In what can only be described as not shocking, Barry Bonds has decided not to showcase his talents in one of the independent minor leagues.
"He has nothing to prove there," Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, said Wednesday.
"He doesn't need to go to an independent team and hit two home runs a night hoping to get attention to prove that he still has the skills that would warrant him playing at the major league level. His performance in 2007 demonstrates that he's capable of playing at the major league level for the 2008 season."
Would he really hit two homers a night? Eh, actually maybe. Can you imagine some 21-year old bean pole trying to fool Barry?
Replays would show that Barry actually started laughing while the pitch was on its way -- right before he ripped it down the line and over the wall so fast that the skinny kid actually thought for a second he just might have blown one by the Home Run King.
I would go to one of those games to watch that.
What seems to have bewildered Barry and his agent is that no one has offered him a job. NO WAY! You don't say.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Borris does say, and he does it like this, ""The fact that no team in Major League Baseball has made an offer for Barry even at the minimum salary has created a level of suspicion that is currently being investigated."
Bonds has stated that he would play for the league minimum, even claiming that he would give that money away, essentially playing for free!
Wow Barry, you are such a great guy, offering your salary up to buy children tickets to come see you play.
The players union has yet to file a grievance concerning possible collusion, but says the matter is under investigation.
So why does Jeff Borris think that there is collusion going on?
"Let's look at the facts. Barry performed admirably in 2007. Barry is healthy. Barry has been offered at the minimum salary and Barry's trial date is in March of 2009, so there would be no interruption of the 2008 season. It defies explanation as to why he is not employed in 2008 with a major league club."
Huh, ok. Defies explanation does it? Let me help.
Barry Bonds is a Juice Head, a liar, a cheat, and on top of all that, a cancer in the club house. Shockingly, teams tend to avoid those sorts of things.
At this point it would be best for Barry to can the baseball career, and open up his own business. It could be called 'Barry's Homers.'
The premise is this: You pay Barry a thousand bucks to pitch to him in his own personal stadium. He gets to hit homers all day, because that's all he's ever wanted anyway -- and you get to try and fool the greatest home run hitter of all time.
Now you would have to secure 10,000 people to fill the stands, otherwise Barry won't hit. You're on your own for that.
Eventually, he could have a celeb-reality show, where celebs compete to try and give up the least amount of homers to the great Bondsino. Snoop Dog would be the first guest, high as a kite, laughing the whole time as he marveled at the wonder that was 67 straight homers by Barry.
I think that would work out for him.
He needs to hire me as an Idea man and fire this Jeff Borris guy. For sure.
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5 months ago
He just really needs to do what Mark McGuire did after he retired and go into hiding. I'm a Giants fan who has never liked Bonds and I think his me first attitude will just get him what he deserves in his trial. He thought he was above everybody else, but now things are just gonna come back and bite him in the end.
from 5 months ago
Thanks for the comment. Hopefully Barry does get whats coming to him. His arrogance has gone unchecked for some time. Unfortunately I don't even think a guilty charge will kill his ego.
Maybe because his head is already so big......(hahaha..lame)
5 months ago
oh ! snap !
4 months ago
I disagree with all the hating on Barry Bonds. He is the poster-boy of steroids only because he had so much success. He still possesses both of the most heralded records in all of sports, and his season with 73 home runs was absolutely incredible.
He would be a terrific DH for any team in the American League, and I would much rather have him on my team than A-Rod (see my previous article on A-Rod for explanation).
Bonds was a great player and played on some very good teams and nobody can be sure how much effect, if any, steroids may have had on his success.
from 4 months ago
"I disagree with all the hating on Barry Bonds. He is the poster-boy of steroids only because he had so much success."
That's how you become a POSTERBOY. He benefitted more than anyone else by using steroids, if we're keeping score by tallying HR's, MVP's, and other baseball stats. That makes him, by definition, the posterboy for the Steroids Era.
"I would much rather have him on my team than A-Rod"
That's about the most idiotic thing I've ever read. Terribly idiotic.
"Bonds was a great player and played on some very good teams and nobody can be sure how much effect, if any, steroids may have had on his success."
LOL!!!! "If any"...LOL!!!!!!!
from 4 months ago
Im going to have to agree with Jeff here.
Ill tell you how much barry bonds benifitted from steroid use. About 15 home runs per season during his peak (using) years.
Hes a fraud plain and simple. A fake.
4 months ago
This sounds like the baseball version of "Tin Cup"
4 months ago
funny article
from 4 months ago
thanks for the comment.
can you imagine how much fun Barry would have blasting homers off any ordinary guy. He would Love it.
