! randy
August 2nd - Bond's goes 1 for 2, 2 walks (no homers!) and lifted early.
rd
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Barry Bonds' bid to dent Dodger Stadium ended with a slow walk, rather than a historic trot.
After three more homerless games, the slugger heads south to San Diego where Greg Maddux will try to keep Bonds from hitting the single home run he needs to tie Hank Aaron's record.
Following yet another intentional walk, Bonds left for a pinch runner Thursday night in San Francisco's 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He never came close to No. 755 and hasn't homered since last Friday.
Bonds went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks in the series finale.
"They want to get him out and have Bonds move on to another pitcher," said Giants lefty Barry Zito, the winner Thursday. "The same way I would."
Bonds walked in the first and singled to right in the second inning, ending an 0-for-19 stretch against the Dodgers. He fouled out to the catcher in the fifth, was walked intentionally in the seventh and then lifted for Fred Lewis, Bonds' third straight early exit.
He will likely play the next two days and sit out Sunday afternoon. Then the Giants return home to San Francisco, where Bonds would prefer to break Aaron's mark.
"I talked to him and he says he feels fine, he feels great," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "What helps is we're getting leads and getting him out of there early."
Bonds has eight homers off Maddux -- tied for his most against any pitcher. Then again, he's faced Maddux regularly for years.
Mad Dog wants no part of any milestones.
"All the home runs I've given up have bothered me," Maddux said. "You do what you can to pitch around him if you have to, and try to win."
Bonds has 86 homers against the Padres, his highest total against any club -- but only three in pitcher-friendly Petco Park.
After a steroid awareness clinic for Little Leaguers earlier in the day at the ballpark, the sellout crowd of 56,000 was at its wildest and loudest. Bud Selig missed the frenzy.
The commissioner returned home to Milwaukee on Thursday and sent Hall of Famer Frank Robinson to represent Major League Baseball in his place. Selig was scheduled to meet the Giants in San Diego.
"Hey Barry, where's Greg Anderson? Where is he, Barry?" one man hollered from the sky-high seats during batting practice in reference to the slugger's incarcerated trainer. "How much are you paying him? We don't hate you because you're a cheater, it's because you're a jerk."
"HGH!" another yelled from way up in right field. That's the abbreviated version of human growth hormone -- one of the substances Bonds allegedly took.
Bonds saluted a few Dodgers fans and pointed their way while coming out to the cage for batting practice.
Later, they chanted "Barroid! Barroid!" Someone held a sign reading, "Barry: Just Say No" and one man held open his button-down shirt to reveal a black T-shirt with a giant red asterisk in the middle.
Dodger manager Grady Little wasn't happy -- even though the Dodgers kept Bonds in check.
"What bothers me is that the Giants beat us two out of three," he said. "It's over and we'll start the new series against Arizona tomorrow."
Zito (8-10), the $126 million left-hander who has struggled in his first season with San Francisco, won for just the second time in 10 starts. He didn't allow a run in the initial inning for the first time in five outings since July 3 at Cincinnati.
"Right now it's more important for Barry Zito to go out and get a win," Bochy said. "Bonds getting the record is just a matter of time."
But this night was still about the other Barry. When No. 25 left the game, so did a chunk of the crowd.
While Bonds thrives in the heat he gets from Dodger fans, he isn't too fond of Petco.
"That place, they just need to move all of that in," he said last month.
After Bonds walked on full count in the first, he came around to score on Kevin Frandsen's sacrifice fly. Bonds had to jump back to avoid being hit in the knees by a low, inside pitch for a ball.
When Bonds makes good contact, his manager knows he's getting back on track. But something clearly is a little off -- he's batting .188 since July 1.
Coaches Joe Lefebvre and Willie Upshaw have been spending extra time in the video room studying what is wrong with Bonds' swing.
"He knows his swing better than anyone I've been around," said Lefebvre, the team's hitting coach. "I've seen it better."
The seven-time NL MVP has only six hits and one homer since connecting twice July 19 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
He couldn't clear the fences against Brett Tomko (2-9). The right-hander once pitched for the other side in this rivalry, but his problems this season whether as a starter or reliever have caused those in Dodger Blue to grow impatient.
