I know what some of you are going to say already: Barry Bonds did steroids, he's a horrible person, the New York media is going to go crazy, etc.
But none of that really matters. None of that impacts anything on the field.
Yankees’ management owes it to the Bombers' fans to do everything within the rules to win. Right now, that means signing Barry Bonds, plugging him into left field, and ignoring the media. Here's why.
Hideki Matsui is likely out for the season, and it is obvious that Jorge Posada is not going to be at full strength until he gets surgery, either this year or next. That leaves the Yankees lineup a bit thinner than normal.
If you've been watching recently, they have been trotting out a lineup with Melky Cabrera, Justin Christian, and Jose Molina occupying the bottom three spots in the lineup. These are not good hitters.
I don't think I need to explain how bad Christian and Molina are at hitting. But as for those who think Melky can hit, here's a number: .654. That's his OPS this season.
He has a career OPS of .710. Those are, as one of my professors used to say, some ugly, ugly numbers. And while it won't be Melky that ends up benched, taking Justin Christian out of the equation would help provided depth and stability the lineup.
As for other options, trading for a rental doesn't seem likely to happen. The asking price for Matt Holliday is too high and ditto with Raul Ibanez. The Pirates want premium talent for Xavier Nady and ditto for Jason Bay.
In any case, as good as these guys are, they aren't Barry Bonds, at least not offensively. Plus, the Yankees have committed to their youth movement. Why lose prospects for a rental when you can just spend money? It is, after all, the Yankees way.
I want to break down exactly how good Barry Bonds is, just in case people don't realize how productive old "Giant Noggin" is, even in his advanced age. Last year, Barry Bonds posted an OPS+ of 170 in 126 games at AT&T Park, a field that had a HR factor of .808, good for 24th in the league in HR rates.
Yankee Stadium was seventh, with a HR factor of 1.153.
This article here at the Bleacher Report has a good discussion of exactly how hard it is to hit homers at AT&T Park. Moving Bonds to Yankees Stadium would be like putting Joel Zumaya in a grade-school dodgeball game.
There would be tears, but they wouldn't be his.
Least you think I would ignore his defensive impact, Bonds was only slightly below average in the field last year, with a FRAA (fielding runs above average) of -6.
Granted, he only played 94 games there, but his performance the year before was similar (99 games, -6).
Compare this to Manny Ramirez's spectacular defense of -13 runs in 112 games, and you start to realize that, while Bonds wasn't even average, he was better than Manny.
And if Manny is good enough to start in LF for the Red Sox, I figure that Bonds is fine for the Yankees. Plus, he won't assault the Yankees' employees. Probably.
So the on-field benefits are all there. But I know some of you still think it's a bad idea, and that the Yankees would be universally reviled for bringing back one of the game's worst characters.
Thing is, the people who would hate the Yankees for this move probably already hate the Yankees. Sure, Red Sox fans will boo and jeer and mock the "Evil Empire." But they're going to do that anyway.
My girlfriend (a devout Padres fan) will go on at length about how much she hates the Yankees and how they try to solve all of their problems with money. But she's going to do that anyway.
It doesn't matter to the Yankee haters what the Yankees do. They're going to hate them anyway, just for existing. So what do you do when faced with people who will hate you anyway? Just ignore them and do what needs to be done.
As for Yankee fans? They'll just enjoy winning. Because in the end, that's what fans love, and that's exactly what the Yankees will do with Barry Bonds.
Win.
7 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Patrick SJ Read 11 months ago
Couldnt agree more, but Christian has a good ol pop in the bat and has some wheels too which is always a plus in the outfield. How about moving Bonds )(if he can still play everyday) into right, or just DH'g him? It cant be Abreus arm, he hardly uses it, seriously-I know he has a good arm, but how often have you seen him through a guy out a third, or at home-it hasnt happened at all this season. And he has no glove for which to get the ball anyhow.
Dude, good read and good take...5 stars!
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Patrick SJ Read 11 months ago
oh, and not too mention what Bonds did and will do in Fenway and Yankee stadium...though Fenway has a shorter porch in right with a four foot wall.
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Matthew Goodman 11 months ago
I've watched Christian bat and he's simply not suited for Yankee Stadium. His power is pull and while he could get by banging doubles off the Green Monster, he doesn't have enough to hit the ball out of Death Valley. So you end up watching a lot of long fly balls that die on the warning track. Anyway, there are a lot of guys like Christian in the minors who can play defense and run a little. They have their place but not on a championship team.
Bonds could play right field but why move Abreu? He's been decent enough there (-2 so far) and our DH spot is already clogged (Damon, maybe Posada, Giambi, etc.).
I love the fedback, btw! Keep it coming!
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Jean Kijewski 11 months ago
I wholeheartedly disagree. The Yankees have always been known for their class and integrity, so why jeopardize an almost spotless record for a liar and a cheat? Ask the NY fans if they want another disgraceful creep on their beloved Yankees team...I bet the answer would be a resounding NO!!!! And as far as money goes, George Steinbrenner put all his profits back into the team while the other owners put it in their pockets...sure, I agree that no professional athlete is worth the money they get, but old George is to be admired for putting the best of the best on the field, no matter what the cost...Hank better take some cues from his father and not dirty up the team with the likes of Barry Bonds!!!!
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Matthew Goodman 11 months ago
Thank you for the comment. I personally respect the Yankees franchise and what it has done for baseball. However, the Yankees are not a paragon of virtue. Remember why George Steinbrenner was suspended from baseball? Now think about all of the players suspected of steroid use who have been or are on the Yankees roster. There are quite a few. Just like on any other team's roster. Would adding Barry Bonds really tarnish the Yankees' integrity?
Let's expand the question to see. Are the Tigers diminished by having Gary Sheffield on their roster? How about the Orioles for having old lying Rafael Palmeiro? The Cardinals for Mark McGuire? The A's for Jose Canseco? The answer is no. In the end, winning is what matters and is remembered.
As a NY fan who grew up just north of the city, I agree that George put the best of the best on the field as far as he could see. His opinion was often wrong but he tried his best. In this situation, the best available player is Barry Bonds, full stop. If the Yankees management wants to win this year then they should sign Barry Bonds.
Also, I definitely think that athletes are worth what thy get. They generate revenue for the team and put fans the seats. They're worth what the market can bear, and many are even underpaid (Ryan Howard, case and point). That's a different debate anyway.
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Jim McGaw 11 months ago
"The Yankees have always been known for their class and integrity"
Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and many other members of the so-called "dynasty" say hello.
The Yankees are a perfect fit for a steroid-injecting cheater.
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Matthew Goodman 11 months ago
Pretty much the same can be said of any team in the majors. By your reasoning, ever team should be free to sign Bonds. And I agree.
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