SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants have now removed prominent tributes in the stadium to Barry Bonds, who has steroid allegations and perjury charges hanging over his head.
The left-field wall no longer bears an image of Bonds chasing Hank Aaron for the home run crown, nor elsewhere is the number of Bonds' home runs in relation to Aaron posted.
There are no "756" signs -- signifying the home run he hit to break Aaron's record -- anywhere in the park, in fact. A team spokeswoman said the Giants would put up a plaque to note where he had hit his last homer with the team.
I think Bonds is a major league scumbag, but even I think this is a little much. Whether or not he was on steroids, he WAS the Giants for many years. To completely disavow his existence is going a little overboard.
Absolutely ugly behavior by Magowan and the Giants. He didn't seem to mind signing him last season despite the circus, and exploiting the home run chase for every penny he could get out of it. And now, despite KNOWING about all the dark clouds that hang over Barry BEFORE his last contract with the team, they choose to completely pretend his legacy with the Giants is irrelevant.
I just lost a lot of respect for that organization.
Originally posted by It's FalseI think Bonds is a major league scumbag, but even I think this is a little much. Whether or not he was on steroids, he WAS the Giants for many years. To completely disavow his existence is going a little overboard.
It seems to me that all of Major League Baseball is trying to pretend Bonds never existed. I know he has the perjury stuff hanging over his head, but that trial isn't likely to start until 2009; meanwhile, Bonds (who, let's not forget, had a 1.145 OPS last year) can't find anyone to give him a one-year contract for five million dollars? That smells really fishy to me.
Originally posted by GugsIt seems to me that all of Major League Baseball is trying to pretend Bonds never existed. I know he has the perjury stuff hanging over his head, but that trial isn't likely to start until 2009; meanwhile, Bonds (who, let's not forget, had a 1.145 OPS last year) can't find anyone to give him a one-year contract for five million dollars? That smells really fishy to me.
Between his decreasing defensive abilities and his public profile (and indictment hanging over his head) it doesn't surprise me at all. The fans of twenty-nine baseball teams have spent the better part of the last decade hating him and I don't believe there are enough hypocrites out there for his signing with any of those clubs to go over well. When Tony La Russa mentioned interest in him over the off season I thought Cardinal Nation was going to asplode.
Originally posted by GugsIt seems to me that all of Major League Baseball is trying to pretend Bonds never existed. I know he has the perjury stuff hanging over his head, but that trial isn't likely to start until 2009; meanwhile, Bonds (who, let's not forget, had a 1.145 OPS last year) can't find anyone to give him a one-year contract for five million dollars? That smells really fishy to me.
His skill-set would be a PERFECT fit for the Mariners, who currently have Jose Vidro and his 109 OPS+ (Barry's was 170) in the DH spot, because you should have a DH who is just 10% above-average as long as he's a "good guy". It's only a strictly offensive position. The M's would NEVER touch him, though, because they are as much about creating a family-friendly experience as they are about winning, perhaps even moreso.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
Originally posted by GugsIt seems to me that all of Major League Baseball is trying to pretend Bonds never existed. I know he has the perjury stuff hanging over his head, but that trial isn't likely to start until 2009; meanwhile, Bonds (who, let's not forget, had a 1.145 OPS last year) can't find anyone to give him a one-year contract for five million dollars? That smells really fishy to me.
Between his decreasing defensive abilities and his public profile (and indictment hanging over his head) it doesn't surprise me at all. The fans of twenty-nine baseball teams have spent the better part of the last decade hating him and I don't believe there are enough hypocrites out there for his signing with any of those clubs to go over well. When Tony La Russa mentioned interest in him over the off season I thought Cardinal Nation was going to asplode.
Bingo. I would not want to see my team sign him, even though he would surely be helpful to have around. I have to think it would be bad business, even if good on the field, for a team to sign Bonds at this point.
(edited by spf on 28.3.08 1003) 2007 W-League Fantasy Football champion!
