Baseball is a funny game.
A game is never over until the last out and anyone can win on any given day.
It is also a very thriving business.
Some owners take their business so serious they do anything to turn a profit. The Florida Marlins are the biggest example in this category.
Some owners do whatever it takes to win no matter how much money is thrown around. This would be the New York Yankees.
Each team goes about their business a different way but each team is trying to build a winner whether for the future or the present. In this business some teams take risks and sign an injury prone player hoping for great returns and an injury-free year. Other teams take aging stars to provide leadership. Some teams take young players in the hopes of developing potential.
But all of these players are generally bought at bargain prices.
There will always be players who get paid way too much and some who do not get the paycheck they deserve.
With all of this money being flaunted at prospects, washouts, walking band-aids, and convicted felons, then why doesn't Barry Bonds have a team?
Some argue that fan backlash prevents an owner from signing Barry Bonds. Whether or not he took steroids is not the question.
Barry Bonds can help any baseball team.
He brings in fans (or enemies), helps teams win ballgames, and draws revenue regardless of salary. Barry wants to play this year.
He may be getting old and will miss a few games due to court dates and rest days, but the man can play.
Last year in 340 AB Bonds had 94 hits. 28 of those hits were home runs. He hit for a respectable .276 AVG. But had an astounding .480 On-Base Percentage and an even more amazing 1.045 OPS (On-Base Percentage plus Slugging Percentage).
Only four other players in the National League posted a higher OPS last season: Chipper Jones, Ryan Braun, Matt Holliday, and Prince Fielder.
As a Designated Hitter on an American League team he can do damage.
In interviews he has expressed disdain at being a full-time DH. He believes that if he cannot be a service to some team in the outfield then it is time for him to retire.
So Bonds will be signed by a team hurting for some offense with a weak outfield. The alarms sound and the Oakland Athletics are in great position to sign the career home run leader.
Why do Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics make sense for Barry Bonds?
- Location, Location, Location
Oakland is right across the bay from Barry's Glory Days.
The fans of San Francisco still adore Barry.
The Oakland A's signing Bonds would receive the smallest backlash from the fans because Oakland is always looking to one-up San Francisco in every sport. Barry would not have to move and adjust to a new area. He is comfortable in the area and would fit well. - Moneyball
Billy Beane has always coveted Barry Bonds.
In the book, Moneyball, Billy Beane called Barry the best pure hitter in the game today. Billy Beane also knew the Giants would never trade him so he gave up on the idea of acquiring him.
But the fact is that Bonds is the perfect player for a moneyball attitude. He draws plenty of walks (even when not walked intentionally), hits the ball hard, and runs conservatively. - Chris Denorfia, Ryan Sweeney, Emil Brown, Travis Buck, and Jack Cust
Only one of those guys can be a dangerous player.
Cust has power with the bat, but he has the DH spot filled. Nothing against the rest of these guys, they all can play since they are on MLB rosters and all fit the Moneyball persona in some way, but they just are not Barry Bonds.
Would you rather have Travis Buck in Left Field or Barry Bonds? Imagine you are the GM who would sell more? Who would contribute more? Heck, even in fantasy baseball would you rather have Travis Buck or Barry Bonds?
The outfield of the A's is not a bad group, but there is no star power nor are they exciting. - Stick it to "The Man"
That man being everyone who says he cannot play anymore.
Anyone who called him a cheater.
The man is the media who often scorns him and he returns the favor.
The man being Giants GM Brian Sabean.
The man being Commissioner Bud Selig.
The man can be anyone Bonds wants it to be. Bonds is now trying to play to prove himself to doubters. Bonds knows he can play and does not doubt himself. You do not doubt yourself and then break home run records. - To win
The Athletics do not look like the team to beat, but over the past seven to eight years the Athletics still find a way to be competitive regardless of the ragtag roster.
Everyone has picked the Los Angeles Angels or the Seattle Mariners to win the battle out West (I personally have the Angels, but I am biased towards them).
Oakland seems to be in a mix of some sort all the time. And with the gigantic amount of young talent this team could throw together a run and demand a playoff spot.
Bonds gives the young group leadership, poise, and swagger. - Boost the Hall Of Fame resume
He is already a first ballot Hall-of-Famer, but is still shy of 3,000 hits and 2,000 RBI—plus he could be the only member of the 800 club. He needs 65 more hits and 4 RBI. He is also 89 games away from playing in 1500.