"It didn't matter to me," Tomko said of Bonds. "It's just another guy in the lineup. I was concerned with eight other guys and what to do with them. I think our guys did a pretty good job of not even worrying about it. From the get-go, it was about the Giants."
Tomko's own fans booed the pitcher when he came to the plate for the first time in the third and again when he struck out. Tomko has given up one home run to Bonds.
"They're making good pitches on him," Bochy said. "Whether he's pressing or not, that's hard to say. But when you're approaching probably the biggest record in all of sports, there's bound to be some pressure. Guys probably try a little too hard. Look at A-Rod. He's gone in a little slump over there trying to hit 500."
you know, i dont particularly like the guy, but intentionally walking him is pretty dirty pool out of em, joe morgan said last night that barrys intentioal walks 670+something, would have equalled up to 5 years of playing at the bat that he got ripped off from randy
<< <i>you know, i dont particularly like the guy, but intentionally walking him is pretty dirty pool out of em, joe morgan said last night that barrys intentioal walks 670+something, would have equalled up to 5 years of playing at the bat that he got ripped off from randy >>
That's really only one season, or perhaps a couple at-bats more than one. Take a look at the total plate appearance (TMA).
Looking for Jonny Gomes cards, especially Triple Threads and printing plates. Will consider all cards, though. Got something? Contact me at c_u_l_1@yahoo.com
maybe joe was talking about the 2000+overall walkshe has-it was bunch, dont remember the #- still a rip off even though nobody likes him,at least maddux pitched to him tonight instead of trying to hit him or walk him like the other guys did at the dodgers- tonight bonds zip-arod zip,rather a-rod hit 500 before basketball head hits 755 & 756,we'll have to wait and see, might have to add another 2 weeks to this competition rd!! randy
I was excited when Bonds hit 754. Now I'm just sick and tired of the chase. Just hit it already. The current administration and Bonds' career just can't end soon enough.
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Barry Bonds once called Petco Park "baseball proof." Greg Maddux made sure it was homer proof, too.
Playing in perhaps his least-favorite ballpark, Bonds extended his homerless streak to one week and remained at No. 754, one shy of tying Hank Aaron's record.
The San Francisco slugger was hitless in three tries against the wily Maddux in a classic matchup Friday night, and finished 0-for-4 overall.
Both stars were long gone when Scott Hairston homered for the second time, a solo shot with one out in the 10th inning that gave the San Diego Padres a 4-3 win over the Giants.
Hairston, who replaced injured left fielder Milton Bradley in the sixth, hit a tying three-run homer to left in the eighth. His winning shot came off Jack Taschner (2-1). Heath Bell (5-3) got the win.
Bonds grounded to first against rookie Kevin Cameron in the eighth, then was replaced in left field by Fred Lewis in the bottom half.
With fans booing and cameras flashing all around the stadium during Bonds' at-bats, there was no historic shot at the big downtown ballpark.
Surrounded by an entourage and family members afterward, Bonds refused comment through security guards and one of his two publicists.
However, his 17-year-old son, Nikolai, said of the Bonds-Maddux matchup: "I've seen it before."
Padres manager Bud Black said he didn't believe Maddux was "thinking about pitching around him once. I think he was trying to get him out. It was great seeing two competitors like that at their age."
The 43-year-old Bonds showed exactly why he's campaigned for the NL West rivals to bring in the fences.
Bonds' hardest-hit ball settled into Rob Mackowiak's glove in medium right field to cap an eight-pitch at-bat in the sixth. Fans sitting in the bleachers beyond the right-center field fence started to move forward in anticipation of one heck of a souvenir, but Bonds watched the vast outfield claim another fly ball.
Bonds made Maddux work, too, fouling off pitches in each at-bat during yet another great matchup in the 22nd season for both players. Bonds has homered eight times off Maddux, matching his most off any pitcher.
But Bonds has just three homers in 77 at-bats at Petco Park, which opened in 2004.
Commissioner Bud Selig watched from Padres owner John Moores' luxury box. Selig was on hand after spending Thursday home in Milwaukee and missing the Giants' series finale at Dodger Stadium.
Bonds' next chance is against Clay Hensley on Saturday night. Hensley, who will make his first start since May 2, has not surrendered a home run to Bonds.