Constantly showing off how much more superior he is, would be right up his alley.
4 months ago
Do you have the same feelinlgs about Jason Giambi or Brian Roberts or the guy hitting 250 on the juice? If not then you're contradicting yourself.
Chris you said:
"Barry Bonds is a Juice Head, a liar, a cheat, and on top of all that, a cancer in the club house. Shockingly, teams tend to avoid those sorts of things."
Obviously not, Giambi and many other known steroid user still have jobs in the MLB.
Lets be honest, even before Bonds was using steroids he was a Hall of Fame player. How the hell did you come up with 15 extra home runs a year?
Steroids aren't some magical potion that make you an all star player. It has nothing to do with the great skills he possessed. You can take roids and if you never work out and put in the hard work then it will do very little for you.
The only reason Bonds is the face of the steroids era is becuase he is a great player. If he had only 300 HR we would never hear about this guy. Its unfair to a point that because he was so good that he is the face of this era.
Im not saying doing roids is right because its not but there is no denying he is an all time great player.
from 4 months ago
Michael, you typed an awful lot of words to make almost zero sense at all.
"The only reason Bonds is the face of the steroids era is becuase he is a great player."
It goes a little further than simply just being "great". Bonds is the face of the Steroids Era because:
A) he was one of the first "big" names that showed up on the BALCO clientele list,
B) they (steroids) aided him in achieving some of baseball's most amazing statistics in history, and most importantly,
C) he INSISTS on lying to the entire world about his steroid use.
America hates cheaters. But we hate liars even more.
Nobody is on here condoning anyone's use of steroids. Giambi, however, was a lot more upfront about it than Bonds has been. He fessed up in front of a grand jury, and by all accounts has never been a bad teammate. So the comparison doesn't fit.
Others have admitted wrong and accepted their punishment (Matt Lawton and Jay Gibbons, for example)..while other have disappeared into obscurity (McGwire, Palmeiro)..Bonds and Clemens are the only ones that INSIST on lying through their teeth to the public despite mountains of evidence against them.
Hopefully you understand things better now. You're welcome.
from 4 months ago
Michael,
Notice how the best years of Bonds' career came when he reached his mid-to-late 30's and early 40's?
That's completely abnormal.
Notice how a guy like Ken Griffey Jr. is approaching age 40 is an utter shell of his former self? In baseball production terms, Griffey has aged like a normal baseball player.
Do you think maybe steroids maybe helped Bonds remain healthy/strong/durable enough to play at such a high level every day at his advanced age?
Normal 40 year old's don't win MVP awards. Normal 40 year old's aren't the most feared hitters on earth. Hell, normal 40 year old's aren't everyday players.
4 months ago
Lets see. Bonds WAS a great player. Incredible, an all star and a hall of famer.
But the roids helped, plain and simple. They made a great player maybe the greatest. During his best years which were in his late 30's early 40's he was never hurt.
Because he did the roids he cant be the best. He shouldn't be in the hall.
4 months ago
You obviously missed the point, before the roids Bonds was already a hall of famer. Do you follow baseball?
Before his amazing 73 HR season in 2001, he already had 504 career HR and nearly 500 stolen basses. He was a career 300 hitter prior to 2001 and had already won 3 NL MVP and 8 gold gloves.
Did you really say he was never hurt in his late 30s and early 40s? Since Bonds turned 37 he's only played in an average of 120 games a year. I'm assuming your trying to say by taking steroids he was able to be heal faster. That's a poor point anyways.
You say Bonds shouldn't be in the Hall of fame because the roids made him better so do you think all roid users should get the same treatment or just Bonds?
Jeff, it's a lot easier if you are Matt Lawton to accept your punishment. What does he have to loose? A lot less than Bonds does.
Are you saying that if bonds was some average 250 hitter with 200 career HR he would be the face of the steroid era? I like how your option B basically says he's the face of the era because of the records he has. Do you know how you get records Jeff? By being great. Nice job there buddy.
By the way Giambi was given no penalty for using roids because he helped out in the investigation. I doubt that makes him the most honest person in the world.
That getting means number goes down comment is pretty lame. True, that's usually how it works but many players have had great years into their 40s. Chipper is 37 and hitting 400, that make him a user. After Nolan Ryan turned 40 he won 71 games and averaged a 3.49 ERA, does that mean he was a user?
