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Friday, December 07, 2007

SF Gate: A’s prepared to bring in Barry Bonds

If they had decided to rebuild, the A’s wouldn’t have a spot for Barry Bonds.

However, the club is intact as the winter meetings end, and Oakland is considered the hot pick to sign the free-agent outfielder despite his legal troubles and the potential public-relations issues that accompany him.

“There is no doubt in my mind that Oakland will sign Bonds,” one major-league executive said Thursday as the winter meetings wound down. “I’d be shocked if it didn’t happen.”

...According to several people with knowledge of the talks, the A’s were working on a deal to sign Bonds last month before he was indicted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Bonds will be arraigned on those charges in San Francisco today, but there is a belief in baseball and legal circles that a trial would not be held until after the 2008 season, or even early 2009.

Because green, gold and orange clash.

Repoz Posted: December 07, 2007 at 06:03 AM | 49 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: athletics, giants, steroids

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1. xbhaskarx Posted: December 07, 2007 at 06:20 AM (#2637670)

hell f'ing yes.

2. Los Angeles El Hombre of Anaheim

Posted: December 07, 2007 at 06:37 AM (#2637680)

Wow.

3. Esoteric Posted: December 07, 2007 at 06:37 AM (#2637681)

Saruman the White throws off his cloak and reveals himself to be in league with Sauron.

4. Cris E Posted: December 07, 2007 at 06:44 AM (#2637689)

How much does Barry make in a situation like this? Is there going to be a huge concession on salary in general or will they slap a games played incentive on there so he can make some serious coin? Frank and Piazza were in the $6M range, so this may go the same way. Ballsy for sure if it happens.

5. wcw Posted: December 07, 2007 at 06:50 AM (#2637700)

I really want to see this.

One, I am pretty sure Bonds can still hit, and this keeps him on local TV.

Two, my good friend the lifelong A's fan's head will explode.

It's a win-win.

6. EddieA Posted: December 07, 2007 at 06:53 AM (#2637704)

With what other guys are getting, he's got to get $10 mill.

No risk at all of losing him to court if they schedule the trial for next November.
I think 3000 Giant season ticket holders would move with him. 3 runs a game and 95 losses is tough to stomach and many'll want the Bonds fix.

7. Jim (jimmuscomp) Posted: December 07, 2007 at 06:54 AM (#2637705)

I really want Tony Reagins to swoop in here and grab Bonds. He is EXACTLY the type of hitter that the Halos need. Now, convincing Moreno to take that chance is probably impossible. But from a strictly baseball standpoint he is a perfect fit for Anaheim. A high OBP, high SLG DH would complement the rest of the club perfectly.

I know I am dreaming, but it would make for a much more formidable lineup come October.

8. Gambling Rent Czar Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:22 AM (#2637730)

**double fist pump**

just another thing in the long list, that the media has gotten wrong when it comes to Barry Bonds.

9. Iwakuma Chameleon (jonathan) Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:39 AM (#2637745)

Hell yes. He gives us a fighting chance against the Angels.

10. Social media assassin (Templeusox) Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:42 AM (#2637747)

Awesome. The AL welcomes all maligned stars.

11. MSI Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:37 AM (#2637775)

Welcome to the AL.

12. Athletic Supporter leads the nation in drifters Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:42 AM (#2637776)

I really don't understand why Bonds is going to be playing baseball. I would think that he wouldn't play for not that much money, and I would think that no team would want to pay someone with such a questionable prognosis a lot of money.

If this happens I'm very curious to see how much he gets. I can't see Billy paying him more than 8M or Bonds playing for less than 14M, something's got to give.

13. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:48 AM (#2637777)

I think the chance to play for a World Series team is a pretty good incentive for him to play. Whether the A's fit that description....

14. Squash Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:54 AM (#2637778)

Jesus. I'm the first to admit I root for the uniform, but I'm not sure I can root for Bonds.

15. The NeverEnding Torii (oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh) Posted: December 07, 2007 at 09:14 AM (#2637785)

Jim, I think the Angels are already too wrapped up with OF/DH guys to really consider Bonds. As it is, we'll already have Vlad, GA and Rivera trading turns DHing.

