755.

[Detritus]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove06/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=2749399&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab6pos1

By Tim Kurkjian

It is the most important number -- 755 -- not just in baseball history, but in all of sports. It is more recognizable than 60, 73, 3,000, .400, 500 or 56. But now, 755 is under attack from the greatest hitter that most of us have ever seen, one of the three greatest hitters of all time.

Under normal circumstances, if Barry Bonds were to break Hank Aaron's record for career home runs, we would carry him around on our shoulders in celebration, and we would say when he walked down the street, "there goes the best there ever was other than Babe Ruth.'' But these circumstances are as abnormal as they get due to the obvious issue.

If Bonds hits 22 more home runs, he will be honored in San Francisco, but in other parts of the country, including in the office of the commissioner of baseball, it will be, at best, an awkward situation. It is really unfortunate for the game that it has come to this, and there are so many people to blame for it, starting with Bonds. There are people across America who would prefer to see him go away and never come back. But he won't, nor should he have to. And the game of baseball is in no position legally to make him disappear.

So maybe there is more than one way to view the chase for 755: It will give us the chance to examine, and glorify, the career of one of the greatest players in the game's history, Henry Louis Aaron. Bonds' passing of Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list last season dropped the Bambino to No. 3, but it did little to diminish the career of an enormous man, a legend who, by any statistical measure, is the greatest player ever to play.

We came to know, and appreciate, the Babe a little more, and the same will happen with Hank Aaron. We will learn of his difficult journey to the major leagues, one filled with hatred, prejudice and ignorance. We will realize the tremendous impact he had on the Milwaukee Braves when he arrived from the Negro Leagues, lithe but strong, especially in his hands and wrists; in his first full season, at age 21, he hit .314 with 27 homers and 106 RBI. We will come to appreciate his remarkable durability -- his first 15 full seasons, he played in at least 145 games every year -- and his relentless consistency: no season with more than 47 homers, but eight years with at least 40. We will be told by those who saw him in his prime that he was one of the best defensive right fielders in the game.

We will understand that he stole 240 bases in his career and that he never struck out 100 times in a season. We'll hear of the home run he hit off Tom Acker on Sept. 21, 1958, sending the Braves to the World Series. We will re-live that night in Atlanta when he hit No. 715 off Al Downing. "When I got to home plate to give Hank the ball, he was crying,'' said Braves reliever Tom House, who caught the historic home run ball without moving an inch from his predetermined spot in the Atlanta bullpen. "I'd never seen him cry.''

Don't cry for Hank Aaron. His place in history never will be lost even if he falls to No. 2, his legacy will grow stronger because, most will say, he did it naturally. If Bonds hits homer No. 756, he will be the home run king. No asterisk will or should be affixed to it, no records will or should be taken away because baseball has never taken anyone's records away, we just attach a story to them, a story that will follow Bonds for the rest of his life. We need to give more credit to our finest baseball fans; they understand what happened in this era. And in a hundred years, our best fans will know what happened. It's a huge number -- 755 -- in a game built on numbers, but the number, not Hank Aaron, will be passed.

[carmachu]

Doesnt own it as far as I'm concerned. Its still Aarron and Ruth as one and two....no matter what happens.

Its a REAL shame if he surpasses Aarron. Hank earned it quite well to surpass Ruth....

[Wook]

It bears pointing out that this point that there was a article back when it was time to vote up/down on McGwire getting into the hall that up until last season there were not any rules that prevented the use of steroids and their chemical peers. Honor Aaronn if you want but as long as Bond's hasn't done what he ought not don't deny him and the others like him while you're at it.

If you at all doubt Barry Bond's skill consider his walks earned, runs scored, stolen bases, and other numbers that are more a result of highly tuned skill than raw physical prowess.

[Starhawk]

Marino's touchdowns-in-a-season mark was more important to me.

Geh, baseball.

[carmachu]

It bears pointing out that this point that there was a article back when it was time to vote up/down on McGwire getting into the hall that up until last season there were not any rules that prevented the use of steroids and their chemical peers. Honor Aaronn if you want but as long as Bond's hasn't done what he ought not don't deny him and the others like him while you're at it.

Taking steriods is illegal. Full stop.



