If All Bonds Cares About Is Passing Ruth, Why Isn't He In The AL?

[BristolBoy]

Rick Sutcliffe makes a very good point here.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?page=shorthops_060425

[ESPNFan]

Because Bonds is even more untradible than ManRam.
Bonds makes 20 million a year, is basicly a jerk, is the most despised player in baseball right now, has clearly lost a bit offensively, has bad knees and has the entire spectre of the baseball steroid scandal, purjury charges and an ESPN camera crew following his every move.

Not even the Yankees are going to want to deal with all those negatives for a player who might not beable to finish the year due to his degenerating health.

I'm surprised Sutcliffe couldn't see all the problems that a team dealing for him would have to contend with.

[Astro]

Well San Francisco loves Bonds, and he probably loves San Francisco... most other cities hate him, so why leave a place that loves you and that you love to play in the AL... that and San Fran is in the weakest division in baseball, so he has a good chance at making the playoffs and perhaps winning the World Series

[digglahhh]

The only people who can answer this question are in the front office in San Fran. He's under contract with them, where he plays is not his decision to make...

It would be real cowardly for San Fran to bail on him now, IMO.

[Mattingly]

In addition to not being tradeable to any AL team, including the Yankees, who passed on Bora$' $100m/4 yr deal when he was an FA, he'd certainly be even more of a media lightning rod (if that's even possible) had he come to a team that is also the media capital of the USA. That Giambi and Sheffield have been implicated in the PED scandal, including illegally released testimony from Giambi, I'd say that would be a true media nightmare.

Interesting, since the Yanks had offered him a deal around 1993, which he'd rejected. To me, if the Yanks can't absorb his current contract, this after having traded for Alex Rodriguez of all people, then it's obvious to me that no other team (regardless of league), such as the Red Sox, will be able to either.

As to his playing in the AL, I'd say that wouldn't ever happen. Despite his insistence upon being the DH when he'd played at Yankee Stadium in June 2002--something that Dusty Baker for whichever reason, allowed him to do--I don't see him being the DH. However, with his knee being the way it is, I'm not even sure that could happen.

The most famous DH of them all isn't Ortiz, but Seattle's retired (and beloved) Edgar "Papi" Martinez. He also wasn't able to run, but he could put good wood on the ball. That's the thing. If Barry isn't even deadly with the bat right now, he could get away with singles--perhaps even bases-clearing singles (if there is such a thing), but so long as the knee limits his hitting, his lack of speed on the basepaths will do more than just turn doubles into singles and triples into doubles with fingers crossed.

Interestingly, he can still jump, even if unsuccessful in snaring a 2-run HR to put the game out of reach as the Mets won, 4-1 (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/26/sports/baseball/26mets.html).

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/04/26/sports/26barry190.jpg
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
Barry Bonds just missed catching
Xavier Nady's seventh-inning
home run. Earlier in the game,
Bonds hit career homer No. 710.

I'd just mention that Ruth, like Bonds, batted lefty. Between Barry's surgically-repaired (and cartilege-lacking) right knee and the distance between his current 710 and Hammerin' Hank's 755, I'd say that he has no choice but to "settle" for beating Ruth. I can't blame him for being unable to force himself painfully to eclipse Hank's.

I'll never wish harm upon him, but perhaps he's finally realized his physical limitations. However, I do applaud that at least if #714 isn't looking very safe for now, then at least #755 is certainly quite safe. And thankfully so! :)

[west coast orange and black]

ESPNFan: Because Bonds is even more untradible than ManRam.
uh, when bonds did have the opportunity to bolt, which coincided at a time that he was very very tradeable, he decided to stay with the giants.

Bonds makes 20 million a year, is basicly a jerk, is the most despised player in baseball right now, has clearly lost a bit offensively, has bad knees and has the entire spectre of the baseball steroid scandal, purjury charges and an ESPN camera crew following his every move.
this is the immediate present. there happens to be a thing called the past.

the main reason that bonds is not in the juunior league is that in his opinion, it is not real baseball. oh, he has dh'd here and there. (while visiting ny he wanted to rest up a bit and put on a show... and he did.)

also, while a ring is bonds' main goal, he has understood for a while that the records of ruth and aaron might be within reach. bonds did not want to be in the american league and be primarily a dh while adding to his home run total.

[west coast orange and black]

i just read sutcliffe's article.

bonds indeed could have gone to another team had he wanted to concentrate on 715 / 755.

there would have been takers.

[Taco De Muerte]

Haha. Bonds jacked that one.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

2 tickets to a Giants game: 180 bucks

2 beers, 2 dogs: 14 bucks

foam finger: 5 bucks

cheering a fraud: priceless

[Food]

His heart is in SF, certainly. So the only viable AL option is Oakland. That wouldn't be favorable to him, as the Oakland Colisseum is one of the most hitter-unfriendly parks in the either league.

[west coast orange and black]

sultan: 2 tickets to a Giants game: 180 bucks
you oughtta try getting some comps :D
2 beers, 2 dogs: 14 bucks
uh, beer is $7.50 each :lookitup
foam finger: 5 bucks
they still make these? :cool:
cheering a fraud: priceless
you sound jealous :laugh :waving