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Dickey: Who will take a chance with Barry?
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Related Topics: SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Will Barry Bonds play this season? Probably, if he stays in shape and is patient, because he’s not likely to be signed before midseason.
Bonds’ market is limited. He can’t play for a National League club because he can no longer play in the field. Giants fans saw that last year. All he accomplished was giving shortstop Omar Vizquel more opportunities to make spectacular over-the-shoulder grabs of pop flies that should have been handled by the left fielder.
But the man can still hit. Though he broke down in September because he had to play in the field, he still hit 28 home runs in 340 at-bats. His bat could be valuable to an American League club that is trying to reach the playoffs.
The American League is incredibly strong this year, with seven teams battling for just four spots in the postseason. It’s quite possible that one of them will look at its prospects in July and think that a hitter such as Bonds could make the difference.
So, here are the possibilities:
» New York Yankees. The Yankees are loaded again, and they have a logjam with their outfielders and designated hitters — but none of them is as feared a hitter as Bonds.
They’re also in the same division as the reigning world champion Boston Red Sox. The Steinbrenner family, with alpha male son Hank now running the operation, doesn’t like the thought of finishing second. If they’re looking up at the Red Sox at midseason, even if they’re leading the wild-card race, they’re likely to make a move. Bonds would be a serious upgrade over Hideki Matsui or Jason Giambi. If they have to eat a contract … well, money is never a concern for the Yankees.
» Seattle Mariners. The Mariners upgraded an already strong pitching staff with the addition of Erik Bedard, but they don’t have the offense to catch the Los Angeles Angels — and probably not enough to get the wild card, either. Bonds would be a huge upgrade over Jose Vidro as a DH.
» Cleveland Indians. The Indians won 96 games last season with a team payroll of less than $62 million, 23rd in the majors, so they have some flexibility. Their DH, Travis Hafner, had a big falloff last season and he’s 31 now. Baseball Prospectus notes that comparable players such as Boog Powell and Kent Hrbek were basically through at that age. If that comparison holds, Bonds will look very inviting at midseason.
» Detroit Tigers. Many baseball people think the Tigers could be the best team in baseball this year, after acquiring Miguel Cabrera and Dontelle Willis. Their offense is already strong, but would you prefer Gary Sheffield or Bonds as your DH? If the Tigers are leading the AL Central at midpoint, they probably won’t make a change. But if they’re not …
Other AL teams in the playoff race are set at DH, unless an injury changes the equation.
The Angels can rotate Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson. The Chicago White Sox have Jim Thome, who has hit 77 homers in the past two seasons, though a good left-hander can get him out. The Red Sox have David Ortiz, perhaps the greatest clutch hitter in the game.
So, it will be a three-month waiting period for Bonds. Stay focused, Barry.
Glenn Dickey has been covering Bay Area sports since 1963 and also writes on www.GlennDickey.com. E-mail him at glenndickey@hotmail.com.
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:26 AM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008 re: "Dickey: Who will take a chance with Barry?"
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8:24 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008
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11:54 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008
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11:50 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 4, 2008
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6:49 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 6, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
The so called fan seems to be doing to Barry exactly what they accuse him of having done. Tell the media to take a hike. And if your favorite player did that you'd be on the side of the media, right? I don't think so.
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Discerner said:
Does the chickens coming home to roost saying seem right for the "king" The way he has treated people in the past is coming back to haunt him.
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Personally, on an emotional level, I would love to see Bonds go to the Yankees this year. I am a big Red Sox fan and seeing Bonds in pin stripes would be a perfect fit, in my eyes. Then my opinion of the Yankees would be complete!
5 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Oh, those sanctimonious fans who condemn Barry Bonds for alleged use of performance-enhacing drugs.Yup, They're the same ones who blame Eve for Man's downfaul, the same choir that sucks-up a Martini during lunch to drown out their disillusionment with their job, and the same adulters/adultresses who satiate themselves outside the trust of matrimony. What's the famous passage? Let he who has not sinned cast.... It was their hypocritical voice that force Giants' managment to exercise the stupidest decision in baseball - release Bonds. It was exciting with Bond on the team. He changed the dynamics of the game. Pitchers feared him. He put meat on the seats. Alas, it was the reason, whether to cheer or boo, to take in a game. What are Giants without Bonds? Lifeless. Boring - cameras spend more time on coaches and the bullpen than on the field. A team will pick-up Bonds, and his performance with the new team will put the Giants management to shame. Genius has to be tolerated.
8 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Wasn't Dickey the guy who said Mike Montgomery would never sign with Cal? I suspect that no team, especially the Yankees, would soil themselves with Bonds' baggage. Some say he wore out last year because he had to play the outfield. Others say he's simply gotten old. I doubt, given that he's now a year older and has been away from competitive pitching, that he'll be horrible effective come the dog days of summer.
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
For the Examiner Reader who says, "Barry is a hero", well, if he was a hero, then he would not cheated himself to become one. He was already on a verge of success, and now this has tarnished his reputation. Barry is not a hero not like Babe Ruth, "Jolting Joe" Dimaggio, Roger Maris, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron, to name a few. Jackie Robinson is a true hero because he had to go through diversity to get to a game that would not allow blacks to play. He got a chance. Barry on the other hand got his chance but what has he taught the future generation of baseball fans? Do future generations think that cheating is a way to become a hero?
6 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Yeah, seriously, who friggin cares?
29 agree | 36 disagree
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Knot2brite said:
Barry Bonds reminds me of, sorta like Hank Aaron on steroids.
28 agree | 31 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why are they wasting so much govt. time and our tax-$$$ on this nonsense? Oh, that's right, Barry is the HOME-RUN KING and the single season HOME RUN KING! America always likes to try and destroy our heroes. They won't get away with it this time! Fight Barry, FIGHT BACK!
42 agree | 29 disagree
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Knot2brite said:
It still surprises me that Barry Bonds was indicted. I thought for sure he was gonna walk.
41 agree | 45 disagree
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