Barry BONDS

[jim72911t]

When he goes to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim after the 2006 season, all of the LA baseball fans will decide that he is an okay guy.

It has worked on Giants fans, who, for the most part, realize he is a bit of an a-hole, and a cheater.

But boy, can he hit.

Hate to say it, but when I'm working in the garage, listening to the Giants game on the radio, I'll actually go into the house to watch his AB. His swing is a true thing of beauty, like him or not.

[Eric 951]

Originally posted by Taz's Master
Over a season, he does indeed deliver. When it mattered, I watched him disappear. His teams wouldn't have gotten anywhere without him, but once in

I have seen this in-person when he was with the Pirates.

Chokes when it matters most.

[TerryH]

They all hated a guy named Ty Cobb too. Ted Williams was, at times, butthole. I agree, Bonds is a guy with huge chip on his shoulder who doesn't appeal to many, but you are looking at the guy who will most likely hold the HR record that will stand up for the rest of our lives.

[CJFusco]

YES, but there's a difference: Cobb and the Splinter were never caught using performance-enhancing drugs.

HoF-caliber players like A-Rod, Pedro, Johnson, Schilling, and Manny are not very well-liked as individuals... they are more comparable to Ted and Cobb. Bonds is despicable on a completely different level.

The sad part is that Bonds would undoubtedly be a HoFer WITHOUT the steroids.

[Moses]

I'm not gonna name names or tell tales, but the the really awful stuff about Bonds never sees print. Nobody is capable of being a complete ass to everyone 24/7, but Bonds comes close.

He refuses to travel with the team, doesn't show up for the annual official team photo (he's the only one missing). You should see the locker room. Every player has a 36" wide locker (very nicely finished in cherry cabinetry). Barrys locker is 72" wide with a recliner in place of the traditional stool. Rookies who come up to the Giants for the first time are briefed on the "Barry rules"; don't speak unless spoken to, don't ask for autographs or photos. In every clubhouse in MLB, there is a tradition for rookies on their first day in the bigs, they get a baseball signed by all 25 players on the roster. In SF, there will be only 24 signatures. Nice guy.

[ckissick]

Originally posted by Eric 951
I have seen this in-person when he was with the Pirates.

Chokes when it matters most.

Well, then, you haven't seem him lately. It's uncanny how often he comes through with the Giants. He was pretty decent in the World Series against Anaheim: .471 BA and 4 HRs. When it matters most, they walk him. I don't know how many times he has come to the plate when an intentional walk was not possible, and he got a hit, and sometimes a home run. He may have choked in Pittsburgh, but not here.

Call him a jerk, but he's no longer a choker.

[Craig 930 RS]

[ckissick]

Explanation. Yesterday, the Giants had a "Giants Idol" contest, and Barry was judge Paula Abdul. Who says he doesn't cooperate with the team?

[Craig 930 RS]

One would think there is at least some truth to this:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5388242

The hammer comes down.

[Jim Richards]

Originally posted by Craig911
What is your take on Mr. Bonds?

Schmuck (sp?) not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as Hank Aaron.

[Taz's Master]

You can say Barry's no longer a choker, but he's been to the post-season 7 times. Once he's hit more than 1 homerun. 5 times he's hit less than 1 homerun. Once he's had more than 2 rbi's. Once he's batted over .300. In 2002 he had a phenominal post-season, but that is not the rule for Bonds. The problem is you pay for production in baseball, and Barry produces BIG, so much of the team's payroll is dedicated to him. When Barry doesn't produce, the team suffers BIG. Barry hit in one post-season, the only one when his team wasn't eliminated in the first round.

[Halm]

Doesn't matter how he played in the regular season or the post-season. It all the same: ONE BIG LIE. He is a cheater. He may have been gifted but we will never know how gifted. He is a cheater that cheated fans out of a legitimate HR record (among other things), he cheated his team mates with inflated stats that cost them $$$ in their contracts, etc., etc. He is a cheater, plain and simple. No "*" please. Just erase his name from the roles of those that ever played the game.

[Big Ed]

I'm with Hal. This guy was an amazing natural talent, one of the best ever, and his enormous ego made him cheat nonetheless. Erase his records and let him retire in shame. I find this much more disappointing than what Pete Rose did.

[Moses]

Originally posted by ckissick
Explanation. Yesterday, the Giants had a "Giants Idol" contest, and Barry was judge Paula Abdul. Who says he doesn't cooperate with the team?

Local word is that Barry's newly hired P.R. firm wants to create a more "likeable and approachable" Barry Bonds image so that the media coverage will be more favorable when he breaks Aarons record.

[Craig 930 RS]

I hope to God he finds some lie or another excuse for not trying to go for the all time HR record.

Can you imagine the ***** that will hit the fan as he gets near, ties, and surpasses the record?

I don't even think Bonds has the balls to risk the fallout.