Bonds' godfather, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, is expected to show up Saturday, too.
Maddux already leads a list of 444 pitchers to surrender a home run to Bonds, giving up eight along with four other pitchers. The 41-year-old with Hall of Fame credentials had no intention of serving up No. 9.
"You don't want to be that guy," Maddux said. "I know I didn't want to be that guy. It felt different, a little more important."
Bonds struck out looking at a full-count fastball to end the first inning with Dave Roberts on second base. Maddux grinned as he walked off the mound.
Bonds ended the third by grounding out to second baseman Geoff Blum, who was playing in shallow right as part of the "Bonds shift."
While it's an enticing 322 feet to the home-run porch down the right-field line, it's 400 feet to the gap in right-center and 401 to the left-center alley. It's 396 to straightaway center field.
Bonds thinks the downtown ballpark is just too darn big, period.
"That's just a shame. That place, they just need to move all of that in," he said last month.
Bonds loved hitting in the Padres' former home, Qualcomm Stadium, where he homered 39 times. His 42 homers in San Diego are his most in any road city, and his 86 against the Padres are his most against any team.
Maddux last served up a homer to Bonds on May 1, 1998, while he was pitching for Atlanta.
Mad Dog is stuck on a number, too. He lost his fifth straight decision since beating the Giants 7-4 at San Francisco on June 27. Maddux is 340-212 in his brilliant career.
The slugger was booed when the lineups were announced a few minutes before first pitch, with a smattering of cheers mixed in.
As Bonds started walking toward the plate with two outs in the first, the fans let him have it. Some held up asterisk signs.
It was the first multihomer for Hairston and his first game-winning shot.
"I was just telling myself to be aggressive," he said. "That's why you play the game, for moments like that. It was a playoff atmosphere."
Bonds seemed relaxed before the game, like he has for most of the season. He spent several minutes in the dugout chatting with a San Diego radio station producer, with his back to the field. He didn't see the nearly two dozen police officers take up positions along the left-field line.
Fans seemed almost mesmerized during batting practice. They cheered when the slugger lofted a few shots into the stands.
One fan hollered "Break it tonight," and two kids held up a sign that read: "Rock on Barry, Rock on." A group of teenagers behind San Diego's dugout had a sign that said: "Thrive for 755. We love you Barry."
Bonds waved to Giants fans at one point.
And he had at least one local pulling for him.
Isaias Salazar of nearby Ramona sat behind the Padres' dugout holding a blown-up photo of his granddaughter and Bonds that was taken two years ago at Disney World. Next to the picture was a greeting of, "We Love you, Barry! #755." The girl's name is Tuesday Demargosian.
Salazar wore a Padres shirt and said he was a San Diego fan -- "and a Barry fan."
Longtime Padres fan Harry Maker wasn't changing his anti-Bonds stance.
"The real fans aren't here yet," said Maker, who's become well-known for razzing opponents from his seat in left field. "The real fans are going to boo him because they know the home run record is hallowed."
Hey guys, just caught the news this morning, this is my first time ever winning anything, besides Estils imaginary fresh baked cookies. Thansk rbdjr1 for the contest!!
Comments
<< <i>
<< <i>I'll take the 12th cause that looks like the last spot
ok zep33, u have: Aug 12th!
rd >>
thanks, I'm rooting for the Tonya Harding "bat to the knee cap" scenario
Hank Aaron's cat will never allow it
<< <i>Hurry-up and pick a spot!
Just two spots are left!
August 10th (Home against Pittsburgh!)
or
August 12th (Home against Pittsburgh!)
rd >>
I'll go with August 10th since I'm waaaaaaay late to join in.
rd
edit: I'll give you all 5 minutes, otherwise this last spot in this contest goes to pandrews!
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971
Done!
1980scollector gets the final (the 39th!) spot!
rd
so: 1980scollector gets: August 12th!
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971
Tuesday, July 31st - Bonds goes 0 for 2 at L.A.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Lots of boos and little else for Barry Bonds at Dodger Stadium.
Back on the road, Bonds stayed stuck at 754 home runs when he went 0-for-2 with two walks in the San Francisco Giants' 3-1 victory over Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
Since moving with one of Hank Aaron's record on Friday night in San Francisco, Bonds is 1-for-9 with seven walks.
