Bonds To Come Back In '08 For 3,000 Hits ?

[philliesfiend55]

As an East Coast fan who do doesn't follow the Giants as intensely as San Franciscans do, can somebody from the SF area tell me - if Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's home run record this season, is he still likely to come back in 2008 to try to reach 3,000 hits and would the Giants want him back? He has 2,889 as of this morning and needs 111 hits for the milestone. By the end of the season, if he stays healthy he's likely to need 40 to 60 hits next year for 3,000.
philliesfiend55

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Gosh, I hope Bonds doesn't return!

[KHenry14]

I think it depends on how he feels. If he feels up to it physically I suspect he'd do it.

[mwb]

I think Bonds will definitely be back next year to get 3,000 hits among other milestone records. That's all he's playing for now, individual records. I think 2008 will be his last season because he will hold some major baseball records & eclipsed just about every big milestone (3,000 hits for example).

[west coast orange and black]

pp55: bonds will most certainly try to play next season - he still does not have a world series ring.
also, reaching 3,000 hits is a very big deal to him. hitters reach 3,000.

the main drive for bonds, though, is that world series ring. that's what drives him. nothing else would want to make him want to prepare for and play the game. nothing.

2008 would be bonds' final season unless an american league team would sign him. then he would dh. bonds would accept becoming a full-time designated hitter, but only after achieving individual accomplishments as an everyday player.

bonds' retirement will be because his body could no longer do what he expects and demands of it -- expectations and demands that are unattainable by 99+% of all players in the history of the game -- not because of numbers.

[KHenry14]

Tony, I gotta think that if the Giants keep under performing, a trade to the Angels makes all the sense in the world for both Barry, the Giants and the Angels. With him there, the Halos have a real shot at the WS, whereas it's becoming apparent that the Giants are going to have to start all over. I happen to believe that Barry would agree to this after the record is broken, which should be before the trade deadline.

Or am I off base on this?

[west coast orange and black]

a trade with the halos makes a whole lotta sense, ken: la has a very good chance at the playoffs, and going deep in the playoffs.
also, bonds' home is down there, and he would have the comfort of being with his family half of the time.

the big drawback would be not attaining 3,000 hits as an everyday player, which has long been one of bonds' main goals outside a world series championship.
if the giants do not pull to within .500 / 4-5 outta first place come close to the trade deadline, they will most likely be sellers, not buyers.

[west coast orange and black]

ken: ...Barry would agree to this after the record is broken, which should be before the trade deadline.

before this season began i circled the home series against the hated dodgers just after the all-star break as when #756 would occur. we'll see.

[west coast orange and black]

oh...

world series title
756
3,000
.300 lifetime

in order of importance, these are the big 4 that bonds is aimin' for.

[mwb]

I doubt Bonds cares about winning a world series. If he does care, it takes more to win a world series then hitting a HR per game then being a recluse & avoiding your teammates or having your teammates dislike you off the field.

I'm sure you'll tell me that I'm wrong & when Bonds walks around the clubhouse he's loved & reveered by all his teammates as if he was Christ himself.

[KHenry14]

I doubt Bonds cares about winning a world series. If he does care, it takes more to win a world series then hitting a HR per game then being a recluse & avoiding your teammates or having your teammates dislike you off the field.

I'm sure you'll tell me that I'm wrong & when Bonds walks around the clubhouse he's loved & reveered by all his teammates as if he was Christ himself.


mwb, fine, don't believe anything we say. But before you put us all on ignore, why don't you do a little research. Take a peek on the web, see how many quotes you can find from his teammates that talk about how helpful he is around the clubhouse and in the cage. You'll find a lot of them. What you wont find is a ton of quotes from teammates saying he's a cancer, save for Jeff Kent. Sure, Barry doesn't hang with his teammates, since when is that a requirement? And look to his managers...Leyland, Baker, Alou, Bochy all have nothing but praise for him, his work ethic, and his willingness to help the younger guys. And believe me, had he been a problem, do you think guys with strong personalities like Leyland and Alou would have put up with him? Heck no.

So before you go after him again, check your facts. Nobody here is saying Barry's a saint by any means btw

[mwb]

Let's just agree that World Series title is not first on the list of his goals.

His first goal is 756 HRs. That seems pretty clear. Aside from April 2007, he hasn't helped his team in years. He's more interested in making cameo appearances so he can hit HRs. I don't know how he'll ever win a World Series title with that team. If he really wanted to win a World Series, he'd go to a contender & be a part-time player instead of staying in SF as a full-time player. But that would decrease his chance of getting to 756 HRs & reaching other milestones.

[cuttygiantsfan]

they should let him stay is he agrees tomopt out of his deal after 3000 hits

[KCGHOST]

Nobody in their right mind is going to pay Bonds $15-20M to pound out another 50-60 hits to reach 3,000. That is not a "meat in the seats" kind of thing. You need a team that desperately needs a DH to fill out a line-up to compete for a championship.

