Let me first get this out of the way-- I can't stand Barry Bonds. I hate his attitude towards the media, I hate his attitude towards his teammates, I hate his attitude towards the fans. I hate those little banners at the bottom of ESPN that feel the need to tell us the result of every freakin' pitch he sees. I hate the fact that the record of Hank Aaron-- a testament to class and greatness-- is going to be broken by someone who is a testament to nastiness and the power of chemistry.
Having said that...
The Giants will begin a six-game road trip to visit the Dodgers and Padres this week, and with him being at 754 home runs (two away from breaking the all-time record) there has been some discussion about what might happen if he breaks the record on the road. Namely, that everyone will break out the Haterade, inflammatory banners and make sure that no one will ever be able to watch the record-breaking homer without also hearing the absolutely vehement chorus of boos.
So. The above posted article is wagering that Bonds will try not to break the record outside of San Francisco. Anyone want to try and guess when he'll do it?
My guess is the very first game back in San Francisco, against the Nationals, who naturally are my team. (Though I hope his slump continues through that series and he breaks it against the Pirates-- or, even better, he breaks it in Los Angeles or San Diego, where he'll be ridiculed for all time as he so richly deserves).
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It'd be incredibly fitting if Bonds tied and broke the record at Dodger Stadium against the rival Dodgers, where he'll probably find the most hostile crowd of fans possible.
He'll tie on Tuesday and break the record on Wednesday or Thursday.
Fun fact: Bonds also broke Big Mac's single-season home run record in front of a more-than-unfriendly Dodger Stadium crowd. The crowds that'll pack the seats this week will make those fans look like spring break college kids in comparison.
I also find myself shaking my head at Bonds regarding his rudeness to reporters and uncalled for comments against Bob Costas over the past week. Just when you're ready to feel a shred of sympathy for the guy, he reminds just why he's baseball's biggest jackass.
(edited by It's False on 30.7.07 0105)
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I doubt Bonds is going to hold off until he's at home. I have to assume, unless the Dodgers and Padres walk him every time he comes up, that he'll make some history (tie or break) in either stadium. The Dodgers' fans will be breaking out the show of "Haterade" more for purely selfish reasons than out of any sort of moral obligation. Which is fine, whatever, but a show is all it'll be. I do look forward to seeing the crowd throw the ball(s) back onto the field (the real one, not some fake one they brought from home) and put all their cameras away when Bonds is up. Maybe they'll even stage a walkout during each of his ABs, or at the very least turn their back on the man. I think true Dodgers fans should stage a mass strike and all ticket holders should stand outside the stadium in protest. That would be the ultimate burn for the history books, wouldn't it? Hitting #756 in a completely empty stadium? But then their cool "Bar-roid" banner won't get on Sportscenter.
Originally posted by It's FalseI also find myself shaking my head at Bonds regarding his rudeness to reporters and uncalled for comments against Bob Costas over the past week. Just when you're ready to feel a shred of sympathy for the guy, he reminds just why he's baseball's biggest jackass.
He isn't paid to be nice to Bob Costas or some other jobber reporter who's trying to win points with non-San Franciscoans. He's paid to put asses in the seats, get on base 50% of the time, and hit a few dozen homeruns, not win back your sympathy. Who cares how he acts to the media? Who *knows* how he acts with his teammates? His peers seem to like him okay, and he does seem to act somewhat gracious towards his fans.
He isn't paid to be nice to Bob Costas or some other jobber reporter who's trying to win points with non-San Franciscoans. He's paid to put asses in the seats, get on base 50% of the time, and hit a few dozen homeruns, not win back your sympathy.
Winning is important (though apparently not important enough to the Giants to get them to field a good team!), but not everything. I agree that the idea is to put people in the stands, and to get people to spend money on the Giants in general. But isn't that better accomplished by Barry respectful with reporters? Media coverage of your event obviously reflects revenue, and I'd think the tone of the coverage would as well.
Barry Bonds has full right to be a jerk, and the Giants have no right to complain about at this point, and I'm not suggesting that the world would fall in love with Barry if he hugged Pedro Gomez each morning before answering the same questions he gets asked everyday.
But, I guess my point is, by making that choice to do jerk-ish things with the media, Barry hasn't been doing the best job in making money for his baseball club. I don't think you can even begin to count the millions of dollars his attitude with the media has cost himself, his team and baseball itself.
I think true Dodgers fans should stage a mass strike and all ticket holders should stand outside the stadium in protest. That would be the ultimate burn for the history books, wouldn't it? Hitting #756 in a completely empty stadium?
So Dodgers fans should give up the tickets they paid to go to a game, on the belief that their pitches were going to fail and allow the other team to hit home runs - the best way to support the team would to be show no support at all?
People will boo and take photos because how hard is it to take a photo? It takes less time than to make a moral judgment (or for me to write a post.)
What I love is that everyone "hates" on Barry and yet, still keeps their "hero's" on a higher pedestal. My overall feeling is that in the "spirit" of competition, everyone is going to find the edge to be successful. Barry has done it better than everyone else. That does not make it right though.
That being said, he has said that he really wants to break the record at home so I feel he will probably tie in LA and break it next week (Wednesday) at home. It would be even cooler if he broke it over the weekend at home against the Pirates 8/10 through 8/12
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Originally posted by thecubsfanI agree that the idea is to put people in the stands, and to get people to spend money on the Giants in general. But isn't that better accomplished by Barry respectful with reporters? Media coverage of your event obviously reflects revenue, and I'd think the tone of the coverage would as well.
...
But, I guess my point is, by making that choice to do jerk-ish things with the media, Barry hasn't been doing the best job in making money for his baseball club. I don't think you can even begin to count the millions of dollars his attitude with the media has cost himself, his team and baseball itself.
Are there some numbers you can give me to point to how the Giants or the MLB are losing out on money cause of Bonds' surly demeanor? Because I disagree. I don't see the connect. They seem to be doing just fine as things are now. They're perennially top-5 in the MLB in attendance, they're usually top-5 in away attendance as well (the aberration being they were 14th in 2005, the year Bonds was injured). This year only the Mets, Yankees, Cubs and Red Sox draw more away fans. Not bad for a team whose 2nd biggest everyday player is...? Omar Vizquel? Randy Winn? And while Bonds has more "enemies" than anyone in the game from a spectator perspective, he also has a lot more fans than most every player. It's just that the enemies bang their drums louder and furrow their brows more often.
Originally posted by thecubsfanSo Dodgers fans should give up the tickets they paid to go to a game, on the belief that their pitches were going to fail and allow the other team to hit home runs - the best way to support the team would to be show no support at all?
I'm just sayin'...they talk the talk, will they walk the walk? Will they make a historical statement? A plastic syringe and a Bar-roid banner isn't walking the walk. Booing isn't walking the walk. They've booed every Bonds homerun since he became a Giant. It's fan participation. It's face vs. heel.
Originally posted by thecubsfanPeople will boo and take photos because how hard is it to take a photo? It takes less time than to make a moral judgment (or for me to write a post.)
Exactly. Which is why most of the complaining about Bonds seems so hollow to me. Everybody acts outraged and upset at how bad he is for baseball but they pay good money to show up and watch him. They take pictures of him. They all stand up when he connects. They boo, make a witty steroid joke, have a good time, and come back the next day to do it all over again. I don't see any real outrage. I don't see the loss of money (though I'll give the reporters an e for effort).
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