Originally posted by cfgbAbsolutely ugly behavior by Magowan and the Giants. He didn't seem to mind signing him last season despite the circus, and exploiting the home run chase for every penny he could get out of it. And now, despite KNOWING about all the dark clouds that hang over Barry BEFORE his last contract with the team, they choose to completely pretend his legacy with the Giants is irrelevant.
I just lost a lot of respect for that organization.
Perhaps they hate him just like the rest of us and set their minds to using him and then dumping him to the curb because they feel he deserves it for destroying his own legacy and in turn damaging a major part of their history. I mean if he had done it all legit, they could have milked it for years and years and years.
Not nice of them, but then again it's not like he deserved better.
Originally posted by cfgbAbsolutely ugly behavior by Magowan and the Giants. He didn't seem to mind signing him last season despite the circus, and exploiting the home run chase for every penny he could get out of it. And now, despite KNOWING about all the dark clouds that hang over Barry BEFORE his last contract with the team, they choose to completely pretend his legacy with the Giants is irrelevant.
I just lost a lot of respect for that organization.
Perhaps they hate him just like the rest of us and set their minds to using him and then dumping him to the curb because they feel he deserves it for destroying his own legacy and in turn damaging a major part of their history. I mean if he had done it all legit, they could have milked it for years and years and years.
Not nice of them, but then again it's not like he deserved better.
Since we're choosing to ignore the contributions of surly people in their personal lives, perhaps the Tigers can immediately disavow any ties to Ty Cobb, the Red Sox can go about remembering the days before Ted Williams stepped on their field, and the Minnesota Twins can tear down their shrine to Kirby Puckett.
There have been PLENTY of assholes in the history of Major League Baseball. The Giants made the decision to make him the face of the franchise, and trying to have it both ways from "COME SEE BARRY" 6 months ago to "WHO THE HELL IS BARRY?" now is wrong.
They don't have to sit around and leave the stadium up as a Barry Shrine, but to remove everything about the home run record is just idiotic. It's GIANTS HISTORY. Hank Aaron's become an anti-social old grump, but I don't see my Braves hurrying up to yank down the 755 signs.
Originally posted by cfgbAbsolutely ugly behavior by Magowan and the Giants. He didn't seem to mind signing him last season despite the circus, and exploiting the home run chase for every penny he could get out of it. And now, despite KNOWING about all the dark clouds that hang over Barry BEFORE his last contract with the team, they choose to completely pretend his legacy with the Giants is irrelevant.
I just lost a lot of respect for that organization.
Perhaps they hate him just like the rest of us and set their minds to using him and then dumping him to the curb because they feel he deserves it for destroying his own legacy and in turn damaging a major part of their history. I mean if he had done it all legit, they could have milked it for years and years and years.
Not nice of them, but then again it's not like he deserved better.
Since we're choosing to ignore the contributions of surly people in their personal lives, perhaps the Tigers can immediately disavow any ties to Ty Cobb, the Red Sox can go about remembering the days before Ted Williams stepped on their field, and the Minnesota Twins can tear down their shrine to Kirby Puckett.
There have been PLENTY of assholes in the history of Major League Baseball. The Giants made the decision to make him the face of the franchise, and trying to have it both ways from "COME SEE BARRY" 6 months ago to "WHO THE HELL IS BARRY?" now is wrong.
They don't have to sit around and leave the stadium up as a Barry Shrine, but to remove everything about the home run record is just idiotic. It's GIANTS HISTORY. Hank Aaron's become an anti-social old grump, but I don't see my Braves hurrying up to yank down the 755 signs.
None of those people are accused of systematically violating the spirit and the rules of the game, and acheiving their records through chemically enhanced means. If Barry Bonds had just been an asshole things would be different.
Originally posted by spfNone of those people are accused of systematically violating the spirit and the rules of the game, and acheiving their records through chemically enhanced means. If Barry Bonds had just been an asshole things would be different.
Which would be all well and good if it wasn't blindingly obvious while he was still a Giant, and still pushed as the face of the Giants, that this was the case . It's one thing to see no evil, it's another thing to miraculously see evil as soon as Bonds is of no more use to the franchise, and pretend that the entire decade never happened.
It is the policy of the documentary crew to remain true observers and not interfere with its subjects.