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At his ESPN.com blog, Buster Olney believes it time for the Mets to discuss signing Barry Bonds following the recent wave of injuries.
Olney writes:
“Among all of the alternatives the Mets will discuss, the acquisition of Bonds would be the only way the team would acquire a high-impact hitter without gutting a farm system already depleted by the Johan Santana and Brian Schneider trades. Landing Bonds would be a cash-only proposition. You pay and he plays, and hits, at an extraordinarily high level.”
On the trade front, Olney thinks the Mets match up with the Tigers, who need relief depth, for Marcus Thames.
By comparison, Bonds had an OBP of .480 and hit 28 HR in 340 at-bats last season, while Thames had a .278 OBP and hit 18 HR in 269 at-bats.
According to Olney, here is what the 2008 Mets lineup would look like with each player:
WITH THAMES
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
CF Carlos Beltran
3B David Wright
1B Carlos Delgado
LF Marcus Thames
RF Ryan Church
C Brian SchneiderWITH BONDS
SS Reyes
2B Castillo
CF Beltran
LF Bonds
3B Wright
1B Delgado
RF Church
C Schneider
…i am not sure what to make of either one of these guys…just seeing bonds’ name in between beltran and wright is very intriguing…however, with too many issues to list, i just don’t see the Wilpon family pursuing him…
…added to by Matthew Cerrone…
During a talk with reporters yesterday, it was pointed out to Omar Minaya that Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds are still on the market, to which he smiled and said, “Well, we are happy with the guys we have.”
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Go away, Buster. Your Yankee-centric, pro-steroids-cheaters ideas don’t fit for the Mets. Is it any wonder he tolerates steroids abusers now that his Yankees have been indelibly tainted as some of the biggest cheaters in the history of the game?
How could he include Schoenweis with Mota and Bonds?! Scho took HGH will recovering from CANCER! He a legit and documented prescription…I don’t want to say it makes his case ok, but i mean its sort of different than the guys who just say they used it to rehab faster to help their team
Where does it say that HGH helps you recover from cancer? And why, if it is true, did he get it from some sketchy mail-order “pharmacy?”
ravi, I assume you’re talking about something Buster mentioned in that article? I don’t have access to it so I can’t read it. What did he say?
As for Show, HGH is not normally prescribed for cancer survivors. And I don’t think he had a legit medical prescription for it. If Buster was trying to use Show’s presence on the team as justification for acquiring Bonds, then that’s weak. Show’s usage was unknown to the Mets before he signed his contract. And there’s no reason to acquire yet more steroids abusers, especially one whose cheating went on for years and years.
On the contrary. Steroids are routinely prescribed to cancer patients to help them recover lost muscle mass from chemo and/or radiation treatments. They prescribed them to my dad in 2003. It was like living with Clemens during the 2000 WS . . . every day for 6 months.
We’re talking about HGH here.
crapple .. interesting about your reference to roid rage. How bad is that exactly? Does it affect someone like 24/7?
Like many have said, that bat attack seemed to be classic roid rage.
Roid rage is spotty and unpredictable. Small, poorly-timed annoyances tend to set it off (broken bats anyone??). For example, an old, old woman in my neighborhood politely suggested that we curb the dog’s business, which is fine. My dad flipped his lid, started yelling and waving his arms, and told her to go f*&% herself and F(*&% her little dog too! This is a pacifist we’re talking about by the way. He was a conscientious objector during Vietnam. I imagine that for a naturally aggressive person, the episodes could be much, much worse.
I’ll take Bonds in Left, him and Alou would be a perfect platoon, both are old and need days off. Bonds thrives on being booed, so all the fans that hate him would only make him that much better.
They didn’t boo him in SF. They had their fan blinders on every day.
At Shea, I would bet Bonds would be booed heavily. And he’s always hit poorly at Shea even before it was revealed he was a heavy juicer. Maybe he’s one of those players who just can’t cut it in NY. Now there’s age and health to add to the equation.
So simply looking at how well he’d perform at Shea, I’d say the chances are good not very well.
