Posted on 03/08/2006 6:45:22 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
Not exactly. Bonds hit 292 home runs in the first 10 years of his career (prior to any allegations of steroid use) and had developed into a serious 40-50 home run per season threat.
Figure 5 more years at 42 home runs, a falloff with the next 5 years at 32 home runs, and 2 "hangin' on" seasons at 20 home runs, and he totals 702 homers. With the numbers he was putting up at the end of his first 10 years, it was possible for him to reach 700 without any steroid help.
No one will ever accuse me of being a Yanqui fan, but David Wells is a man of principle and I respect him even if he did pitch for the E.E. One year he wore an original Ruth (autographed) cap when he pitched but the ump made him remove it.
I think that all the records from 1990 (arbitrary choice) to 2010 or so should be printed in a different color ink in the record books with a notation "heavy use of medical supplements." There is no future in pointing fingers at individual players; how does one prove anything?
Still, it takes a lot away from some of the greats (e.g., Ripken, Brett, etc.) when the McGwires and the Bonds get the same adulation from future generations based on numbers in a book.
Period. Its as if you didn't exist
Great way to handle the problem.
MLB does not have the intestinal fortitude to do that.
Bonds was a legit 40/40 guy for years. His plate discipline is amazing and for years he was a great defensive player. I think he looked at the attention that other players received and couldn't stand it even though he had 3 MVPs. The roids gave him some extra HR power and prolonged his career. He would have retired with 500 steals and 500 HRs and no one has or will ever duplicate that feat.
In terms of being a baseball player he was one of the best. His team could never manage to get past the Braves though who just had better pitching. without roids he still would have gone to the Hall of Fame. Too bad he felt he needed to cheat in order to secure a place in the game.
Nah, if you hit him then your pitcher gets tossed, the benches clear, people get fined, Bonds plays the role of martyr, fakes injury, etc. Intentionally walking him shows the world that opposing teams disrespect him and they won't give a cheater the opportunity to pass Ruth and Aaron.
I agree, Rose messed up but people still like him. Bonds on the other hand is a total ahole.
One critical difference is Rose didn't cheat. Bonds did not "allow personal weakness to tarnish his talent" - he cheated. He is a cheater.
MLB has a lot to answer for - banning a Rose for off field activites while allowing the continued play of those cheating on the field.
Bonds can't hit a home run if no one pitches to him. If the pitchers just walk him - it will turn into an embarrassment and he will have to stop playing.
I made same comment before reading your note.
This is exactly what they should do.
A nice thought. The only problem is that opposing teams have games to win. It could be that with no drugs, advancing age, and shrunken testicles, he can't hit it out anyway. The Giants should do the right thing and cut him.
It might show the world something. But in the end of the day you just put a guy on base how many times during a game? And at the end of the year all the walks he got just might have put his team into the playoffs where they are not going to walk him.
ping
If that ain't the pot calling the kettle black.
You are entitled to your opinion. Major league sports are full of bad people.
Now - this is a BASEBALL thread. Support what is wrong with Pete Rose as Baseball player.
I doubt it, his Alou will be licking his chops at the prospect of having Bonds on base every time he comes up. And Bonds will be so pissed off that no one will let him break the record he won't quit and will take the intentional walk record in the process.
Right
Note that you are defending a cheater.
It would be helpful if you could show any other hitter prior to the steroid era having similar power vs years. Your data is biased because you are used to these high HR seasons as a guide - 42 HR seasons consistently were not that common pre-1998 for anyone.
Bonds was a great player. Your fantasy analysis sort of assumes he was the best to ever play. He never did what you suggest - he cheated his way to 700 - he should be regarded only for his actions as a cheater.
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