Before yesterday and the release of J. Jones, I would have thought this was as crazy as you currently think I am. But the release of Jones opens up a big, huge hole that could be filled with one big, huge, enormous head. The head of Barry Lamar Bonds.
Why this could work....
1. The Tigers need a big left handed bat.
Barry Bonds could become the left-handed bat that would balance out this lineup made up primarily of right-handers.
2. Leyland has always been a Bonds man.
If you have the respect of the manager and you respect the manager, there is a lot of differences that can be agreed on.
3. Bonds still wants to play the field.
The Tigers could rotate Bonds, Maggs, and Sheff into right and left field, leaving one of them to DH. Their defense will not suffer that much by having Bonds out there compared to Sheffield.
4. The Tigers are now willing to spend the money.
This past off-season Mr. Illich showed that he is not afraid to spend some money and take some chances. Why not one more to give this season a fighting chance?
5. Bonds is a free agent, so the Tigers would not lose anymore prospects.
This goes back to the Yankees way of thinking. Hey, it's only money!!
Why this could never work...
1. Bonds could possibly go to jail in the near future.
This would make a contract a very hard thing to put together since you would need to work in a clause stating what would happen should he end up going.
2. Bonds would need to DH
Seriously, do the Tigers really need another DH. Let's see, they currently have Sheff, Cabrera, Guillen, Maggs, and Thames. Most nights they are already putting three or four guys on the field that should be full time DH's.
3. Dombrowski likes his teams to be good upstanding players.
Bonds does not fall into that category.
4. Bonds is an A-hole.
Do the Tigers really need someone to come in and disrupt a clubhouse that is already had to deal with so much this year?
In the end, I don't think that Bonds will ever become a Tiger, I think there are to many hits against him for anyone to take a chance. But what if....
Granderson, Polanco, Sheff, Maggs, Bonds, Cabrera, Guillen, Renteria, Pudge.
'Nuff said.
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2 months ago
No way any team would want that media circus . Nice aticle!
2 months ago
It is one big injury away here in my mind. I think the most important thing you mention is the prospects. Are all the negatives (and over a half season I might add) enough for a GM to explain as his reason for trading his top prospect when Bonds is there as a free agent. I think many teams are still figuring where they are going to be come stretch run time, but once July comes around, there might even be a "market" for Bonds.
On a personal note I'd love to see him on the Tigers, that lineup would have a great chance to win the World Series.
about 1 month ago
i think they should sign him.Steroids are a disgrace to baseball but personally,it takes a lot more than popping some pills to hit home runs.it gives you power,but it doesnt give you everything else u need to hit homers.steroids dont give you plate vision or plate discipline.they dont give you good timing.He would be an excellent addition to the Tigers power lineup.It could give them another run at the World Series.And with him,they might actually win this time.
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