Get down from your pedestal. I would LOVE to have Bonds in our lineup batting second behind Reyes and getting nothing but fastballs all year long. Dont make it sound like the Mets are too classy or whatever that they wont sign a guy linked with steroids. The fact is that it would be foolish to not sign Bonds if we learn Alou is going to muss significant at bats. We signed Mota, and I am sure there are other Mets who are using banned substances, just like I am sure there are guys in every other clubhouse who use them also. This guy can flat out mash, and would help the Mets so much. Thats what it comes down too. It would also get them much more ESPN coverage, more nationally televised games, and more covers of the NY papers, all of this makes money for the Mets, and that is also what it comes down too.
Ugh… how, exactly, did the Brian Schneider trade ‘gut the farm’?
Seems pretty clear Green wasn’t coming back, and Milledge was the closest thing we had to a replacement for him. So, it’s either play Milledge and sign another catcher, or trade Milledge for a player in the same position plus Schneider.
Dumb.
he didnt say the Schneider trade gutted the farm system. He said the Schneider trade along with the Johan trade gutted it. And hes right.
Only in the sense that the Johan trade gutted it. The Milledge trade did not deplete the farm in any way. From the Mets perspective it was starting RF for starting RF, plus we got a free catcher.
Was Milledge one of the top prospects in the farm system? Yes. So trading him was part of the depletion of the farm system.
Was milledge one of the top prospects in the farm system? No. He was a 4th or 5th OF in queens.
i agree trading milledge doesnt deplete the farm bc he wouldnt have been on the farm this year he was our starting RFer. so if we didnt make that trade and we still made the johan trade the way we did technically our minor league teams would look exactly the same.
Seems like we are splitting hairs here guys…
It’s worth the risk… Bonds > Alou
Yeah? And who gets to wheel Barry out to LF every inning?
Keep that cancer and all this baggage away from this team.
Noooooooooooooo!
I’d rather limp by with Pagan/Chavez until Alou gets back
I’d rather sign Darryl Stawberry to play LF than see Bonds in a Mets uniform.
It really can’t hurt to bring in a guy like Bonds or Sosa. I know about all the baggage that comes along with these guys, especially Bonds, but it will cost the Mets nothing but $$ and there’s no need to further deplete the farm or bullpen for a player like Thames. Plus they’ll both know the situation there walking into and I think they’ll be on there best behavior.
We all know how long Alou takes to heal, just look at his career and last season as proof. If everyone thinks we could really get along with Brady Clark, Pagan or Chavez, then so be it. But lets keep it real Clark is pretty much done and Pagan and Chavez are career back-ups.
It’s not about their behavior now.
It’s about the taint they bring with them and spread around.
It’s about their age – Bonds is two years older than Alou.
It’s about whether they can still play any kind of defense.
It’s about whether they are willing to accept that they won’t be starters in this ball club.
It’s about whether they are able to make the adjustment to pinch hitting.
It’s about how long their bodies will hold together now they’re off the juice.
In Bonds’ case, it’s also about how much of the season he will miss due to his legal entanglement.
I say the negatives and risks associated with Bonds outweigh his hitting. That’s what my head says. My heart says I’d be sickened to my stomach to see him in a Mets jersey.
Speaking of baggage! Do you recall what a complete a-hole Straw was when he left the Mets? And they let him back in.
Bonds is the last thing we need. His attitude and circus will cause nothing but problems for this team! What we need is the X factor back. Time to get creative and go get him, Omar.
A-MEN. This is the quintisential ‘Would you sell your soul to the devil for a championship?’ question. I wanna win more than anything, but signing Bonds is worse than anything the Yankees have ever done in the quest to win.
Anyone that says they want him ask yourself one question. Would you be OK with being a fan of the team that got him his ring? The thought of him running into the infield with his finger pointed up jumping onto the pile wearing a Mets jersey makes me nausious. Pass.
im not a fan of bonds, but something tells me if there was a pile in the middle of shea stadium after the WS and it was the mets celebrating id be too happy/drunk to care that barroid was in the mix.
The whole “bonds cant play the OF” is so overblown its ridiculous. And everyone buys into it. We have Adam Dunn, Josh Willingham, Carlos Lee, and many other awful LFs. Bonds can still throw, still catch, and still judge a flyball very well. He just doesnt have great range, same as Alou. You guys who act like you are too high and mighty to sign Bonds make me laugh. Keep watching ESPN guys. Bonds is no worse then any of the other 100’s, possibly thousand;s of professional cheaters currently employed all over the country.
Bonds in a NY-team lineup would only look like this
#1 Baggage
#2 Baggage
#3 Baggage
#4 Baggae
#5 Baggage
#6 Baggage
#7 Baggage
#8 Baggage
#9 Pitcher
Who’s that cleanup hitter? Never heard of him.