This was the opener of a six-game trip that ends in San Diego. Loved at home but reviled on the road, Bonds' main solace was that he got to head to his own home in Beverly Hills. He finished work early, too, coming out in the seventh inning for a pinch runner.
"I thought they were great," Giants center fielder Dave Roberts, a former Dodger himself, said of the fans. "There was a lot of anticipation with us coming to town. I tip my hat to them. They were excitable."
Earlier Tuesday, two other stars also missed chances for milestones -- Alex Rodriguez failed to hit his 500th home run at Yankee Stadium and the Mets' Tom Glavine was denied his 300th victory when his bullpen wasted a lead in Milwaukee.
Bud Selig returned to see Bonds resume his quest after the commissioner missed the Giants' weekend series against Florida in San Francisco to be in Cooperstown, N.Y., for the Hall of Fame induction.
Dodger Stadium might be the ballpark where Bonds is most despised -- and 56,000 fans let him know it at every opportunity. The sea of Dodger Blue in the sellout crowd booed lustily when Bonds' name was announced, then again every time when he touched the ball on defense or stepped out of the dugout to make his way to the on-deck circle.
"They were doing their booing, but it wasn't out of hand," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who wasn't sure whether Bonds would play Wednesday night. "He's feeling pretty good. He's getting his swings in. We'll see how he feels."
Bonds emerged from the clubhouse after the game and found a horde of media waiting to enter. He took a couple of steps forward and the camera crews converged before he quickly retreated and shut the door.
A Bonds lookalike escorted by a man dressed as Bonds' incarcerated trainer, Greg Anderson, made quite the entrance to their third-row seats behind home plate right when Bonds was coming up to bat in the first. Scott Keighley, a 47-year-old general contractor, carried an extra-large makeshift syringe that security confiscated.
His son, 22-year-old Scott Jr., sported a full gray Giants' road uniform and wore brown makeup on his face and over a swim cap to appear as a black man -- and posed for many photos. He waited outside the Giants' clubhouse postgame. They had a 3-foot asterisk taken away at the gate.
"We're not here to root for him," Scott Sr. said. "We're just getting a point across -- nothing obscene."
When Bonds headed out to left field in the bottom half, a soccer ball was thrown onto the warning track behind him.
Thousands of fans chanted a popular phrase questioning Bonds' ability.
Batting practice before the game was exceptionally lively.
"I love you Barry!" someone yelled from the upper decks.
Bonds saluted a fan behind home plate before stepping in to take a round of cuts.
"We heard talk about this being a distraction for our team," Roberts said. "That couldn't be any further from the truth. We're where we are because of the 25 guys in this clubhouse, not only because of Barry Bonds. At the same time, we're ready for this to be over."
There's no question Bonds would like to break the record soon.
He struck out on three pitches from All-Star Brad Penny (13-2) ending the first, walked intentionally in the third and drew another free pass in the sixth. He reached in the seventh after shortstop Rafael Furcal dropped the high popup in shallow left-center. Fred Lewis then entered to run for Bonds and took over at his spot in left field.
The Giants aren't the only ones growing tired of the hype around Bonds' pursuit.
"I don't really want to talk about Barry right now," Penny said. "I'm done answering questions about the Barry thing."
Next up is Mark Hendrickson, a 6-foot-9 left-hander who starts Wednesday night for the Dodgers. He hasn't surrendered a home run to Bonds in eight at-bats.
Still, Bonds was happy to get to sleep in his own bed for a few nights.
"Isn't it always nice to be home?" Bonds said before the game, sitting at a locker that's not in the corner for a change.
Source: ESPN
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971
Well my August 4th is looking pretty good about right now
August 1st - Bonds goes 0 for 3, walk in L.A.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Barry Bonds looks as if he's lost that picture-perfect swing.
With thousands of cameras flashing at every pitch that came his way, the slugger struggled again to find the impeccable hand-eye coordination that has defined his 22-year career.
Bonds went hitless and remained at 754 home runs and one from tying Hank Aaron's record in the Giants' 6-4 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday night.
The Giants' biggest rival sure has made Bonds look bad lately, giving Los Angeles fans a lot to cheer about.