Having said that, I wouldn't mind this line-up:

Figgins 3B
Kendrick 2B
Guerrero RF
Bonds DH
Hunter CF
Anderson/Matthews LF
Kotchman 1B
Mathis/Napoli C
Izturis SS

16. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: December 07, 2007 at 09:56 AM (#2637813)

I really don't understand why Bonds is going to be playing baseball. I would think that he wouldn't play for not that much money, and I would think that no team would want to pay someone with such a questionable prognosis a lot of money.

I don't understand what you mean by "questionable prognosis." Do you mean his legal troubles? But they presumably wouldn't have to pay him if he was unable to play because he was on trial/in jail -- and moreover, they can just sign him with incentive levels based on games played.

17. Danny Posted: December 07, 2007 at 10:07 AM (#2637815)

Yes, please. The outfield defense would probably suck, but this lineup would score more runs than they have since 2001:

1) Buck,    RF (.283/.360/.458 ZIPS)
2) Swisher, CF (.263/.375/.483)
3) Bonds,   LF (.256/.456/.518)
4) Cust,    DH (.264/.394/.470)
5) Chavez,  3B (.259/.341/.453)
6) Barton,  1B (.280/.369/.440)
7) Ellis,   2B (.273/.335/.418)
8) Crosby,  SS (.240/.305/.353)
9) Suzuki,   C (.248/.325/.369) 

18. Snowboy Posted: December 07, 2007 at 11:42 AM (#2637828)

3) Bonds, LF (.256/.456/.518)

Wow, Bonds is special.
zips is actually predicting an OBP that is +.200 over a BA?
How many times has that kind of thing even happened, ever?

(not a zips prediction, but an acutal result like that. And I don't know the answer.)

19. DCA Posted: December 07, 2007 at 12:10 PM (#2637829)

How many times has that kind of thing even happened, ever?

Bonds has done it twice. He's been higher than .180 isoOBP each of his last 6 full seasons. I think that's it.

20. Russ Posted: December 07, 2007 at 12:30 PM (#2637830)

What's more important here in baseball challenge terms: that Bonds hasn't seen the pitchers in the AL yet or that the pitchers in the AL haven't seen Bonds yet? Does it wash out? Or is there a bit of adjustment on either side that needs to be made, so we will see some sort of unexpected numbers for Bonds (either good or bad) in the first couple of months?

21. KronicFatigue Posted: December 07, 2007 at 12:42 PM (#2637832)

Bonds as a DH where he can hyper-focus JUST on hitting? scary.

22. Padgett Posted: December 07, 2007 at 01:38 PM (#2637842)

Let me just say that I've always been a huge fan of this idea.

23. bob gee Posted: December 07, 2007 at 01:58 PM (#2637850)

i can understand bonds continuing to play as sort of an F-you to the baseball world. they revile him and vice-versa.

funny enough, i was a giants fan from '78 to 92, i think. stopped rooting for them because i couldn't stand bonds, when he signed with them.

i've been a somewhat a's fan from roughly '00, since i saw what beane was doing and liked his stuff. but this time, i won't give up the team b/c of bonds...

#17 - is barton really coming up? i thought johnson was going to be the 1bman, barton maybe a later season call-up.

24. user Posted: December 07, 2007 at 02:08 PM (#2637851)

What's the single season walk record for a team?

25. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: December 07, 2007 at 02:09 PM (#2637852)

#17 - is barton really coming up? i thought johnson was going to be the 1bman, barton maybe a later season call-up.

Yep, he's up for good. He looks like the real thing, too. I think, a lot like James Loney, he's going to show more power in the big leagues than he did in the minors.

26. A triple short of the cycle

Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:19 PM (#2638156)

I still don't see it, unless Swisher will play CF a la Danny's lineup. Otherwise, there is no spot for Bonds - either Buck, Cust, Swish, or Barton would have to sit to get Barry in... and they are the team's best hitters.

27. DL from MN Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:26 PM (#2638163)

Jack Cust is ticking, they have plenty of room.

28. OCF Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:31 PM (#2638173)

What's the single season walk record for a team?

Don't know about that, but the '93 Tigers were some kind of extreme TTO team, with 765 walks and 1122 strikeouts. Tony Phillips, Mickey Tettleton, Cecil Fielder - and Rob Deer playing half time.