Bonds? uhh
no, no no no, no no no no no no no no no no no no, NO!
I agree — and here’s how you do it. Talk to the veteran players. If you get their buy-in, sign Barry, and buy him a 1st baseman’s glove too. If we win with/because of Barry, NY will love him, like SF did (even without winning).
Yeah… Switching old players with bad knees to first base has worked really well for the Mets in the past… Might as well sign Piazza to play first
At least we could actually get behind Piazza
Ok… So lets say we sign Bonds and go on to win in all… While I would be incredibly happy at a world series win, I would have to scrub a little harder in the shower as well…
It just wouldn’t feel right with Bonds… I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think I would almost rather lose in the playoffs with Thames than win it all with Bonds
I just don’t see the need for the mets to go out and get anybody. Besides Alou none of these injuries are as abd as people are making them out to be. In fact many of the so called injuries are of people that are coming back from surgeries or injuries from last season. Truthfully I believe Alou will be back by the end of April and by May no one will even remember spring training
Kyle, I, strangely enough, agree with you. For one thing, super subs Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson were supposed to be back last night, but the rain interfered with that. Brady Clark is known around the league as a great team player–he went out and got a 1B glove, even though he has zero experience there. While I would love to see someone with Bonds’ OBP in Shea, I don’t want to see someone with Bonds’ baggage issues.
Someone will step up. We don’t know who that is yet, and the uncertainty is driving us nuts.
GUYS COME ON! what kind of mets fans say this crap, you’d rather lose then win w/ barry?
Are we so naiive to think hes the only guy who’s roided. he just got crucified b/c hes arguably the best hitter ever. I cant believe i’m reading all of ths self-righteous garbage, are we all so perfect and never done anything wrong. I guess so in all of your cases
I for one, want to see the Mets win the world series, and that is that.
I will sell my season tickets, and I will not renew next year (or ever), if the Mets sign Barry Bonds. I will find a new team to root for.
Good, more seats available to us. Bonds has a TON of baggage, no doubt, but OPS makes offenses run, and there is no better run creating machine on the planet than Barry Bonds. I hate the guy too, but would love to have him in that lineup. If everyone’s healthy, forget about it. But given the team now, I’d have to seriously consider it.
tidewater, i totally agree. winning heals all wounds. if we won with barry i REALLY doubt people would have as big a problem with it as they say. I think alot of people are worried it would negatively effect the team and thats a fair opinion, but people saying theyd rather lose w.o him than win with him are kidding themselves.
Amen tidewater, amen…you all sound so moronic “i would root for a new team” then your NOT a real mets fan…what the hell are you all talking about
You sat there while Mota (who sucked) & Shoenweis (who sucked) pitched last year both former users proven…i mean come on the list goes on this is a joke
If you are a Mets fan, than you root for 1 thing TO WIN!
I would do the same. I would ignore the team this year and follow them again when he was off the team. if the mets won the WS, it wouldn’t even count in my eyes.
Adam, cmon man… And you call yourself a Met fan?
Are things this spring really THIS bad?!
Time for another Fan Confidence poll
Better a Mets last place team than a first place team w/ Bond!
Yeah, I freakin’ mean every word of it!!!!!!
F-Bonds!
I don’t agree.
youre kidding yourself. a last place team!? thats absolutely ridiculous. i think this is the type of thing you go to your vets and ask for their opinion on it, if they agree then im fine with it too. the guy may be the worlds biggest dbag, but hes a dbag with a higher OBP than anyone on our team.
Not batting Wright third is a travesty.
Wright will bat third and Beltran will bat clean-up. This is what worked best last year. Just more proof Olney has no clue. I would rather finish last than win with Bonds or Clemens. My issue is not that they did steroids but more with their arrogant denials.
Yeah but you would not go with 4 LH in a row.
Well put kbh, well put. I’m proud to say that the Mets put good guys out there on the field every day. Side note: I’m not totally sure about Perez though; he does have that crazy gleam in his eye.
Does Olney realize that Bonds would have to play left field for the Mets? Yeah, his name looks great “on paper” in between Beltran and Wright, however, his aging, steroid decaying body looks worse in left field then Alou. At least Alou goes all out on every play and loves the game.