Bonds went 0-for-3 with an intentional walk and is hitless in 19 at-bats against the Dodgers since a single on April 26.
"Let's not talk about that too much," the Dodgers' Russell Martin said. "We don't want to jinx ourselves right now, but we're pitching him tough, and the pressure's on his side. He's the one who has to break the record."
Bonds could be seen in the dugout showing his batboy son, 17-year-old Nikolai, how his swing is out of whack. Bonds' .186 average in July was his lowest in a month since April 1991 when he hit .177, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That includes months in which he had at least 15 at-bats.
"Well, the man's 43," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "To expect him to do what he did in his prime is asking a lot. ... I think without question he's not seeing as many strikes, and they're being very careful. He's not getting a lot to hit right now."
Bonds flied out on a full count leading off the second, then grounded out on the first pitch he saw with one out and the bases empty in the fourth. In the sixth, Juan Pierre robbed him of a hit with a pretty running catch in which he laid out to make the play in center.
Bonds was intentionally walked in the eighth by winner Jonathan Broxton (4-2) after the reliever fell behind 2-0 in the count. Fans booed the pitcher and headed for the exits before Fred Lewis had even made it to first to pinch run for Bonds.
"It's great," Giants rookie starter Tim Lincecum said of the atmosphere. "It's going to be nice when he does break it. It's just the most prestigious record to hold. Everybody wants to see it no matter if they're rooting for him or not."
Last month coming out of the All-Star break, Bonds had back-to-back 0-for-5 games against Los Angeles as the Dodgers swept three games and extended their winning streak to 11 straight in San Francisco. After the series finale, the seven-time NL MVP called himself an "embarrassment," later flipping a laundry cart to the ground. He flew to Chicago mired in an 0-for-20 funk -- one of his worst slumps ever.
On Wednesday, Bonds got ridiculed right along with the Laker Girls.
He shouldn't feel so bad. At Dodger Stadium, this is just what they do -- and he's used to it.
Still, flashbulbs lit up the hazy Southern California sky for the second straight night whenever he stepped into the batter's box.
"I don't see them," Bond said before the game when asked about it.
Commissioner Bud Selig attended the game, but was scheduled to return home to Milwaukee on Thursday before meeting up with the Giants in San Diego on Friday night. Hall of Famer Frank Robinson will represent the commissioner's office in Selig's place Thursday. Giants executive vice president Larry Baer also joined the Bonds' road show Wednesday.
Brett Tomko, a former Giant, is scheduled to pitch the series finale for the Dodgers on Thursday night. The right-hander has given up one homer to Bonds in 22 at-bats with 13 walks.
Bochy said that Bonds would be in the lineup each day as long as he felt good enough to play. Bonds has been taken out early in two straight contests.
"He feels great -- most likely," Bochy said of Bonds playing Thursday.
Nomar Garciaparra upstaged Bonds again, hitting a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth after Luis Gonzalez's tying two-run double off loser Randy Messenger (1-3).
In July 2006, Garciaparra also hit a tiebreaking, two-run shot in the eighth at Dodger Stadium to trump Bonds' 720th career home run.
"I don't know if I'm trying to steal anybody's thunder," Garciaparra said. "I'm just trying to win ballgames, and today was a good win. We needed that win."
Bonds was booed lustily for the second straight night when introduced before the game. He walked to the top of the dugout steps in the first as fans hollered at him from the upper decks, then more boos moments later when he stepped into the on-deck circle. Also any time he touched the ball in left field.
Before the game, Bonds pumped his fist in the air to greet a fan behind the Giants' dugout. After he caught Gonzalez's foul fly ball to end the first, he made a quick behind-the-back pass and threw the ball into the seats along the left-field line.
"I've always liked that," Bonds said of interacting with the hostile Dodger crowd. "I'm not here to feed the frenzy on what other people think."
Since moving with one of Aaron's record on Friday night in San Francisco, Bonds is 1-for-12 with eight walks. He is batting .118 (4-for-34) against the Dodgers this year.
New Giants outfielder Rajai Davis, a rookie acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh on Tuesday that sent righty starter Matt Morris to the Pirates, got to start in center field alongside Bonds on his first day.
