chokestros

[fletcher]

not only are they taking the bone like last year but they are making a farce of the game.
you don/t give up a free pass down 8-1 in the 6th.i played and coached long enough to know this.
what a joke and very poor on their gutless coaching staff, ask anyone one that played for me in an email joe randa,alan mills or tom gordon i would drill the next batter right in the ribs with a fb when the blows came to bat,then i would hit the next guy and be throwen out to get my point across.

 

[Durwood]

Absolutely. they're embarassing themselves.

 

[wigs]

well they just gave up #70

 

[neverteaseit]

Fletcher you are so right. What is going on here is turning into a joke. Bonds has seen maybe and just maybe 3 pitches in his last 15 or so at bats that he could even hit. Kudos to him though he has taken it well. Why many bash this man is beyond my belief. He is arguably one of the greatest LF to ever play the game.

Many say he is arogant but who isn't. He has many fires that burn inside from the past, especially how his father was treated during his career and to the most part has maintained a positive attitude toward all. I personally feel bonds is a great athelete and role model for younger kids to look up too. He has been a faithful father and always been in good standing with his personal life. Never once has his named been involved in any negative decisions in life outside of baseball. I personally have never met the man and many who say things about him never have either, but oh how quickly judgement can be made. I am sure barry has done many things for charities and his community that many of us will never know about or hear about, he may have also touched many kids lives thru the wish foundation or at area hospitals that go unpublicized. He has a right to privacy and right not to speak when spoken too. This is the U.S.A. people not the former Russia. And know he does not owe it to the fans either for a press conference. He gives to the fans on the field where we pay to see him play, not to talk.

But he is judged by the media and from former teammates who don't like him. WOW media thats one to agree with. How many of us have people we know that we have talked bad about in our lives. Jealousy or maybe you just don't like that person. It is all peoples perception.

I really think it will be hard for him to even tie let alone break the record this weekend. They are heading to L.A. and who better to stick it to the Giants then thier arch rivals the dodgers. What a disgrace this will be too for these orginizations and baseball. I'm not saying serve it to him on a plate but give him a dam chance. I think he deserves at least that much.

Well as I am writing this barry goes yard. Way to go barry congrats. But i still think this was done all the wrong way.

 

[KALBO]

Very well said NT!

 

[kcwolf]

Played minor league baseball Fletch.

Right on, know where your coming from.

kcwolf

 

[redsfann]

Well said, neverteaseit--

but, I'm pretty sure the Giants are heading home to finish the season. Also- right on, Fletch. What a f&^%ng joke the Astros have turned the game into. Baseball keeps shooting themselves in the foot, yet no matter how much they try, they will never kill the greatest game ever played...

 

[dr. freeze]

was at Enron last night....had to study a little tonight and didn't make it....i am pissed.

Aschokes are doing it again, but at least they did something right and gave up #70. This is by far better than McGwire's 70 who had Pavano and co. serving him lemon pitches.

I like the Astros -- my second favorite team behind the Royals -- but am kind of laughing at them now and almost hope they choke after this ridiculous performance. I hope Dierker gets canned for his actions both with this team and with the way he treated Bonds.

By the way -- Bonds is arguably the BEST LF not among the best. It is a fact he is among the greatest. The only other LFer comparable to him is T. Dubbs. No arguing about that. The argument is this: is Bonds greater than Ted? I think we need to see Bonds have one more crack at the postseason to determine that -- although Teddy never did lead his team to a titly -- I would at least like to see Bonds put forth one good series run.

 

[neverteaseit]

yes i stand corrected. they are going home to play l.a.

Another point that I was hoping that would be avoided and it looks like it may have been from him hitting his 70th tonight. Was if he had not tied the record because of not being pitched to at all, was the race card. I think baseball would have really taken some heat here. Not saying that this was an issue but I know someone would have brought it to the forefront and made it an issue. This would have been another debacle for the major leaguers. And NO I do not believe bonds would have made this an issue, but I am sure someone would have, maybe from the ----- well you get the point. Case closed.


So houston finally pitched to him and they paid for it, but with the season he has had and as many times he has walked I think he deserved a chance to break it on his ability to hit a pitch. Congrats again to him and I am glad this topic will be laid to rest before it even got a chance to lite a fire.

 

[Keyser Soze]

"The Greatest"???? I don't think so. The great ones shine when the chips are down, and if anybody has ever taken a look at his post season record and performance they would be hard pressed to call him "The Greatest". Also points have been made that it is "Just" the media and the guys he used to play with that have a problem with him. I believe these folks have spent far more time with him than the casual observer. When you want to know about the chick you are interested in do you ask her roomate about her, or do you ask the guy that bags her groceries at the Quickie Mart? I didn't here anybody defending Albert 'Don't call me Joey' Belle when the media tore him up. Why, because he is a dirtbag, but the guy also produced on the field, and was 'one of' the most intense players to ever play the game. I was not a Belle fan, but I hated to see him come up in pressure situations late in a game and my jack was on the other side.....Point being, as earlier stated, Mac got pitches to hit and so did Sosa, so throw out the race card, and throw in the dirtbag card. I'm origiannly from Pittsburgh, and had heard, not witnessed, many of his clubhouse antics. The players and the managers don't like him, so ther're not going to make it easy for him. Nobody can win anyway, when Mac was pitched to, they siad they were serving them up, now when you don't pitch to him, you're 'cheating'. It's that never forgiving karma monster that keeps popping up....He's probably going to get it anyway at home this weekend, but I sure won't be celebrating when he does. Just like I didn't celebrate when Henderson broke Cobbs record the other night, and nobody heard that much about it. One, it was a lesser record and certainly not as flashy as season home run record, but two, it was another dirtbag that broke it.....Well I have to run, I hear the horn outside, the "bandwagon" is coming, hurry everyone jump on, your best pal Barry is about to break the home run record!