If you at all doubt Barry Bond's skill consider his walks earned, runs scored, stolen bases, and other numbers that are more a result of highly tuned skill than raw physical prowess.


No, I know his numbers....but you cant stand there and tell me that you dont think he's done it. And furthermore, if its not a help....why take it?

[Dr. Mercury]

This has been covered in other threads (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showthread.php?t=758). I have no problem with what Barry Bonds did before MLB finally pulled its collective head out of its ass on the steroids issue (2001). However, enough suspicion exists about Bonds flouting MLB's drug policy--and blaming teammates (http://forum.criticalfumble.net/showthread.php?t=946) when getting caught--that Bonds is far more deserving of the asterisk than Maris ever was.

Sad thing is, until Barry's caught red-handed.... I'm praying it happens. I want to see the hypocrisy of the MLB, the MLBPA and the sports media laid bare--and for Bonds to have a reason to commiserate with Pete Rose.

[Wook]

No, I know his numbers....but you cant stand there and tell me that you dont think he's done it. And furthermore, if its not a help....why take it?

Actually I'm sure that he did at one point or another but as Dr. Merc pointed out till 2001 there was nothing against it under the rules of the game so look at everything he accomplished up to that point and understand he is as free, clear, and clean as anyone could ask for on that. Since 2001 if he's persisted then catch him, prove it, and ban him for life. Or if you're not going to do that STFU n00b. Don't sit there and waffle and whisper strong words of condemnation while letting him sell tickets, sign endorsements, and make a mockery of the game. This is a shit or get off the pot kind of moment IMHO.

[Dr. Mercury]

http://www.comcast.net/sports/index.jsp?cat=SPORTS&fn=/2007/02/03/577739.html

Just an aside before we get to the article: This morning, one of the veeps, a New Yawker who says I'm one of only three people in the company he can talk sports with, came down to my floor. Passing my office door, he said, "Please tell me you're praying Barry hits #756 in New York or Philly."

All I could do was grin and nod.

If there is a G*d, and if there's any justice in this world....



Magowan Sends Letter to Fans About Bonds

By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer

http://www.comcast.net/data/br/2007/01/29/br-63397.jpg (http://www.comcast.net/data/news/photoshow/html/news/577739.html)San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds watches the ball fly ... (http://www.comcast.net/data/news/photoshow/html/news/577739.html)

SAN FRANCISCO - Giants owner Peter Magowan sent a letter to about 27,000 season-ticket holders this week explaining why the club decided to re-sign free agent slugger Barry Bonds for another season.

"The process of negotiating this contract was complex, lengthy and highly unconventional," Magowan wrote Monday in his letter, obtained by The Associated Press on Friday. "This decision was not taken lightly and we spent significant time evaluating all of the elements and circumstances surrounding the negotiations before we made a final determination to move forward."

Magowan and executive vice president Larry Baer have repeatedly said they have a strong understanding of the organization's fan base, and these periodic letters are one way they communicate with that group. The team had heard a variety of opinions from many of its fans during recent months regarding Bonds, who will begin the 2007 season 22 homers shy of breaking Hank Aaron's career record of 755.

The 42-year-old Bonds' $15.8 million, one-year contract had been completed Monday night, but the sides then had differing views of certain language in the deal and Bonds had yet to sign a revised version as of Friday.

Magowan's letter addressed Bonds' reported failed amphetamines test in 2006.

The New York Daily News reported last month that when Bonds first learned of the result, he attributed it to a substance he took from teammate Mark Sweeney's locker.

"Everything is false. Mark Sweeney never did anything wrong. Period," Bonds said in a conference call Monday night. "My relationship with Mark Sweeney is phenomenal. We are very good friends. ... We're fine."
In an earlier public statement, Bonds cleared Sweeney and said, "he did not give me anything whatsoever and has nothing to do with this matter." Bonds wouldn't address whether he indeed took amphetamines.

"Of particular concern were the allegations against Barry in the New York Daily News on January 12th," Magowan wrote. "We consider any action by one player to unfairly damage the reputation of another player to be a serious matter. Based on the information that we have at hand in this matter and in discussions with both players, all of the facts have not been accurately portrayed.

