Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you... If Bochy is smart, Bonds's butt will be firmly Superglued to the bench tomorrow. That way he gets a full week to break the record where it should be broken: in San Francisco, for the fans that have stuck by him.
smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated (Holds; June 18, 2006) While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.
...against my Nationals, no doubt. Goddammit, as if we're not already the answer to a few dubious trivia questions.
"Forget belief systems. Forget about the parameters of rational thought as it so smugly is called. Feel, my friend-- feel!" --KARR, Knight Rider episode "KITT vs. KARR"
Remembering Chris Benoit (1967-2007) and Eddie Guerrero (1967-2005)
Fan of the Indianapolis Colts (Super Bowl XLI Champions), Indiana Pacers and Washington Nationals
Certified RFMC Member-- Ask To See My Credentials!
High above the field in a private box, baseball commissioner Bud Selig was a reluctant witness to history. Choosing to overlook the steroid allegations that have dogged the San Francisco slugger, Selig watched Bonds tie Hank Aaron's home run record -- his mouth agape, hands stuffed in pockets and nary a cheer on his lips.
...
"No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds' achievement is noteworthy and remarkable," Selig said in a statement.
Selig said either he or a representative would attend the Giants' next few games "out of respect for the tradition of the game, the magnitude of the record and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty."
The Bonds record isn't the only thing that needs an asterisk these days. The fact that Bud simply won't say "Congratulations" and end it there speaks volumes. Every statement he makes seems so two-faced and just shows how much he's hating every minute of this chase.
Not that I don't agree with that (because, really, I'm as big a Bonds-hater as anyone), but for a man of Bud's position to make these cute half-truth, semi-snarky remarks seems really petty.
(edited by It's False on 5.8.07 0014)
The Wisdom of Homsar: AaAaAaAaAaAaA! Caramel corn for president, please!
And boy howdy, those Padres fans really rained down with the hatred. I wasn't sure what act was the most defining of their disapproval...the pop his homerun got, the booing of their own pitcher when he fell behind 3-0 to Bonds in the 8th, or the ovation he got when lifted for a pinch runner after his 3rd consecutive walk (43 friggin years old and he still can't find a team who will pitch to him).
I distinctly remember a nice shot of the crowd after Bonds was lifted...there was a single-file line to leave the stadium. In the top of the 8th of a 2-2 game.
One of the Pads' announcers made a statement that this was the 24th consecutive sellout for a Barry Bonds game.
"My impression?" teammate Dave Roberts said. "From the outside, I had a certain opinion. Now that I'm closer to it, I think he's getting a raw deal, plain and simple. He's taken shots from everybody. After a while, you clam up. People take him as a bad guy because of it.
"He's never tested positive. The people that know him best teammates or guys who play against him those are the people I listen to. And I love having him as a teammate. I don't know how he's dealt with it his whole career. Some of it might be warranted, but it goes both ways." "
(edited by Joseph Ryder on 5.8.07 0104) My next marathon is October 7th 2007 -- Royal Victoria
Has Barry ever tested negative? I was under the impression that Barry had never tested at all, refuses to be tested, and that's why he has never tested positive. And if that's the case, doesn't saying that 'he has never tested positive' become a pretty empty statement? Isn't that like saying "I have never failed a lie detector test" when in fact you have never taken a lie detector test?
The Bored are already here. Idle hands are the devil's workshop. And no... we won't kill dolphins. But koalas are fair game.
I'm sure in everyone's hurry to add the asterisk to this they missed the fact that Bonds hit 755 off of Clay Hensley...who was suspended 15 games back in 2005 for using performance-enhancing substances.
If we start firing asterisks beside every mark from this "Steroid Era" of hitters, let's remember that pitchers were using, too.
Originally posted by ges7184Has Barry ever tested negative? I was under the impression that Barry had never tested at all, refuses to be tested, and that's why he has never tested positive. And if that's the case, doesn't saying that 'he has never tested positive' become a pretty empty statement? Isn't that like saying "I have never failed a lie detector test" when in fact you have never taken a lie detector test?