With the looming disaster of the Zito contract the Giants need to free up some money.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

a trade with the halos makes a whole lotta sense, ken: la has a very good chance at the playoffs, and going deep in the playoffs.
also, bonds' home is down there, and he would have the comfort of being with his family half of the time.

the big drawback would be not attaining 3,000 hits as an everyday player, which has long been one of bonds' main goals outside a world series championship.
if the giants do not pull to within .500 / 4-5 outta first place come close to the trade deadline, they will most likely be sellers, not buyers.

Well, if the Angels really want Bonds I'll take Brandon Wood and/or Howie Kendrick for starters!

[KHenry14]

Well, if the Angels really want Bonds I'll take Brandon Wood and/or Howie Kendrick for starters!


I was thinking Scot Sheilds might be nice! Or Chone Figgins. :)

[Lucifer]

pp55: bonds will most certainly try to play next season - he still does not have a world series ring.
also, reaching 3,000 hits is a very big deal to him. hitters reach 3,000.

the main drive for bonds, though, is that world series ring. that's what drives him. nothing else would want to make him want to prepare for and play the game. nothing.

2008 would be bonds' final season unless an american league team would sign him. then he would dh. bonds would accept becoming a full-time designated hitter, but only after achieving individual accomplishments as an everyday player.

bonds' retirement will be because his body could no longer do what he expects and demands of it -- expectations and demands that are unattainable by 99+% of all players in the history of the game -- not because of numbers.

As if he has a chance of winning it with San Fran? If this were true, he would have left the Giants by now

I think he'll come back.. try to DH somewhere in the AL, I don't see why he wouldn't. Ugh I just really hope he doesn't come to the Yankees

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I was thinking Scot Sheilds might be nice! Or Chone Figgins. :)

Shields maybe but Figgins I'd say no. Kendrick/Wood, two young guys, have tremendous upper ceilings.

[KHenry14]

Shields maybe but Figgins I'd say no. Kendrick/Wood, two young guys, have tremendous upper ceilings.

Wags, I just don't think Stoneman will give up either of those two guys. He hardly ever makes deals anyway, and it's less likely he'd make a deal on one of their best prospects. The giants could really use Shields, and Figgy isn't having the best year, so I'd be happy with either of them. More likely is Stoneman try and give Sabes some AA level talent.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Wags, I just don't think Stoneman will give up either of those two guys. He hardly ever makes deals anyway, and it's less likely he'd make a deal on one of their best prospects. The giants could really use Shields, and Figgy isn't having the best year, so I'd be happy with either of them. More likely is Stoneman try and give Sabes some AA level talent.
Then Sabean should give Stoneman "the hand". Besides the Angels have a problem giving their young prospects playing time. Kotchman, McPherson (injured now), and Morales still can't break into the everyday lineup. Kendrick is playing regularly so he's probably not tradeable. But I like Wood better anyway. He's in triple A. I hope the Giants don't settle for mediocre prospects.

[sfgiants29]

Watch this interview with Barry at Fenway: http://youtube.com/watch?v=LtzZGhgsNw8

At 1:55 a reporter asks Barry "Is this your last year?". He responds with a "no". At the beginning of this interview, he strongly states that he is truly a Giant at heart. This shows me that Bonds wants to be back with the Giants next year. Bleh..

[Rennie Stennett]

2929 Games
9692 AB's
2190 Runs
2895 hits
595 2B's
77 3B's
749 HR's
1965 RBI's
2501 BB
1517 SO
514 SB
141 CS
.299 AVG
.444 OBP
.608 SLG
1.052 OBP
40-40 club

interesting stuff.

[mwb]

Watch this interview with Barry at Fenway: http://youtube.com/watch?v=LtzZGhgsNw8

At 1:55 a reporter asks Barry "Is this your last year?". He responds with a "no". At the beginning of this interview, he strongly states that he is truly a Giant at heart. This shows me that Bonds wants to be back with the Giants next year. Bleh..

That's because he wants to win so badly. Yeah right.

[mwb]

2929 Games
9692 AB's
2190 Runs
2895 hits
595 2B's
77 3B's
749 HR's
1965 RBI's
2501 BB
1517 SO
514 SB
141 CS
.299 AVG
.444 OBP
.608 SLG
1.052 OBP
40-40 club

interesting stuff.

I'd be surprised if he plays after 2008. He'll hit many many milestones next year: Runs-2,296 (all-time leader), Hits-3,000+, Doubles-600+ (although he probably doesn't care about doubles), HR-756+, RBI-2,000+, plus I'm sure he'd like to retire with a .300 career average. I think next year will be it.

[sprinter45]

I bet he plays next year, and I hope he does too.