"That's really an honor to be on the same field as a man of his status," Davis said. "I definitely wasn't picturing this."
Source: ESPN
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971
<< <i> If he had class he would stop and let Aaron keep it................period >>
Are you serious? Should all athletes stop just shy of a record becuase the guy who holds the record is deemed the rightfull owner? Records are meant to be broken and after Bonds breaks it, I am sure someone like AROD will come along and break it yet again.
Collecting all cards - Gus Zernial
Post Cereal both raw and PSA Graded (1961-1963)
<< <i>
<< <i> If he had class he would stop and let Aaron keep it................period >>
Are you serious? Should all athletes stop just shy of a record becuase the guy who holds the record is deemed the rightfull owner? Records are meant to be broken and after Bonds breaks it, I am sure someone like AROD will come along and break it yet again. >>
Well, how many of Barry's home runs can be linked to steriods?
25, 50, 100, 200 or more?
All those possible tainted homers between Bonds, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, makes Hank Aaron's 755 homers that much more remarkable, don't you think? (Give Sosa a few more tainted zingers because of his corked bat! LOL!)
rd
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971
Bonds - 1 for 20 (a single!) since his last zinger!
rd
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971
randy
C'mon August 4th!!
August 2nd - Bond's goes 1 for 2, 2 walks (no homers!) and lifted early.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Barry Bonds' bid to dent Dodger Stadium ended with a slow walk, rather than a historic trot.
After three more homerless games, the slugger heads south to San Diego where Greg Maddux will try to keep Bonds from hitting the single home run he needs to tie Hank Aaron's record.
Following yet another intentional walk, Bonds left for a pinch runner Thursday night in San Francisco's 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He never came close to No. 755 and hasn't homered since last Friday.
Bonds went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks in the series finale.
"They want to get him out and have Bonds move on to another pitcher," said Giants lefty Barry Zito, the winner Thursday. "The same way I would."
Bonds walked in the first and singled to right in the second inning, ending an 0-for-19 stretch against the Dodgers. He fouled out to the catcher in the fifth, was walked intentionally in the seventh and then lifted for Fred Lewis, Bonds' third straight early exit.
He will likely play the next two days and sit out Sunday afternoon. Then the Giants return home to San Francisco, where Bonds would prefer to break Aaron's mark.
"I talked to him and he says he feels fine, he feels great," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "What helps is we're getting leads and getting him out of there early."
Bonds has eight homers off Maddux -- tied for his most against any pitcher. Then again, he's faced Maddux regularly for years.
Mad Dog wants no part of any milestones.
"All the home runs I've given up have bothered me," Maddux said. "You do what you can to pitch around him if you have to, and try to win."
Bonds has 86 homers against the Padres, his highest total against any club -- but only three in pitcher-friendly Petco Park.
After a steroid awareness clinic for Little Leaguers earlier in the day at the ballpark, the sellout crowd of 56,000 was at its wildest and loudest. Bud Selig missed the frenzy.
The commissioner returned home to Milwaukee on Thursday and sent Hall of Famer Frank Robinson to represent Major League Baseball in his place. Selig was scheduled to meet the Giants in San Diego.
"Hey Barry, where's Greg Anderson? Where is he, Barry?" one man hollered from the sky-high seats during batting practice in reference to the slugger's incarcerated trainer. "How much are you paying him? We don't hate you because you're a cheater, it's because you're a jerk."
"HGH!" another yelled from way up in right field. That's the abbreviated version of human growth hormone -- one of the substances Bonds allegedly took.
Bonds saluted a few Dodgers fans and pointed their way while coming out to the cage for batting practice.
Later, they chanted "Barroid! Barroid!" Someone held a sign reading, "Barry: Just Say No" and one man held open his button-down shirt to reveal a black T-shirt with a giant red asterisk in the middle.
Dodger manager Grady Little wasn't happy -- even though the Dodgers kept Bonds in check.
"What bothers me is that the Giants beat us two out of three," he said. "It's over and we'll start the new series against Arizona tomorrow."
Zito (8-10), the $126 million left-hander who has struggled in his first season with San Francisco, won for just the second time in 10 starts. He didn't allow a run in the initial inning for the first time in five outings since July 3 at Cincinnati.
