Barry Bonds

[dc]

Does anyone see any similarities between Barry Bonds and Roger Maris?

[robbie ferstl]

no

[Al Craighead]

In essence no. Roger was genuine nice guy, who had to deal with a public that didn't want him to break the record. While Bonds is getting standing ovations on the road and even the media have softened towards him. A few added things. The year Maris set the record he was having his second straight great year. Many don't remember he won back-to-back MVP's in 1960 and 1961. Bonds this year is having perhaps the greatest season of all-time. He has set a new MLB record for walks, his on-base percentage is over %50! He will likely break not only the home-run mark, but Babe Ruth's slugging percentage record as well. Much as I don't like him, what a season.

Cheers,

Al.

[BrooksHall]

This must be the first sign of the Apocalypse, you're talking about baseball.

MH

[Mike B]

Barry Bonds? Does he drive for Lynx Racing?

Seriously Doug, as the moderator of this particular forum, I may be forced to ban you from it. At least until the World Series.

[dc]

[img]redface.gif[/img]

[robbie ferstl]

Maris was a complete baseball player, Bonds is nothing more than an average defensive player and a awesome offensive weapon. But Bonds will go the Hall and Maris will not.

[dc]

Bonds has 8 Gold Gloves, which ranks him 5th all-time behind Clemente (12), Mays (12), Griffey, Jr. (10) and Kaline (10) in Gold Glove fielding award winners. I would hardly call that an average defensive player. FWIW, Maris had one Gold Glove, though he did play in an era with stellar defensive outfielders. Then again, he only carried a lifetime batting average of .260. He still should be in the HoF, though.

Bonds is about as complete a player as our generation has seen, and maybe before and beyond. Just because he doesn't have a personality that the press gushes over doesn't mean he isn't one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

BTW, my refernece and comparisson to Maris was the fact that the press hounded both of them their entire record-breaking seasons, relentlessly obsessing over things each player had publically stated were secondary to the team and the Championship. They also were hated by reporters and fans, until it became obvious that each was going to break their respective records.

Neither had any personality, neither enjoyed the spotlight, both had monumental seasons that broke records no one expected to be broken, and both of them didn't get the credit they deserved for their feats until the very end. Its also easy to forget that Bonds is 37 years old, too.

[Mike B]

I'm warning you guys...

[robbie ferstl]

sorry mike, but....
gold gloves? are you kidding me?
it wasnt two or three years ago in the American league a DH won a GG for 1st base.(i cant remember his name! he playd 1s for about 30 games that year. gold gloves are overrated and a popularity contest.

[dc]

Funny, but I thought Bonds lacked popularity specifically with the people who vote for the Gold Gloves. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Rafael Palmeiro was the winner in '97, for who knows what reason. Then again, that position was so thing that year, that it was a surprise that anyone picked up that trophy.

[dc]

Mike needs to remember who plays Oz behind the curtain.

[montfort]

So he is a boxer?

[Matt M.]

Doesn't OMP make those gold gloves?

[Mike Ahrens]

At last there is no question that Bonds is a professional, and therefore should be excluded from any amateur ball playing events. Oops, wrong thread. [img]redface.gif[/img]

[Matt M.]

LOL
[img]tongue.gif[/img]

[dc]

That was pretty damn funny.

That even made a pretty good point, in a Jerry Sienfeld kinda way.