Funny how Bonds was actually rated better defensively than Alou in left last season. Bonds has also, a) played in more games than Alou the past two seasons b) had more plate appearances than Alou the past two seasons c.) still posted a ridiculous OBP and SLG and an OPS over 1.00 over the last two seasons
How would Bonds be rated better? That shows a flaw in the system. I actually watched the games and Alou’s range was better than I expected. Bonds did not even try for half the balls hit.
That’s BRILLIANT analysis!!!!!
Someone else posted a defense stat in another thread when we were discussing Bonds the other day, I’ll have to look it up again. I really don’t pay too much attention to advanced defensive statistics in the same way I do offensive.
But it really doesn’t matter because Bonds offense makes up for more than enough of his defensive flaws and that is fact.
not to mention church is an excellent fielder with great range as is beltran so you can figure beltran can cover more of LCF then RCF due to church’s ability to cover ground.
Good, so Barry can just kinda sit crosslegged on the foul line and we can go with two OFers. Assuming he can still cross his legs.
im sorry, maybe you didnt read what i wrote correctly, i dont remember saying beltran would cover CF and LF, i said he can cover “more of LCF”. as in more than he needs to with alou, or pagan, or endy due to the fact that ryan church covers alot of ground in RF and can thus cover more ground in RCF than say shawn green. i didnt see the need to break it down completely and type all this, figured smart enough people could figure out the rest themselves.
That’s only because they don’t count balls that you don’t get near as errors.
Bonds let’s a ball fall 10 feet from where he’s standing, and it doesn’t count against his fielding stats.
Alou runs 40 yards, nearly pulls of an amazing play but spills it, and it’s an error in the books.
Ask yourself, which would you rather see? Which is better for the club?
Advanced defensive stats DO count balls that get near but aren’t caught.
I’m not talking about errors and fielding percentage, man. I know those are terrible stats to judge a fielder by. I’m talking about stuff in like Bill James Fielding Bible and zone ratings and what not. As I said, I’m not too familiar with that stuff. But based on the defensive in statistic in Baseball Prospectus 2008 they rate about the same. Alou rated at -3, or 3 runs below an average LF and Bonds rated -7. But again, Bonds gives you way more offense so it cancels out his defensive misgivings.
Their Zone Ratings were basically the same last year. But Alou had a higher RZR, a more refined zone rating metric. And Alou was just an average fielder at best last year.
Even if Bonds were a gold glove caliber LFer, I wouldn’t want him on the Mets.
I dunno. If the Mets are an AL team, you don’t even consider him?
crapple, no. I wouldn’t want him for many reasons. Like about 10 of ‘em.
I replied to you above. We were talking about HGH, not steroids.
Right VCarver,
Not sure about HGH and prescriptions, but I imagine that it would also increase muscle mass during cancer recovery. I replied to you above re: roid rage.
Sorry, but any “advanced” defensive stat that has Bonds > Alou is a crock.
Not that Alou is such a great LFer, but I saw Barry out there last year, and it wasn’t pretty.
Hell, NO! We don’t need any part of this cancer in our locker room!
Its tough to weigh all the factors; clubhouse distractions, baggage, links Mets to steroids, winning with a cheater vs a .480 OBP and a better chance of winning. If the one and only goal is to win, than I’d have to say its a good idea.
As much as I hate bonds the guy can still hit and is still extremely intimidating at the dish. he would set up wright and delgado tremendously. he cant play the field though which is a major problem and the minor fact that every player and fan hates him w a passion and the ny media would kill him
Exactly.
Bonds has actually played better in the field than Alou despite the common perception.
This is a “win now” team and we have a lot of old guys coming off the books after this season, so why not just go for it all and sign him to a one year deal. I’m sure Bonds would relish the chance of having one last shot at a ring.
This is a joke, right?
Sure, Olney has to come up with something to write, but jeez …. no thanks.
Get real. Bond is 45, often injured, and possibly off the juice. What a waste of space.
He’ll be 43 this season.
He has also played in more games and had more PAs than Alou over the past two seasons and has still posted OBP of .454 and .480 and SLG of .545 and .565 in that span.
Hate the guy for his attitude and alleged steroid use in the past, but get your facts straight.
Funny post.
He’ll be 44 this season. Bad closing line for a post with a factual error.
Buster Olney is, as always, an idiot.
