Bring Back Barry Bonds

I still don't understand how Barry Bonds is looking for a job.  Call me crazy.  Call me delusional.  Call me a sycophantic Bonds loving, media-hating Giants fan.  Call me what you will, but I still believe that the temperamental slugger could help a team win games.

 Any Giants fan will know that Bonds still has something left in the tank.  He hit 28 homers last  year and finished with an OPS (on base plus slugging) of .1045.  To put that in perspective, only two players, Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz, finished the year with higher marks.  Keep in mind that he put up these marks while batting in perhaps the worst lineup in the league.  He had absolutely no protection on that aging squad.

More importantly, he led the league in walks.  This proves that he is still a feared hitter.  If he were to land in a lineup that could give him some protection, we would see the batting average rise as Bonds would be able to establish a rhythm.  Increased opportunities would also lead to a bump in his home run numbers.  

 The aging stars range in left field bordered on pathetic at times last year.  An obvious solution to this problem would be to DH for an American League team.  Bonds would no longer be a liability in the field and would be able to play more often without having to worry about breaking down in the field.

This increase in games played and pitches seen would constitute a significant numbers increase.  I would place 35 as a conservative home run estimate but I could easily see him surpass that number.  A championship contender lacking a power hitter could really use an extra 35 home runs (hint, hint Angels).  Guerrero's numbers would also improve if he were given protection in the form of the all time home run leader.  Critics may point out that Mike Scioscia is a small-ball disciple who could not tolerate Bonds's diminished base-running ability.  In reality, Scioscia would be thrilled to get the free bases Bonds would bring and would have no trouble pinch-running for him.  

 Few can argue with the impact Bonds would have on the field, but there are still plenty of off-the-field issues circling this guy.  A common misconception is that Bonds is a bad teammate.  After leaving the Pirates, Bonds turned into a solid teammate known for instructing younger hitters.  He had his problems (but who wouldn't with a guy like Jeff Kent?) and is by no means an ideal teammate.  However, many outsiders would be surprised to learn that Bonds is generally considered a solid teammate.  His real beef has always been with the media.  His presence would bring certain distractions, but a major league player should have the mental capacity to tune these out.  The biggest potential problem comes in the form of a pending perjury investigation.  Detractors should keep in mind that Bonds would not be sentenced by the end of this year (thank god for the American Justice System) and missing a few games may even prove beneficial as he requires routine days off.

 The Bonds Experiment failed the last few years in San Francisco because Bonds was the centerpiece (In fact, the only piece) of the franchise.  His presence inhibited the growth of the Giants farm system players because management attempted to piece together veteran squads focused on Bonds (don't get me started on the futiilty of these moves).  Bonds has been forced to swallow a large mouthful of pride this winter and would be more likely to accept a complementary role at this point in his career.  He comes with many risks but far greater rewards.  If you are a championship team who is missing one piece, you can't afford to pass on Bonds.