No he has been tested, but no MLB test ever came up positive on him for the steroids. But to anyone who says he is innocent until proven guilty of using steroids, well Barry himself put that notion to rest when he admitted to taking the Cream and the Clear. His excuse was just that he didn't KNOW they were steroids.
So there's zero question from anyone that he did in fact use the drugs. Only about whether he knew what he was doing.
I personally think Selig shouldn't have even been there. To those that say he must be there and support this because he was commissioner when the cheating took place, I say why? Why is pretending to ignore that it happened a way to make up for it? No, you apologize to the fans, which he has done, and you let people know that you as are upset about it as we are by ignoring what Bonds is doing now, as though it's not worth paying attention to. Because it isn't.
Originally posted by Big BadHey, you know who undisputedly wasn't on steroids? Henry Aaron.
Wow, I don't know they tested in the '70s. :-)
I'm not saying that I think Hank Aaron took steroids. I'd be shocked if it turned out he did.
All I mean is that you can't prove a negative. We have to rely on Aaron's statements that he didn't take anything just like we have to rely on everyone else that never got tested. His word is worth more than some other players (like Bonds, for example), but that doesn't make it indisputable.
EDIT: Bill James' Favorite Toy gives Griffey Jr. a 0% chance of reaching 755. It expects him to retire at about 650.
Before the start of this season, it gave A-Rod about a 30% chance of reach 755.
Originally posted by dwatersOf all the names I would guess for Barry's son, Nikolai just wouldn't be one of them.
Did someone in San Diego actually throw the 755 ball back on the field???? Even the biggest Barry hater wouldn't be that stupid, would they?
A ball did get thrown onto the field but it wasn't THE ball. Many fans in the stands had "decoy" balls. They would throw the decoy balls to split the dog pile in hopes of getting the actual ball.
Local news in SD interviewed the guy that retrieved the ball. He was at the game with his cousin. Once the dog pile disbanded security came over to the two guys. Security talked to the guy that retrieved the ball and ushered his cousin (who didn't catch the ball) out of the stands (as a decoy). A few minutes later the guy that actually caught the ball walked out to confirm he had #755.
Originally posted by Big BadBefore the start of this season, it gave A-Rod about a 30% chance of reach 755. (edited by Mr. Boffo on 5.8.07 2021)
According to an article on espn.com related to A-rod's 500th he's currently sitting at a 48% chance of breaking Bond's record. the equation used assumes that Bonds will finish around 775.
Let me tell you something, the day JBL rubs soap on my ass will be JBL's last day.
Mechanical advantage from the "apparatus". Hmm. I wonder if there is anything to this?
I can't tell if the article has a sarcastic tone or not. However, if its serious, it loses some credibility for the home run derby comment. I remember clearly watching one of those in the mid 90's (I'm thinking 1996) where Bonds killed it, and smiled happily after the fact, declaring "hey ma! hey ma! I beat Mark McGwire ... TWICE!"
Originally posted by Guru ZimCheck out this angle: Mechanical advantage from the "apparatus". Hmm. I wonder if there is anything to this?
Damn that Iron Mike Sharpe anyway!
Actually, I've tried a number of bowling wrist guards over the years.. so without having considered this before, it at least sounds conceivable, if not likely.
And to Mr. Boffo's point: We don't positively know if Aaron used steroids back in the day, but we do know that Hank didn't have an unprecedented power surge on the back end of his career like a certain fathead did. One that just happened to start after McGwire and Sosa grabbed all those headlines. Bonds hit 5 of his top 6 home run years (including the incredible* 73) when he was 35-39.
I just wonder where Barry would have the record by now if the Giants ever gave him decent protection in the lineup.
*Incredible (adj) - 1) too extraordinary and improbable to be believed.
Its a fair question, but here are a few things that made it so that Grady needed to win the World Series to be retained. Reports are now coming out that John Henry had to be talked out of firing him in mid June when they lost 2 out of 3 to St.