I agree Bonds took roids but he unfairly been the face of the era and he is obviously a hall of famer based on number, even if you want to cut off the last 6 years. However, if your reason for keeping him out is based on the integrity of the game then im fine with that.
from 4 months ago
"Jeff, it's a lot easier if you are Matt Lawton to accept your punishment. What does he have to loose? A lot less than Bonds does."
Are you condoning Bonds' decision to repeatedly lie to the American public and the federal government? I don't quite know what to make of this sentence.
"Are you saying that if bonds was some average 250 hitter with 200 career HR he would be the face of the steroid era?"
No, I'm not. That question doesn't even make any sense. What is it referring to?
"By the way Giambi was given no penalty for using roids because he helped out in the investigation. I doubt that makes him the most honest person in the world."
No idea what you're getting at. You're all over the map, fella. Nobody ever claimed Giambi was a beacon of honesty.
"True, that's usually how it works but many players have had great years into their 40s. Chipper is 37 and hitting 400, that make him a user. After Nolan Ryan turned 40 he won 71 games and averaged a 3.49 ERA, does that mean he was a user?"
First of all, Bonds didn't just have great years in his mid-to-late 30's. He has HIS BEST YEARS EVER. That's not normal. Second of all, you bring up Chipper Jones batting average? How does that relate to any potential use of PED's? His power numbers are pretty normal for someone his age, and last I checked his body is breaking down all the time. He sits out at least once a week lately. And while Nolan Ryan was an effective pitcher at an advanced age, his best years were long before that. Nobody said you can't play baseball if you're over 40.
"I agree Bonds took roids but he unfairly been the face of the era"
Since you're all over the map today and making no sense at all - maybe you can just explain why it's unfair that Bonds is receiving all this flack. NOTHING is unfair about his life. He lied, he cheated, and he lied some more. Anything he gets, he deserves.
4 months ago
Line 16 is suppose to say " Getting older means numbers goes down is pretty lame"
Sorry, don't know what i was written there.
4 months ago
Wow, is your reading comprehension really that bad. Maybe you are just ignorant.
Look at what you said:
Jeff:
Nobody is on here condoning anyone's use of steroids. Giambi, however, was a lot more upfront about it than Bonds has been. He fessed up in front of a grand jury.
ME:
"By the way Giambi was given no penalty for using roids because he helped out in the investigation. I doubt that makes him the most honest person in the world."
Jeff:
No idea what you're getting at. You're all over the map, fella. Nobody ever claimed Giambi was a beacon of honesty.
- - - - - - - - -
Is it really that hard Jeff, get it together man. You said Giambi was more upfront about his steroid use than bonds and i said that's only becuase they cut him a deal. Get it? Are you following now. I feel like im talking to a 5 year old
You can say what ever you want but the only point im trying to make is that Bonds was a hall of fame player before he ever took steroids and blew up into a physical monster. There's no denying that, look at the numbers.
Second, its somewhat unfair that Bonds is the face of the steroid era because he of his great statistics. Even before steroids he wasn't a very likable guy by the media so that probably didn't help. You can say he was the first major name exposed by BALCO and that's a valid point however if he was just some average player nobody would care that he did steroids.
Third, if you keep him out of the hall of fame that fine, but do it becuase he used steroids and keep every other player out that used steroids too. Either you let them all in or you keep them all out. Don't pick and choose based on which ones you like.
- - - - - - -
Last, ill address the matt lawton comment. No i don't condon him lying but its a lot easier to understand why they average MLB player would confess to using roids obessed to the guy who hold the greatest record in sports. Lawton is nobody, he wont be remembered. Bonds is trying to protect everything he's accomplished, his legacy.
If you don't understand that then wont even bother to reply to anymore of your comments becuase i realize im not talking to brightest individual.
from 4 months ago
"You said Giambi was more upfront about his steroid use than bonds and i said that's only becuase they cut him a deal. Get it? Are you following now. I feel like im talking to a 5 year old"
You're not talking to a 5 year old. You're only thinking like one. Thanks for proving your retardation. Giambi and Bonds were offered THE SAME DEAL BY THE FEDS.
"Testify truthfully before the grand jury, and we will grant you immunity from any crimes you may be guilty of. If you used illegal steroids, we'll let it slide. If you distributed illegal steroids, we'll let it slide. Just answer our questions honestly, and you are free."
Giambi testified truthfully, Bonds did not. And Bonds continues to lie and lie and lie and insult the intelligence of the entire American public and the American government. Do you understand why he's maybe a little more hated than Matt Lawton? Is that fair enough for you?
So yes, like I said, Giambi was more upfront than Bonds.
Bonds would've put up some legendary numbers without PED's. Nobody's denying that, so stop mentioning it as if you're making a good point or something.
