Barry Bonds...your thoughts?

[Red Baron]

He's absolutely one of the greatest player's in the history of the sport at all levels to include college and MLB.

The majority of people in the world know nothing about him other than the one sided media storm of the recent years. There really is a lot more to his statistics than just home runs. In the mid 90's long before any steroid accusations, he had a three year on base slugging percentage higher than Mickey Mantle while in his prime. That's one of several that exist and you never hear about. His days at AZ State are a great story too.

I look forward to him breaking the record!

[Red Baron]

Go to any little league field, and you hear the kids saying "But he cheated" and "He took drugs." Sad that 7, 8 and 9 year olds are saying those things when talking about baseball.

That's the power of the media, which IMO is the sad part. And he's never failed a wizz quiz either.

And no matter how evil the media has tried to make steroids appear over the past 30 years, steroid usage is up among teenagers and has continued a trend up since the early 80's long before we all knew who Barry Bonds is.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Is he the guy that lied to Congress?

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Shuie

I think he is one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

I agree with this, an incredible talent. I remember when he first went to SF from Pittsburgh. It looked so effortless when he played, a man among boys.


He is also one of the most arrogant people to play any sport. Terrible team player. Shame about his steroid abuse. He has tainted his legacy, which I find pretty ironic.

Use performance enhancing drugs and hormones to attain the pinnacle you seek, and the whispers about how he did it drown out the cheers.

Originally Posted by Shuie

I quit watching after the strike in '94. That ruined the sport for me.

Was that when they cancelled the Series? That is when I quit watching too.

Oh, and BTW, his not failing a drug test has a heck of a lot more to do with his chemist than his innocence. He clearly and obviously has taken steroids in order to set the single season record, and the career mark. It is just that simple.

[stomachmonkey]

Since this is likely his last they should intentionally walk him for the rest of the season.

[Seahawk]

I am a life-long Giants fan, played baseball in college and still play over 40 hardball...soon to be over 50!!!

And I could care less. Pro sports have almost zero appeal to me or my family. The games are on too late on the East Coast, last seemingly forever and, with the exception of the play-offs, are often languid.

I still track the 49'ers

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Since this is likely his last they should intentionally walk him for the rest of the season.

Perfect!

[Red Baron]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Is he the guy that lied to Congress?

Nope, you are thinking of Palmero

[Red Baron]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Since this is likely his last they should intentionally walk him for the rest of the season.

Hate on..... He has already said he is plyaying again next year.

[GDSOB]

Great ballplayer, rotten person.

He would have been a hall of famer without the roids.

Here's my take on roids. Steroids increase strength, which increase bat speed, allowing the batter to wait longer before swinging. Less guessing involved since you swing where the ball is, rather than where you think will be. Also it has helped many players who previously had "warning track power" become HR hitters.

If only Griffey stayed healthy, we'd be talking about him with no suspicion of steroids...

[Shuie]

Honestly, I don't understand the uproar. Alex Rodriguez is going to shatter the new record within a few years of Bonds retirement, and nothing Bonds has ever done will ever take anything away from that.

[Halm]

Originally Posted by BertBeagle

I think he is a great ball player - steroids or not. To get where he is you need to be able to put the bat square on the ball and I don't believe the steroids help at all with that detail.

Bert, we need to meet a Summit Coffee sometime and have a chat. It appears that like many folks you don't have the foggiest idea what these "cocktails" are all about.

Mr Bonds is a cheat, plain and simple. Take him off the juice and he is just another ball player fighting for a place on a team.

[on2wheels52]

I can remember when baseball was America's pastime. I'm not sure what is today.
Jim

[Mule]

dirtbag

[Joe Bob]

Black or white....the guy is a putz......a cheating putz.

[sammyg2]

He's a roid freak, he's rude to his team mates, he's arrogant, he's not as good as he thinks he is, and if he had played by the rules he'd have 200 homeruns if he was lucky. He makes Kobe Bryant look like a team player. He does not belong in the records books, he does not belong in Canton.
He does not belong in major league baseball.

I have spoken to Henry Aaron on the phone a few times and met him in person once, (came to visit at my house, my oldest brother played for the Braves and Henry came by during the recruiting process). Henry is a class act. A little slow talking but very polite and respectful. He is someone who should be looked up to as a role model, not Bonds.

[trekkor]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Since this is likely his last they should intentionally walk him for the rest of the season.

If Bonds came to bat last night, it would have been bases loaded, tie game, bottom of the ninth.

So, walk him then? Lose the game to deny an at bat?

That strategy would not work real well over the course of a season.
Sounds fun.

I remember a few years back, I think Arizona walked Bonds with the bases loaded forcing in a run instead of pitching to him. I don't recall the outcome of that game.

I always felt cheated as a fan when he refused to run out a close play at first.
Or set up for a diving play in the field.

I have mixed feelings.
Ultimately, he is just an entertainer and his conduct, like other entertainers is not something I think much about.


KT

[trekkor]

Bonds just flubbed a little shot into shallow right field and practially crawled down to first to be thrown out.

Anybody think he'll go "yard" tonight in San Diego?


KT

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I hope not.

I'm actually hoping for a career-ending injury before he reaches the milestone.

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

I hope not.

I'm actually hoping for a career-ending injury before he reaches the milestone.

Or a good Marine Corps Trained sniper.....