All of the stats are jovial, but 3,000 hits is a big accomplishment in baseball. This solidifies his resume regardless of the steroids.
Now I understand that in order for the Athletics to even attempt to sign him, Bonds would have to take a pay cut and be playing basically for the love of the game.
$2 million is the limit (I think) the Athletics would offer him.
They pride themselves on cheap talent and daring trades. So the push for Bonds would most likely come after a trade or an injury.
Barry Bonds will be wearing number 25 for the Athletics at the end of this year mark my words and take them to Vegas.
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3 months ago
You are out of your mind. I'd love to see it, but you ar wrong.
from 3 months ago
How so? explain to me why this does not make perfect sense and then explain how it won't... prove me wrong please
3 months ago
How so? explain to me why this does not make perfect sense and then explain how it won't... prove me wrong please
3 months ago
Dude, there's no way.
The A's are rebuilding this year. They've said it a million times. Beane himself said he wouldn't sign Bonds. Yes, Bonds is better than Buck, but the A's want Buck to play every day. It makes no sense at all to sign a 44 year old now because he blocks all the young guys who they want to get a look at. Plus the A's are going to call up Carlos Gonzalez any day now to play right, which will push Buck to left.
Now, the Mariners signing Bonds...that could happen. And it would make them downright scary.
from 3 months ago
Billy Beane and any GM in the MLB is going to say they won't sign Bonds. Just saying it brings a circus to town. Billy Beane will not tip his hand either. If he says he wnts to sign Bonds that brings other teams in and the price jumps, simple economics and strategy.
Buck is off to a solid 0-14 start... Barry is looking better and better I bet
from 3 months ago
Nah, just making Carlos Gonzalez look better and better.
from 3 months ago
carlos gomez in left barry in right or cust in right either way...
from 3 months ago
Another problem: The A's have Mike Sweeney at DH, Daric Barton at 1B, and Cust at LF. They have way too many defensive liabities already. Gonzalez is actually likely to play center.
You still haven't answered why a team that isn't trying to win would block their young players with a 44-year-old media circus, which is really the biggest problem.
The A's even play in a pitcher's park, so it would make Bonds harder to carry defensively and less valuable offensively. And no way does he play right, his arm is way too weak for the position.
Tampa Bay admitted they were having discussions about Bonds; apparently some people aren't abiding by your "simple economics and strategy."
And ultimately, the A's either will or won't sign Bonds, so one of us will be right. And hey, if it's you, you got me there.
By the way, Ryan Sweeney 4-4 today, so maybe Bonds isn't looking better that way.
from 3 months ago
The A's are known for making smart, crazy decisions, that is my point in this. You are right he will or won't sign. you think Mariners I think A's and if he signs with the other AL west team, the Angels, we will just call it a tie. As for blocking young players, I never said Bonds plays everyday.
The Angels are a fine example on how to balance a deep team. They all play, maybe not regularly but each one is getting a few shots here and there.
Bonds is a liability but even at 44 he is not the worst option a team can have in the outfield. He is not Ryan Braun playing 3rd base or anything.
and you mentioned Mike Sweeney at DH and he is an old player who does not do anything close to Bonds. And Ryan Sweeney has no power in CF. Bonds is an upgrade over both Sweeneys.
from 2 months ago
Wanted to point out that Buck is now a solid 2 for 27... and he got both of those yesterday ending an 0-22 start... Gomez or Bonds either way it is helping make my point
from 2 months ago
Two more hits for Buck today; he'll be fine. And it's Gonzalez, not Gomez btw.
from 2 months ago
Touché... Gonzalez my bad
3 months ago
Dude - Scott is 100% right! Barry and the A's make sense in every way imagineable. Great bring Carlos back. Have you been at the games? The A's are on the verge of Disaster. One or 2 injuries and they are in serious trouble. Bonds will fill the stadium and line the pockets of the owners so they finally pay for future talent! As an avid A's supporter and a season ticket holder, Sign Barry Bonds today and really put some excitement in A's Baseball again!
Brian/Stockton
3 months ago
Love to see Bonds in a A's uniform. Heck, i might even become a A's fan.
3 months ago
....the only "news" about Baroid's potential 'trial' are in these types of articles. I'd like to see any team pick this bum up, just to be able to laugh at him more when he does have to face the music from this multi-million dollar Congressional investigation finally concludes.