Did anyone see the ESPN.com piece about how relaxed the Giants are now that Barry left?? Why invite that nightmare into the Mets clubhouse?
Marcus Thames on the other hand has been a big favorite of mine for a couple years. Now that Leyland started teaching Marcus how to play first last season he is an even better fit for the Mets. As much as I love that crazy sidearmer (being one myself in my younger days, and yes Jeff Innis was one of my favorite Mets growing up), Joe Smith, I would glady give up Joe and another lesser light prospect to get Thames on this team. He fills so many empty roles on the Mets that it makes too much sense to aquire him as a legit RH 4th OF/ backup 1B. He could platoon with Church or Delgado, spell Alou and relegate Endy to his best role, Def. OF replacement and speed guy.
There is nothing to like about Thames. How can you like a guy that can not get on base even at a .300 rate. His OBP is low enough that is would even be a bad batting average.
I agree. a .298 OBP is just putrid. How exactly is that a better fit than a .480 OBP?
Because Bonds is a circus, has no position on the Mets (he really is just a DH) and I think almost all Met fans have a pretty strong distaste for the guy. Also, aren’t you sick and tired of relying on players past 35 years of age?
What does that have to do with Thames?
Thames’ OBP last year was .298. My grandmother’s was .303.
The dude just needs some regular playing time.
believe me, i have ridden out many of Thames’ hot streaks the last couple of years with various championship caliber fantasy teams. i know he runs hot and cold, but so does Endy.
yes, he doesn’t walk a ton, but, when you are coming off the bench the cardinal rule is to be aggressive. so i don’t begrudge him his low walk totals.
anyway, Thames is a significant upgrade over Brady Clark and the fact he can play first makes him more valuable than Pagan, who is really just a switch hitting Endy.
I am not saying get Thames at all costs, but I think if the price tag wasn’t much more than Jorge Sosa or Joe Smith and a lesser prospect I would have to make that deal. Remember the Tigers are desperate for BP help, their top three guys are HUGE ??, Todd Jones, Zumaya and Fernando Rodney and they could likely use some lower level prospects after emptying out their own farm system over the winter.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree. What does Thames give us that Easley and Anderson do not? Besides lets give an example
You have 1st and 3rd with the pitchers spot up and 2 outs. Do you want Thames up or Easley?
I think Thames is younger, faster, a real OF and a real 1B.
Easley is an aging player and can’t really defend.
I also think Thames still has some untapped potential.
I think a bench of:
Chavez (Lefty/Speed/OF D)
Thames (Righty/Power/1B/OF)
Anderson (PH deluxe/bad D)
Easley (good RH PH/bad D)
Castro (Catcher)
… is really strong and balanced. Remember, Gotay is out for awhile, high ankle sprains take a long time to heal. Anderson Hernandez can’t hit ML pitching so he’s not an option. Brady Clark and Jose Valentin have seen better days. Pagan’s career #s are worse than Thames’ and you said Marcus is pretty lousy.
I think it’s a pretty good, cheap, non chemistry destroying option (like Bonds or Sammy Sosa)
Sosa would not destroy chemistry at all. His teammates always love him. Thames like I said, I have no desire to see. Easley is not a real defender now? Anderson can’t play any defense? Combine Anderson and Easley’s stats into a platoon and see what you come up with and compare that to Thames. So what if he is younger, so is Ahern but I don’t want him backing up Delgado or Alou. Besides we are talking about LF and 1B, the two easiest positions on the field.
But Thames won’t get regular playing time.
He had 269 AB’s last year – that’s the absolute ceiling of what he’d get with the Mets.
And last year “streaky” Endy’s BA was higher than Thames’ OBP.
Just accept that, like Inge, ‘06 was Thames’ career year, and he’s very unlikely to come close to that production again. Step away from the black hole.
Sosa is OLD though. I am sick of getting players past 35 for bench roles.
Also, I don’t want to see Anderson start, ever. Anderson’s role is as a PH.
Last thing on Thames.
he had an OPS of .882 and .776 the last two years. So, yes, his OBP is chronically low BUT he mashes the ball.
Possibly the worst bb player I’ve ever seen in the OF (Ok, then there’s Dave Kingman!).
No intuitive sense of where the ball is. Watched him flounder in Wrigley for years.
Fans liked him b/c he had his silly joie de vivre while he was on the juice and belting HRs.
He really just sucks!