But without them, it's damn near certain he would not have the career HR record, it's damn near certain he would not have the single-season HR record, it's damn near certain he would not have 7 MVP awards. He likely would've slowed down around the ages of 36-39 instead of winning 4 consecutive MVP awards.
He cheated and lied as a means to steal some of the most cherished and revered records that baseball has to offer. For that, he is hated. And for that, he deserves whatever is coming to him.
4 months ago
OOOOOK OOOOK everyone relax here.
I think we can reach some kind of accord.
Yes- bonds' numbers were hall of fame worthy probably before he started roiding.
Yes- every person who is found to be guilty of steroid use in some fashion should be kept out of the HOF. In Bond's case its even more difficult to decide whether he should be in or out because he has never actually tested positive.
However, a conviction in the court of law that says you lied about taking steroids when you were, is good enough for me.
So the point for me is really this: Barry Bonds would have gone down as one of the greatest players of all time. But he had to be the best. He HAD to beat everyone. So he cheated, and for that he should be kept out of the HOF. (Yes Yes along with everyone else, including giambi.)
4 months ago
Christopher,
Good article...there's always going to be a debate about Bonds. Yes we all are pretty sure he took steroids and yes it makes his records tainted.
I just wish that Ken Griffey would continue to play as a DH so he could challenge 700 HRs (probably never going to happen)
There's still our budy A-Rod, he has a chance to hit 700 + HRs.
from 4 months ago
Thanks for the comment man.
You can be sure that Hank Steinbrenner is a good enough business man to keep A-rod a Yankee no matter what the price. Anything he shells out will be returned to him two-fold in A-rod merchandise and exposure.
I do hope griffy does it first. It would be incredible.
4 months ago
he just needs to retire quietly and with whatever grace he has left. mcgwire and palmeiro fell off the face of the earth after the congressional hearings. dont write a book like canseco did. i wouldnt go in to coaching either, i really cant see anyone respecting him or listening to him, and if i ran an organization i wouldnt want him teaching my youngstera coming up in the minors all about the wonderful affects of steroids.
from 4 months ago
Along these lines, I just don't understand why I wouldn't retire and just hang out with my family all day.
But there are two things about Barry that may be holding him back, and one is more sad than the other.
First- is something that made him the great player that he was before he started using, his drive to win. Every great player has it. His drive to play is most certainly one of the factors driving him to keep playing.
But what if there is something much more pathetic going on here.
Second- Bonds is an ass. Everything about the way he handles himself says that, regardless of his play on the field. Maybe his family just hates him too. Or maybe he hates his family.
I just think that baseball is all he has, the only place he can feel validated. Without it he is nothing. Wihtout it he has nothing. And to let that go, well may just be impossible for him.
4 months ago
Seriously everybody, get over the steroids, All Steroids does is add strength. Yes, your going to say exactly! But it doesn't give you the correct swing to knock the ball as hard as he does. You still need the proper swing to hit the ball out of the park. And if steroids are the greatest thing to make a batter better he would be hitting .320. Give him a break, quit using steroids as a crutch to write stories about.
from 4 months ago
So you point is, give him a break?
I don't think so. Holding one of the greatest records of all time is a coveted position. Cheating to achieve it should be punished.
Bonds should not make the hall and his numbers should certainly have an asterisk next to them -- as should anyone who used steroids.
You're right Bonds was good before steroids. But Im sick and freaking tired of hearing that argument. SO WHAT!
I was smart before I cheated on the test, but after the test instead of getting a 95 I got a 100. I got a 100 instead of a 95 so many times that I became the smartest kid ever to graduate.
Are you picking up what I'm putting down or what?
4 months ago
Hopefully the next move is Bonds gets lost. I can't stand this man, I'm hoping they find him guilty and throw him in the Pen.
from 4 months ago
Bonds in jail would be hilarious. Maybe he could petition to be put in the same pen as wesley snipes.
This way bonds could pay snipes for protection, and snipes could pay some of his bills.
4 months ago
haha Jeff, your a funny man with a narrow mind.
However I agree with Chirs' responce that directly followed yours.
Btw i don't know where we were discussing that Lawton is more hated than Bonds. Nobody was arguing that all star. Obvioulsy Bonds is far more hated than Lawton. Stay focused, we were talking about why Bonds has a lot more of a reason to lie opposed to Lawton.
Hated? Hell, its obvious bonds is hated more than anyone is baseball.