------------------
"Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

 

[neverteaseit]

keyser soze, not saying race card is an issue. but i do believe it is one that has been avoided by him being pitched too. I am sure baseball would just love a debate like this to start up during the playoffs which i am sure someone would have started somehwere, whether it was believable or not the topic would have been brought up. and for your info bonds is an african american and sosa is not. color does not decreed race.

as far as bandwagon hardly not, but i do admire the season he has had, which is astounding by the numbers he has put up. comparable to ruths 1921 season which is probably the greatest single season ever. lets compare

ruth's 1921 season stats his best season ever and probably the best of anyone
b.a. .378
o.b.% .512
slg % .846
tb's 457
hr's 59
rbi's 145
bb 145

bonds 2001 season
b.a. .323
o.b. % .512
slg % .848
tb's 397
hr's 70
rbi's 134
bb 175

not to shabby. hard to find another left fielder who has better career numbers also.

many players have not delivered in the post season. but to be judgemental toward him for what you hear is not fair IMO.

let me ask you this. have you ever thought soemone was a true asshole and then when you met him your perception change for that individual. I know I have. maybe we should keep an open mind on opinions of people and not be so quick to judgement.

 

[Keyser Soze]

I did not say he was not having a great season. Secondly, yes there have been people that I have changed my mind about after the 2nd or 3rd meeting, but rarely. What I said however is apples and oranges. I have a very good friend at home who would drive Rich Donnelly to the airport for away series. He now coaches 3rd for the Rockies, however at that time he was the bullpen coach in Pittsburgh under Leyland while Bonds was there. This was not "one" thing that I heard, this was from someone who dealt with him day in and day out. In addition to that, I worked for 4 years in the sort of establishment here in Orlando that many major league players visited nightly during spring training. Some of these guys I would see once or twice, some others I hung with for extended periods of time. Not one of these guys ever defended his honor, and some had additional stories to share. I am not forming my judgement by watching him on television, that I agree, would not be fair......It's all about respect, which is earned, not given. Talent by itself isn't enough to form that overall judgement, therefore he doesn't have the respect of his peers. Does that change the numbers he has put up? Absolutely not. But just because you're talented doesn't make you a good guy. Would you want your sister dating Latrell Sprewell?...Lastly, the bandwagon wasn't directed at you, it was to the masses. How many Bonds jerseys did you see being worn outside of San Fran before this run? I don't question the mans talent, or season, just his integrity, and when the career is over, that's all you have.

 

[neverteaseit]

wow a debate without any name calling or trash talking.

your points are well taken but i am not so quick to judgement. other peoples opinions of an individual are just that opinions. I cannot defend the man personally, nor can I degrade him either.

maybe he has rubbed people the wrong way or thier is resent toward him for matters that we will never know about. but I do know he has been a law abiding citizen and a stand up father.

too many times athletes are praised for thier abilities and personally they are worthless. I could name hundreds but it would be useless. I just feel that he has been tarnished unjustly and maybe we should be a little more open minded about the man and not so judgemental is all.

 

[Hoops]

Who cares about Bonds' 'integrity' and 'character' after his career is over and he isn't on TV? He is who he is, hasn't physically hurt anyone or caused any major disturbances outside of the clubhouse. He could very well be a total prick, but I don't know him and don't care to. I do know he is one of the alltime great players in baseball, as is Rickey Henderson. And their accomplishments should not be undermined by what people perceive as 'poor' character.

 

[THUNDER]

very well said hoops, bonds is very involved in inner city programs and funds many of them. he also is a youth helper at his church. and last but not least a dedicated family man who is not out for glory.

 

[skulldog]

This isn't a popularity contest is it?

Who cares what type of person he is off the diamond, this is about baseball and I think he's handled the walks, HBP w/class.

Having said that we have a bad guy on and off the field here in boston, guess who?

GLTA

 

[Keyser Soze]

Absolutely no reason for bashing or name calling. Just a forum discussion with two people of differing views......Not that it would ever happen, but I would be willing to bet ( if I were a betting man, that is )that if Mr. Everett were in the home run race there would be just as many on his bandwagon. Thankfully, I doubt it would ever come to fruition.....One last note, rumour is that Mr. Everett will be headed to San Fran next year. Can't wait to see him and Dusty but heads, that would be worth watching.

 

[dr. freeze]

real character: The guy who does do things for the community WITHOUT making it public.

i.e. Bonds

fake character: The guy who calls attention to his public service:

i.e. Sosa, McGwire

 

[fletcher]

McGwire is a prick and not as nice as people might think and i know this from a couple of first hand sources that are in the pitcure looking out not in.

 

[dr. freeze]

was it just me, or was our man Jeff Kent actually cracking a smile last night?

I am an outside source looking in, and I can tell ya that McGwire is a prick too.