I don’t mind our bench players being old if they can still do their job. Again Ahern is young but would you want him over Easley or Anderson?
Easleys numbers last year compared to Thames
OPS Easley .824 Thames .776. BB/SO Easley .55, Thames .18. Easley hit .280, with OBP of .358. Thames .242 with OBP of .278. Who would you rather have up with the game on the line?
Besides, Thames is 30 – that’s hardly a pimply-faced youth all full of potential. He’s already shown us what he can do in his prime – hit a few HRs but get out the vast majority of his ABs.
I’d rather have Easley.
Relaxed and ready to lose 90 + this season.
I have not decided yes or no for Bonds but why would we give less AB’s to Wright to accomidate Bonds?
Besides its not like Alou would be gone the entire year. Then where does Bonds play? Alou only against LHP that would be a waste. Bonds for Church, right and watch Beltran jump off a bridge for having Alou and Bonds in the OF. Bonds at 1B, what if Delgado is healthy no platoon their either. But, if it were a video game then
Reyes
Castillo
Wright
Bonds
Beltran
Delgado
Church
Schnieder
Yes, that would be a problem. Just too damn much offense. I’d take that problem in a heartbeat.
And just a reminder. I hate Bonds.
Too much offense until, this being the real world, Beltran breaks down in June from having to cover 2/3 of the outfield, and Bonds and Alou break down from being ancient.
Then we have:
Reyes
Castillo
Wright
Delgado
Clark
Pagan
Church
Schneider
Doesn’t look so clever now, does it?
we’d have that with or without Bonds.
How did we go from favorites in the NL to the only savior our team has is Barry Big head? Yes we have injuries but everyone does in spring training. I would rather give our youngsters a shot than sign this idiot!
Problem is we don’t really have youngster ready for a fulltime position. But do we even need a full time yet. I have seen nothing that said that Church, Alou and Delgado will be out for an extended time during the regular season.
This is the stuff that sells papers… er, uh… I mean blogs…
Seriously, can someone explain why we won’t be ok with Chavez/Pagan in left for the first 4-6 weeks of the season?
If Omar can dig up a 1b/OF, that might be something worth looking at, but to trade bullpen surplus for Thames before the season starts seems extreme.
To trade anything for Thames when Sosa and Graffanino are still available seems extreme. I would not mind seeing Sosa on the team and think he would fit in well with this team.
Can Sosa play 1B? If he can I am all for it. I think we have enough outfield depth but I am really worried about Delgado this year so I think our biggest concern is a back-up 1B.
No, Sosa can’t. However, Easley, Anderson, Valentin and Clark all will be able to. That is enough to get by if Delgado goes down for a couple of weeks. If it is long term then you may have to make some adjustments or a trade later in the season.
I must admit it is very tempting to bring Bonds here but the negatives outway the positives. Instead of having the media focus on our legit great players such as Reyes, Wright, and Santana there will be a media circus following Bonds. He would be a complete distraction to the team. And as someone stated above if we won the whole thing I would feel like I would have to scrub with brillo in the shower. It would be a tainted championship. No thanks.
barry bonds? is this a joke? i wont say id find another team to root for because i couldnt do that, but i probably stop watching baseball. come on. barry bonds? thats dumb.
If the Mets really need to acquire an OF, why not look at Kenny Lofton?
As for Bonds, I really don’t want to see him in a Mets uniform.
Lofton is intriuging but I would prefer a righty power bat for OF/1B since we have a decent amount of lefties and if Alou is down we need a righty power replacement.
amen brother
Righty power bat that plays 1B/OF?? Sounds like Marcus Thames to me.
In the past three seasons he has avg. 1 HR for every 14.2 ABs and he played his home games in cavernous comerica field.
Exactly the kind of sub the Mets need.
and SO once for every other AB. Thames is not the answer for Delgado if he goes down for an extended period. We rip Pedro Feliz for his offense and then want a guy worse than him?
But Feliz has played multiple full seasons and been crappy. He is also 2 years older than Thames. And this is the clincher, Feliz is the STARTING 3B on the phills (what were those idiots thinking, first wes helms and now feliz, but i digress). I am only talking about Thames being a bench/role player on the Mets. Thames also fits every bench need the Mets have, Righty swing, 1B/OF, power.
Look, I am not saying Thames is one of the best players in the league, but I think he is better than his #s and some more consistant playing time should make his #s more well rounded.