29. DCA Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:34 PM (#2638177)

The only downside is the A's are going to get murdered by lefties. Bonds, Barton, Buck, Cust, Chavez, even Johnson and Hannahan -- basically everyone who can be reasonably expected to hit except Ellis and Swish -- are lefties.

30. Misirlou's got a busy day, he's wearing a vest Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:35 PM (#2638178)

Is Barry allowed to leave the country? In addition to Toronto, the A's have the season opening series in Japan.

31. Loren F. Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:40 PM (#2638187)

Some people will flock to A's games just to jeer him. As I said in yesterday's Gibbons/Guillen thread -- Steroid jeerees are the new market inefficiency. The extra revenue could offset whatever the A's pay him above Piazza/Thomas money.

32. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:40 PM (#2638188)

Is Barry allowed to leave the country? In addition to Toronto, the A's have the season opening series in Japan.

For now, yes - the judge turned down a request to take Bonds's passport away.

33. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:41 PM (#2638190)

That projected A's lineup has potential, but a lot of question marks. Almost everyone has injury concerns or performance questions, or both. Swisher is probably the closest to a sure thing, insofar as there is such an Animal.

34. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:42 PM (#2638191)

The only downside is the A's are going to get murdered by lefties

Which is why they now must sign Sammy Sosa :) I really want to see a 1,300+ HR platoon.

35. Loren F. Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:43 PM (#2638192)

If Barton is at 1B, what happens to Dan Johnson?

36. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:50 PM (#2638201)

If Barton is at 1B, what happens to Dan Johnson?

DJ either gets traded or becomes a bench player. I'm not so worried about lefties killing this lineup. Bonds hits lefties well and Donnie Murphy can spot for Chavez against lefties. Denorfia can see some time against lefties as well. After last year, I'm very much in favor of the A's having too many good players than too few. If that means guys max out at 140 games, that's ok with me. I think Geren is the kind of guy that can make multiple job sharing arrangements work. The magic word this year should be depth.

37. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: December 07, 2007 at 07:54 PM (#2638206)

Barry would probably prefer to skip Japan anyways.

38. Iwakuma Chameleon (jonathan) Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:02 PM (#2638213)

Dan Johnson can watch Barry take batting practice every day and maybe pick up a few things. Lord knows he could patch up a few of all those holes in his swing.

39. Willie Mayspedes Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:11 PM (#2638229)

For now, yes - the judge turned down a request to take Bonds's passport away.

What about his kids? Is that even legal?

40. Adam S

Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:13 PM (#2638232)

The only downside is the A's are going to get murdered by lefties.

This is a less of a regular season problem for tha A's than you might think. Not many lefty starters on their AL West opponents. Washburn and Gabbard, plus Saunders and Ramirez if they get rotation spots (the latter would probably cause an outbreak of joy amongst the Mariners' opponenets in any case). I think that's it.

The Angels pen leans very righty as well. As an A's fan, I'd much rather see Darren Oliver in a high leverage situation than Scot Shields, whatever the platoon splits. Dunno about the other pens in the division.

41. Srul Itza Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:24 PM (#2638241)

The only downside is the A's are going to get murdered by lefties

Last year against lefties, Barry was:

.265/.470/.521/.991

I don't believe any A had a regular player with a .990 OPS last year.

If the A's struggle against lefties, it would not be because Barry was in the line-up.

But I don't think they will sign him, anyway. The article smells of BS to me.

42. gay guy in cut-offs smoking the objective pipe Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:29 PM (#2638246)

What, no discussion of how much value Bonds is going to lose moving to the major leagues?

43. Rich Rifkin I Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:29 PM (#2638247)

"Two, my good friend the lifelong A's fan's head will explode."

Not true. Kevin is a Red Sox fan.

44. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:33 PM (#2638252)

I don't understand what you mean by "questionable prognosis."

Risks and side effects of GH treatment

Side effects in adults may include fluid retention, joint pain, and nerve compression symptoms. There is theoretical concern that GH treatment may increase the risks of diabetes or cancer, especially in those with other predispositions treated with higher doses. It is pointed out, however, that diabetes is a disease that develops over perhaps 30 or 40 years of poor eating habits, and the most likely cause of diabetes is the poor nutrition which the patient had prior to the use of growth hormone. One survey of adults who had been treated with replacement cadaver GH (which has not been used anywhere in the world, since 1985) during childhood showed a mildly increased incidence of colon cancer, but linkage with the GH treatment was not established.