Regarding Giambi, im not talking about the deal with the FEDS, im talking about the deal he made with MLB. As long as he went along with their invistigation Selig promised him no punishment by the league. It really doesn't matter though, it's a trivial point.
from 4 months ago
Michael, like i've said, you're all over the map and making very little sense.
Giambi and Bonds were both offered deals to tell the truth by the government. Giambi took it, and Bonds took it only to continue lying. Giambi cooperated with the Mitchell investigation, but was never promised immunity for cooperation. For you to say he was only demonstrates that you didn't follow the case all that closely, or you're just taking Selig's words out of context. In fact, after Giambi announced he would speak with George Mitchell, Bud Selig told the media in no uncertain terms that he still reserved the right to punish Giambi under MLB's guidelines.
4 months ago
I don't think Josh's point was to just forgett about him lying and using steroids. I think he's just saying that yes Bonds took roids but a lot of his success was still on his own. He still had to have a great swing and hand eye cordination and still had to put in a lot of work to be as good as he was.
I agree if roids just all of the sudden made you a great player and then everyone would take them. They do you make stronger and faster and give you an unfair advantage but a lot of skill and hard work still has to go into it to be good.
There are players that use steroids whose numbers never get better and never hit a lot of HR.
from 4 months ago
Yeah this is true.
Steroids are not some 'magic potion' as you called them earlier. A roider still needs to put his time in in order to benifit from its effects.
Don't get me wrong. I think that Bonds used steroids because he wanted to be the best he could possibly be for as long as possible.
And hell, when he first heard about the 'cream and the clear' Bonds probably went, "Sooooo....is this stuff steroids or what?"
The other guy probably went, "Nahhhhhh its more like HGH, which is cool."
Then Bonds started juicin'.
But he knew, and he didn't care, because he wanted it all.
4 months ago
I agree Chris, and i like your anology with the test.
Personally, i just feel to a certain extent he has unfairly been the face of the steroid era. Like you said, he's never even failed a drug test.
That's all, nice article though. At the very least it sparked a debate.
from 4 months ago
yup i agree with that. nice discussion.
4 months ago
the only reason why he refuses to hang it up is because he wants to get 3000 hits. probably to solidify his HOF status or because he's selfish and wants to earn as many milestones as he posibly can. the way i look at it hes either getting in or not, theres nobody on the fence about his stats, theyre on the fence about his steroid use. theres going to be voters who say i dont care about the steroids, he should be in and then theres gonna be the voters who refuse to vote for him because of the steroids. as far as him being a winner he has no world series rings. hes been on alot of crappy teams and teams that did well during the regular season but fell short in the playoffs. hes had atittude problems ever since coming up to the big leagues, im remembering jim leyland laying down the law with him in spring training when he was still on the pirates. he had an ego his whole career, one which he eventually deserved to have but once the steroid use came to everyones attention he had no right to have anymore. now hes not only a cheater, liar, and jackass; hes a criminal for lying to the feds and under oath. as many good things he has on his resume they are weighed down by all the bad things.
from 4 months ago
"the way i look at it hes either getting in or not"
I agree. He either will get in or he will not get in.
Yeah.
4 months ago
thats not what i meant. obviously it's a yes or no thing. anything more he does statisically wont make an impact on his hall of fame status. getting 3000 hits wont put him in for sure like it does for most players. he could be the record holder in every category but it still wont make a difference because of the roids. at this point the voters have their minds made up on which way they will vote, its not a matter of first ballot or how many ballots it will take. its a matter of if he will make it in at all.
4 months ago
Don't worry mike, he's just a smartass.
from 4 months ago
yeah but it was funny.
4 months ago
To Christopher and all the Bonds-bashers out there who believe this:
"Barry Bonds is a Juice Head, a liar, a cheat, and on top of all that, a cancer in the club house. Shockingly, teams tend to avoid those sorts of things."
Well, why does Gary Sheffield have a job then?
from 4 months ago
Hmmm...perhaps the lack of federal felony charges? And perhaps because he had a contract through the 2009 season?
Besides, you can't compare anyone to Bonds when it comes to the absolute media circus that comes with him. Bonds is on another planet. Teams have determined that it's not worth the trouble anymore.
Get over it.
from 4 months ago
Kp, I dunno. Im not a GM.
Ive never been a sheffield fan, and like you said many of the things that bonds is guilty of sheff is also.
But i dont necessarily understand your point here.
So because Sheff still has a job, Bonds should? I would be surprised if Sheffield gets a new contract after 09.
And like Jeff said. Sheffield's BS is far less than bonds.' For various reasons.
But most importantly, Sheffield didn't break the most coveted record is baseball by cheating.
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