"Right now it's more important for Barry Zito to go out and get a win," Bochy said. "Bonds getting the record is just a matter of time."
But this night was still about the other Barry. When No. 25 left the game, so did a chunk of the crowd.
While Bonds thrives in the heat he gets from Dodger fans, he isn't too fond of Petco.
"That place, they just need to move all of that in," he said last month.
After Bonds walked on full count in the first, he came around to score on Kevin Frandsen's sacrifice fly. Bonds had to jump back to avoid being hit in the knees by a low, inside pitch for a ball.
When Bonds makes good contact, his manager knows he's getting back on track. But something clearly is a little off -- he's batting .188 since July 1.
Coaches Joe Lefebvre and Willie Upshaw have been spending extra time in the video room studying what is wrong with Bonds' swing.
"He knows his swing better than anyone I've been around," said Lefebvre, the team's hitting coach. "I've seen it better."
The seven-time NL MVP has only six hits and one homer since connecting twice July 19 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
He couldn't clear the fences against Brett Tomko (2-9). The right-hander once pitched for the other side in this rivalry, but his problems this season whether as a starter or reliever have caused those in Dodger Blue to grow impatient.
"It didn't matter to me," Tomko said of Bonds. "It's just another guy in the lineup. I was concerned with eight other guys and what to do with them. I think our guys did a pretty good job of not even worrying about it. From the get-go, it was about the Giants."
Tomko's own fans booed the pitcher when he came to the plate for the first time in the third and again when he struck out. Tomko has given up one home run to Bonds.
"They're making good pitches on him," Bochy said. "Whether he's pressing or not, that's hard to say. But when you're approaching probably the biggest record in all of sports, there's bound to be some pressure. Guys probably try a little too hard. Look at A-Rod. He's gone in a little slump over there trying to hit 500."
Source - ESPN
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971
randy
I am hoping that it stays with Hank Aaron (Taken Aug 29, 2007)
<< <i>you know, i dont particularly like the guy, but intentionally walking him is pretty dirty pool out of em, joe morgan said last night that barrys intentioal walks 670+something, would have equalled up to 5 years of playing at the bat that he got ripped off from
randy >>
That's really only one season, or perhaps a couple at-bats more than one. Take a look at the total plate appearance (TMA).
Looking for Jonny Gomes cards, especially Triple Threads and printing plates. Will consider all cards, though. Got something? Contact me at c_u_l_1@yahoo.com
>
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randy
Maddux: 10-11 Record; 3.34 ERA; 194 IP;
Glavine: 13-11 Record; 3.42 ERA; 218 IP; and
Smoltz: 12-12 Record; 2.65 ERA; 207 IP.
I was excited when Bonds hit 754. Now I'm just sick and tired of the chase. Just hit it already. The current administration and Bonds' career just can't end soon enough.
/s/ JackWESQ
August 3rd - Bonds goes 0 for 4 in San Diego.
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SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Barry Bonds once called Petco Park "baseball proof." Greg Maddux made sure it was homer proof, too.
Playing in perhaps his least-favorite ballpark, Bonds extended his homerless streak to one week and remained at No. 754, one shy of tying Hank Aaron's record.
The San Francisco slugger was hitless in three tries against the wily Maddux in a classic matchup Friday night, and finished 0-for-4 overall.
Both stars were long gone when Scott Hairston homered for the second time, a solo shot with one out in the 10th inning that gave the San Diego Padres a 4-3 win over the Giants.
Hairston, who replaced injured left fielder Milton Bradley in the sixth, hit a tying three-run homer to left in the eighth. His winning shot came off Jack Taschner (2-1). Heath Bell (5-3) got the win.
Bonds grounded to first against rookie Kevin Cameron in the eighth, then was replaced in left field by Fred Lewis in the bottom half.
With fans booing and cameras flashing all around the stadium during Bonds' at-bats, there was no historic shot at the big downtown ballpark.
Surrounded by an entourage and family members afterward, Bonds refused comment through security guards and one of his two publicists.
However, his 17-year-old son, Nikolai, said of the Bonds-Maddux matchup: "I've seen it before."
Padres manager Bud Black said he didn't believe Maddux was "thinking about pitching around him once. I think he was trying to get him out. It was great seeing two competitors like that at their age."