"After evaluating the situation and its potential impact on clubhouse chemistry, we came to the conclusion that the Giants' players will be able to function as a team committed to supporting each other and dedicated to doing everything they can to succeed on the playing field."

San Francisco has missed the playoffs in each of the past three seasons _ and the goal of both Bonds and management is to make another postseason run before he's through. The Giants fell six outs short of a World Series title in 2002, losing to the Angels in seven games.

Magowan said signing Bonds made sense as the team prepares to move ahead with a younger roster that still has its share of experienced veterans.

This offseason, the club agreed to terms on a $126 million, seven-year contract with ace left-hander Barry Zito; on an $18 million, three-year contract with center fielder Dave Roberts; catcher Bengie Molina for $16 million and three years; first baseman Ryan Klesko on a $1.75 million, one-year contract; and right-hander Russ Ortiz on a $380,000, one-year deal to rejoin the Giants and likely be the fifth starter.

San Francisco also hired manager Bruce Bochy away from the two-time defending NL West champion San Diego Padres to replace Felipe Alou.
Magowan is convinced everybody can get along, even in the wake of the Bonds-Sweeney situation. Both players say they will put things in the past.

"Additionally, we felt that with these assurances, signing Barry to a one-year contract helped us pursue a long-term strategy toward getting the club back on track," Magowan wrote. "With his presence in our lineup and only a one-year contractual commitment, we were able to avoid the temptation to trade away some of our valuable young pitching talent and were able to free up long-range funds to acquire a front-line pitcher. ...

"I understand that this has been a particularly controversial and difficult decision and that there are strong opinions on both sides of the issue. I received letters, e-mails, phone calls and had many conversations with many of our season ticket holders during our Fanfest. I truly appreciate your passion for the Giants as we work through these complex issues. At the end of the day, I believe we have put together an exciting team for the coming season."

The Giants, who host the All-Star game this summer, begin spring training when pitchers and catchers report to Scottsdale, Ariz., on Feb. 14.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[carmachu]

Actually screw hitting the numbers in NY or Philly....I hope his legal troubles catch up to him....

[Dr. Mercury]

I hope so, too, carm, but my fallback is wishing Barry belts 756 in the oh-so-friendly confines of Shea or Citizens' Bank Park. And that my favorite cockroach, Bug Selig, is there to witness the carnage he helped enable. :D

[Parzival]

There's no rule in baseball against using a firearm to help steal a base.
That's covered in the larger rules of the society. Just like steroid and amphetamine usage.

[carmachu]

Bingo Parz...

[Wook]

I get that guys but on those grounds Bonds, Mcgwire, Sosa, and the rest were all given mixed signals. It was stupidly obvious to anyone watching them that something was going on when they all turned into beefcake specials and tacit approval was given by their managements and fans who filled statiums and roared applause when they cranked out those homers. You guys may not like it but they spent years being told, on a variety of levels, that what they were doing was A Ok.

[carmachu]

I get that guys but on those grounds Bonds, Mcgwire, Sosa, and the rest were all given mixed signals. It was stupidly obvious to anyone watching them that something was going on when they all turned into beefcake specials and tacit approval was given by their managements and fans who filled statiums and roared applause when they cranked out those homers. You guys may not like it but they spent years being told, on a variety of levels, that what they were doing was A Ok.

So If I give you mixed signals at work to do something illegal, that makes it ok for you to do?

[Parzival]

So we should let all the hoodlams exposed to gangsta rap or Robin Hood movies out of prison because they received mixed messages?

[Wook]

So If I give you mixed signals at work to do something illegal, that makes it ok for you to do?

No but it would be a valid grounds for defense based upon pressure from my superiors and the stakes at the level of MLB are so far beyond any office environment as to be ridiculous and therefore a correspondingly highter amount of pressure.

[Wook]

So we should let all the hoodlams exposed to gangsta rap or Robin Hood movies out of prison because they received mixed messages?

Not necessarily but if they had cops, teachers, and parents telling them it was ok to committ crime X and in fact lauding them with praise for doing so...

To come down on them for their behaviour after spending years, literally, rewarding them overflowingly for that behaviour is the worst sort of hypocrisy.