Seems like somebody will have to "pay" for trying to turn men into cyborgs. Regardless of what's the legal outcome, with "tougher" standards now in the game, I want to see Baroid hitting .220 since pitching will now KNOW to go at him minus his various juice cocktails. Plus, should he end up in the AL, all the more advantage to the pitcher, new league to BB. Any teams out there, "in a pennant race" thinking about picking him up -- you're out of your minds, he's worse then ARod in the clutch should you remember BB in the World Series, choked.
from 3 months ago
7 MVP's, current leader in active players with runs scored, RBI's, walks, hits, home runs, and almost any offensive category, while hitting more home runs than people like Guerrero, Sheffield, and Hafner... and you still do not want the guy? and the guy could hit the crap outta the ball with the Pirates back in the day and that will not change about him. He has a sweet stroke and will hit the ball still, maybe not as much power but still make contact enough to be of value. As for being "clutch" that does not matter, cluth hitting is a fictitious statistic, and by that standard you are saying you would not want ARod on your team, or other great players who never won the big game like Dan Marino... because a guy hits a cold streak in the playoffs means you outcast him?
3 months ago
Atleast it will fill the stadium and bring in more cash.......
3 months ago
I am of two minds on this. I don't really think anyone would bring in Bonds unless he will put them over the top, because he is a major head ache, and a serious downer, and the A's are probably not going to be that close. But the A's are run by strange forces who covet money but in turn do not like spending a whole lot of it--who knows.
The bottom line is Bonds will not make them win, and he is practically identical to Cust--major stick, can't field, will walk, but also clog up the bases with a slow fat body, my guess is it won't happen.
b
from 3 months ago
Bryan- Bonds is the only player in the 500 500 club... so he can still move he stole 5 bases last year still so he is not that slow... and in Oakland stealing bases does not matter they do not steal at all and speed is not applicable because they covet OBP and getting on the base more than running out a triple and sacrificing and out to stretch the play
3 months ago
Scott-I think Bonds can still be an elite-type player, just not for the A's; for a team that he will put over the top, yes, but not for a team that will hover around .500, and already has a slow fat guy who hits home runs and is a butcher with the glove.
Bonds can still steal a base when the pitcher isn't paying attention, but that does not mean he has anything like normal wheels--if you watched the Giants last year, it was obvious he had trouble getting to the plate from second on a single. Not even the Yankees need that--he needs to play on a winner where he can DH every two or three games and be able to come off the bench to pinch hit, and not be taking a nap in the clubhouse.
from 3 months ago
Fair enough, the A's still make sense in my book because they just may be crazy enough to sign him before someone else does. Billy Beane is a crazy manager who will go after him. and he became a smarter player that is all. I believe someone will sign him by year's end and I am putting my money on the A's
2 months ago
As an A's fan, I'll go ahead and say I agree with you. I'm not convinced totally that the A's are completely throwing in the 2008 towel. All A's fans thought we were throwing in the towel in 2005 when we had a bunch of young guys coming up and had traded away Mulder and Hudson. Of course, in 2005 we competed and even were the best team in the league for the span of about a month...and who can forget when K-Rod dropped the throw back from the catcher.
Anyway, I think Bonds would fit in nicely with the A's, playing DH sometimes, and even playing a little LF. I would have rather we signed him instead of Mike Sweeney or Emil Brown, because obviously Bonds has way more value than those. Even if Bonds hits .250, he'll get an OBP of .400 or more and help out the A's immensely.
As an A's fan I was hoping we'd sign Bonds this whole offseason. Yes I hate the Giants, and yes most other A's fans hated me for liking Bonds, but I think he'll really help the A's.
A's in 08! haha.
from 2 months ago
Moneyball states that Beane coveted Bonds and his abilities. Steroids argument aside Bonds has one of the most natural swings of any hitter. It is a thing of beauty. He is the Greg Maddux of hitting in terms of consistantly strong swing/delivery... I hope they do sign him even tho I am a strong Angel fan I would like to see the fight in September between Mariners, Angels, and A's with another 87 game winner going on... a lot of the time the division is regarded as weak but every year this division has the best races with many of them being decided in the last series... so I will see this thing play out and hopefully laugh at all the nay-sayers who think Bonds is done or will sign elsewhere
2 months ago
those of you who said I was wrong... it looks like you are right because Frank Thomas just signed with Oakland leaving the Athletics with a hal of fame player for less than 1 million... so congrats guys you proved me wrong
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