The 43-year-old Bonds showed exactly why he's campaigned for the NL West rivals to bring in the fences.
Bonds' hardest-hit ball settled into Rob Mackowiak's glove in medium right field to cap an eight-pitch at-bat in the sixth. Fans sitting in the bleachers beyond the right-center field fence started to move forward in anticipation of one heck of a souvenir, but Bonds watched the vast outfield claim another fly ball.
Bonds made Maddux work, too, fouling off pitches in each at-bat during yet another great matchup in the 22nd season for both players. Bonds has homered eight times off Maddux, matching his most off any pitcher.
But Bonds has just three homers in 77 at-bats at Petco Park, which opened in 2004.
Commissioner Bud Selig watched from Padres owner John Moores' luxury box. Selig was on hand after spending Thursday home in Milwaukee and missing the Giants' series finale at Dodger Stadium.
Bonds' next chance is against Clay Hensley on Saturday night. Hensley, who will make his first start since May 2, has not surrendered a home run to Bonds.
Bonds' godfather, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, is expected to show up Saturday, too.
Maddux already leads a list of 444 pitchers to surrender a home run to Bonds, giving up eight along with four other pitchers. The 41-year-old with Hall of Fame credentials had no intention of serving up No. 9.
"You don't want to be that guy," Maddux said. "I know I didn't want to be that guy. It felt different, a little more important."
Bonds struck out looking at a full-count fastball to end the first inning with Dave Roberts on second base. Maddux grinned as he walked off the mound.
Bonds ended the third by grounding out to second baseman Geoff Blum, who was playing in shallow right as part of the "Bonds shift."
While it's an enticing 322 feet to the home-run porch down the right-field line, it's 400 feet to the gap in right-center and 401 to the left-center alley. It's 396 to straightaway center field.
Bonds thinks the downtown ballpark is just too darn big, period.
"That's just a shame. That place, they just need to move all of that in," he said last month.
Bonds loved hitting in the Padres' former home, Qualcomm Stadium, where he homered 39 times. His 42 homers in San Diego are his most in any road city, and his 86 against the Padres are his most against any team.
Maddux last served up a homer to Bonds on May 1, 1998, while he was pitching for Atlanta.
Mad Dog is stuck on a number, too. He lost his fifth straight decision since beating the Giants 7-4 at San Francisco on June 27. Maddux is 340-212 in his brilliant career.
The slugger was booed when the lineups were announced a few minutes before first pitch, with a smattering of cheers mixed in.
As Bonds started walking toward the plate with two outs in the first, the fans let him have it. Some held up asterisk signs.
It was the first multihomer for Hairston and his first game-winning shot.
"I was just telling myself to be aggressive," he said. "That's why you play the game, for moments like that. It was a playoff atmosphere."
Bonds seemed relaxed before the game, like he has for most of the season. He spent several minutes in the dugout chatting with a San Diego radio station producer, with his back to the field. He didn't see the nearly two dozen police officers take up positions along the left-field line.
Fans seemed almost mesmerized during batting practice. They cheered when the slugger lofted a few shots into the stands.
One fan hollered "Break it tonight," and two kids held up a sign that read: "Rock on Barry, Rock on." A group of teenagers behind San Diego's dugout had a sign that said: "Thrive for 755. We love you Barry."
Bonds waved to Giants fans at one point.
And he had at least one local pulling for him.
Isaias Salazar of nearby Ramona sat behind the Padres' dugout holding a blown-up photo of his granddaughter and Bonds that was taken two years ago at Disney World. Next to the picture was a greeting of, "We Love you, Barry! #755." The girl's name is Tuesday Demargosian.
Salazar wore a Padres shirt and said he was a San Diego fan -- "and a Barry fan."
Longtime Padres fan Harry Maker wasn't changing his anti-Bonds stance.
"The real fans aren't here yet," said Maker, who's become well-known for razzing opponents from his seat in left field. "The real fans are going to boo him because they know the home run record is hallowed."
Source: ESPN
Quicksilver Messenger Service - Smokestack Lightning (Live) 1968
Quicksilver Messenger Service - The Hat (Live) 1971
randy
randy
Thansk rbdjr1 for the contest!!
This was fun!!