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Friday, July 11, 2008

SI: Richard Justice: Bring back Barry Bonds ... please!

If Barry wants a chance, shouldn’t he get a chance? He will turn 44 in a couple of weeks, and he might not run or throw the way he once did. But he can afford a bit of a drop-off. That’s one of the things that gets overlooked about Barry. He wasn’t just offense. He won eight Gold Gloves, too. He finished in the top 10 in steals nine times. In other words, Barry could do everything.

If we’re going to discuss the greatest ever, Barry is high on the list. Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Willie Mays might be there. Rickey Henderson might slip into the conversation. Albert Pujols will be there someday.

But not one of those players did the things Barry did when he was at his best. Name a significant offense measuring stick—OPS, OBP, slugging percentage, etc.—and Barry is on the all-time leader board.

No player made baseball more money than Barry Bonds. No player filled more ballparks.

John In White Trash Heaven Posted: July 11, 2008 at 01:22 AM | 15 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, Arizona, Boston, NY Mets, Tampa Bay

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1. The Non-Catching Molina (sjs1959) Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:01 AM (#2852586)

Paging Kevin in 3...2...1...

2. Los Angeles ALBERT F. PUJOLS of Anaheim

Posted: July 11, 2008 at 03:16 AM (#2852615)

I'm shocked. There aren't many mainstream sportswriters who despise Bonds more than Richard Justice.

3. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: July 11, 2008 at 03:19 AM (#2852616)

Rickey Henderson might slip into the conversation.

Finally. Hip hip hooray for the rarely-stated obvious. Richard Justice's surname is aptly chosen.

4. AROM Posted: July 11, 2008 at 03:37 AM (#2852625)

Who is this Bonds fella? I checked the 2008 stats for him but couldn't find any. Is he any good?

5. Bhaakon Posted: July 11, 2008 at 04:24 AM (#2852632)

I'm shocked. There aren't many mainstream sportswriters who despise Bonds more than Richard Justice.

Not that shocking, really. You just need to read into the article:

"No player made baseball [writers] more money than Barry Bonds."

Dude just wants his weekly 'gimme' article on Bonds back.

6. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: July 11, 2008 at 05:08 AM (#2852635)

Not that shocking, really. You just need to read into the article:

"No player made baseball [writers] more money than Barry Bonds."

Dude just wants his weekly 'gimme' article on Bonds back.

That's a joke right?

7. ValueArb Posted: July 11, 2008 at 06:14 AM (#2852649)

Amazing that teams are so short sighted with Bonds, but juicers like David Ortiz get off scott free...

8. Ron Johnson Posted: July 11, 2008 at 08:15 AM (#2852654)

Who is this Bonds fella? I checked the 2008 stats for him but couldn't find any. Is he any good?

Seems to be in the general talent range of Kenny Lofton -- at least based on this year's stats.

9. Steve Parris, Je t'aime (M. Valentin) Posted: July 11, 2008 at 11:24 AM (#2852683)

I read the headline as "Sir Richard Justice" at first. Definitely need coffee.

10. Chris Dial Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:28 PM (#2852865)

Maybe Justice thinks Bonds will fail? So many people like to say he's this big performance risk. Alou for the Mets is now done. Church is likely to be out another month. It's just dumb not to sign Bonds.

11. RJ in TO Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:34 PM (#2852874)

Alou for the Mets is now done. Church is likely to be out another month. It's just dumb not to sign Bonds.

Since when has Minaya been thought of as a figure of inspirational brilliance?

12. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: July 11, 2008 at 02:36 PM (#2852880)

So many people like to say he's this big performance risk. Alou for the Mets is now done. Church is likely to be out another month. It's just dumb not to sign Bonds.

But it won't happen. MLB's in for a penny, in for a pound.

Well, I won't back down
No, I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of Hell
But I won't back down

Gonna stand my ground
Won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground
And I won't back down

Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey, I will stand my ground
And I won't back down

13. bbc is prejudice bout men Posted: July 11, 2008 at 04:06 PM (#2852962)

if i hadn't read this for my own self i would NOT have believed it. i mean, if it was in his blog, well then, he'll say absolutely anything and he'll contradict himself from entry to entry, but this is something he wrote for SI

i still can't believe it

partly because richard hates barry personally - or at least that is what he tries not to say

partly because richard had zero good to say about how barry introduced steroids to baseball

partly because richard thinks bud selig is a fantastic human being and is the best thing that ever happened to MLB. i've listened to richard interview bud - twice - and it was absolutely sickening.

richard CAN talk very intelligently about baseball when he wants to and i sure wish he wanted to a lot more than he does

14. Walt Davis Posted: July 11, 2008 at 07:42 PM (#2853241)

Since when has Minaya been thought of as a figure of inspirational brilliance?

Well, there's "inspirational brilliance" and there's "smarter than a bump on a log." Recognizing the utility of Bonds to the Mets only requires the latter.

Signing Sexson would be inspirational brilliance! :-)

No player filled more ballparks.

This I doubt though I'm not sure who I'd nominate for this "honor." McGwire and Sosa in 98-99 obviously but probably not for their full careers. AROD? Ichiro? Ripken? Still, until the 73 HR and the steroid infamy, I don't see Bonds as a huge road draw. I know he started a lot of AS games but how often was he the top vote-getter? Note, I don't think that point matters one bit in the grand scheme of things but it's Justice so I have to find something to whine about. :-)

15. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: July 12, 2008 at 09:06 AM (#2853857)

I read the headline as "Sir Richard Justice" at first. Definitely need coffee.

The funny thing is, I misread it as "St. Richard Justice."

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SI: Richard Justice: Bring back Barry Bonds ... please!

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