45. Danny Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:50 PM (#2638275)

The lineup would be lefty-heavy. Every offseason since Tejada left, the media and many fans seem to clamor for more a RH bat, but every year the A's do much better against LHP than RHP.

They could use some platoons, as suggested above, with Denorfia spelling Bonds and Murphy in for Chavez against LHP.

What do folks think about the bench? Kotsay and Denorfia are both locks for the OF, and one of Bowen or Brown will be the backup catcher. With Scutaro gone, they'll need someone who can replace Crosby. Does that mean keeping Murphy over Hannahan, do they keep them both, or do they keep Hannahan and play the backup SS (Petit or Pennington) in Sacramento? They could shift Ellis to SS and put Hannahan at 2B, but they've been reluctant to move Ellis in the past.

Finally, in a non-Bonds scenario, is there room for DJ on the bench? He'd be their best PH, and when an OF needs rest he could DH with Cust moving to LF.

46. Los Angeles Waterloo of Black Hawk Posted: December 07, 2007 at 08:52 PM (#2638278)

Bonds as a DH where he can hyper-focus JUST on hitting? scary.

Like he hasn't been doing this already.

47. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: December 07, 2007 at 09:04 PM (#2638295)

What do folks think about the bench? Kotsay and Denorfia are both locks for the OF, and one of Bowen or Brown will be the backup catcher. With Scutaro gone, they'll need someone who can replace Crosby. Does that mean keeping Murphy over Hannahan, do they keep them both, or do they keep Hannahan and play the backup SS (Petit or Pennington) in Sacramento? They could shift Ellis to SS and put Hannahan at 2B, but they've been reluctant to move Ellis in the past.

Finally, in a non-Bonds scenario, is there room for DJ on the bench? He'd be their best PH, and when an OF needs rest he could DH with Cust moving to LF.

Let's see, as I haven't worked out the math yet on a roster:

1. C Rob Bowen or Jeremy Brown
2. C K Suzuki
3. 1B Daric Barton
4. 2B Mark Ellis
5. 3B Eric Chavez
6. SS Bobby Crosby
7. LF/DH Jack Cust
8. CF/1B Nick Swisher
9. RF Travis Buck
10. DH/OF Barry Bonds
11. OF Chris Denorfia
12. OF/1B Mark Kotsay
13. IF Jack Hannahan
14. IF Donnie Murphy

I think those are the position players if the A's go with an 11 man staff. I don't see room for DJ there. DJ would be a good fit for for the Twins as their DH and he's a Minnesotan to boot. It seems the teams should be able to work something out. Also, pray Shannon Stewart doesn't accept the offer of arbitration. That would screw everything up.

(You know what, this is a good team. Throw in an above average pitching staff and, with a couple of breaks or decent health, this team could make the Angels sweat. I'd still choose the Angels as the favorites, but it's closer than I thought.)

48. David Nieporent (now, with children) Posted: December 07, 2007 at 11:15 PM (#2638430)

Risks and side effects of GH treatment

Side effects in adults may include fluid retention, joint pain, and nerve compression symptoms. There is theoretical concern that GH treatment may increase the risks of diabetes or cancer, especially in those with other predispositions treated with higher doses. It is pointed out, however, that diabetes is a disease that develops over perhaps 30 or 40 years of poor eating habits, and the most likely cause of diabetes is the poor nutrition which the patient had prior to the use of growth hormone. One survey of adults who had been treated with replacement cadaver GH (which has not been used anywhere in the world, since 1985) during childhood showed a mildly increased incidence of colon cancer, but linkage with the GH treatment was not established.

I'm not sure if this is supposed to be sarcastic. You can compile a list of "side effects" for any drug, including alcohol. So what? How does that make for a questionable prognosis?

49. Willie Mayspedes Posted: December 07, 2007 at 11:26 PM (#2638438)

"side effects" for any drug, including alcohol

Side effects in adults may include urinating at ridiculous levels, extreme confidence, swelling or bloating of the stomach, tiredness and irritability the morning afterwards, liver disease, unidentified drunk injuries, vomiting and bad phone decisions late at night and in the very early morning hours.

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SF Gate: A’s prepared to bring in Barry Bonds

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