But the whole point is that our bench right now does not include someone who “could be a long term solution” Thames does not fit that role either. I would rather have Show to bring in against tough lefties than Thames.
“Better than his numbers” – ah, the Lo Duca fallacy all over. The numbers rarely lie. You can’t produce runs without getting on base.
He will not get as much playing time with the Mets as he did with the Tigers, so “he just needs regular playing time” is a complete blind alley.
Last year he had 269 ABs in 82 games, the year before 348 AB in 110 games. That’s pretty regular playing time.
Plus “Cavernous Comerica field” is more hitter-friendly than Shea, so you have to adjust his power numbers down to estimate his production if he joins the Mets. Since power is the only thing he has going for him – his numbers are those of someone swinging for the fences every pitch – he really looks like he’d be a bust for the Mets.
Because Kenny Lofton is Endy Chavez is Angel Pagan. (I know, he’s probably better on O than those guys.) You don’t replace Alou’s even part time offense with Kenny Lofton.
If you put any creedence at all in the idea that Milledge was shipped off because of off-field issues you can put the idea of the Wilpons ever sniffing Bonds right out of your head.
We can debate the “what ifs” all day, but it’s simply not happening.
You know if life were a story tale then Bonds would come out and say, “I used HGH to recover from injuries, I messed up. I have let my father and my godfather down.” “I wish to make it up to them by dedicating this season to them both and just as Mays did go out in NY.”
“… and donating the entirety of my 2008 league minimum salary, along with the vast majority of my tainted wealth, to the newly established Barry Bonds foundation, the sole purpose of which is to bring the purety of baseball back to the cities and towns of America and, more importantly, back into the hearts of the children.”
(and then Danny Glover, playing Bonds, waves to the crowd, takes a bow, and we fade to black)
somewhere, Kevin Costner just got hard…
haha danny glover. danny glover would have to play pre roids bonds, current bonds would have to be played by that huge dude from the green mile.
Hahaha, very nice. Bonds could have avoided half of this crap just by not being such an asshole for like five minutes (see Giambi.)
Its a tough call. I must admit that I’m tempted by the thought of having Bonds in the line-up…but all this Bonds talk is a waste of time. I can’t see Bonds taking a part time role with any team. He still sees himself as a full time player. And granted that he hasn’t had any offers that we’ve heard of, but give that time someone out there will give a contract as a full time player.
And personally if Omar was to make a trade I would rather see a player that could swing in and cover 1B when, not if, Delgado goes down. I’m still thinking Inge.
Barry Bonds is exactly what the Mets need.
Besides the fact he’s still one of the best hitters in baseball, and would upgrade every single team’s lineup in a second, he would bring the circus to town, and thats exactly what the mets need.
It would instantly take the pressure off of every other Met. Johan Santana could struggle out of the gate (like he did to start last year), and it wouldn’t matter. Jose Reyes could struggle (like he did to end last year) and it wouldn’t matter. Willie Randolph could manage like Willie Randolph and it wouldn’t matter. Because Barry Bonds would be in town and every single camera would be on him.
Besides the fact he and Alou are former teammates, and one’s a lefty and the other is a right, and both are really old, fragile, but can still hit when actually healthy, it’s a perfect fit.
The difference between Barry Bonds 300-400 PA’s and whoever’s backing up Moises Alou is beyond staggering, and it’s because Mets fans settle on guys who are “nice” 4th outfielders like Endy Chavez or Angel Pagan instead of actually wanting production from the guy behind Alou, that we miss the playoffs by one game. Anyone who thinks Kenny Lofton or Marcus Thames or whoever is a better fit is insane. It’s amazing how Juan Gonzalez has a job right now, but Barry Bonds doesn’t.
Honestly if you feel like it’s tainted if we win a WS with Bonds, then you simply don’t want it enough. If we won a WS and then it’s revealed Marcus Thames was on the roids (not like it matters for him because he sucks) would you feel guilty enough to say you didn’t actually win the WS?
Besides, it’s not like he is still on them. How do we know who did and who did not? It’s clear Bonds did but just because we know, why do we keep it against him and not others who may have. That entire era just needs to be taken with a grain of salt and move on. People are against Bonds because of his relationship with the media. He is an old school ass when it comes to the media so they have made him into more than a villian than he actually is.
That being said I am still not sure I want him on the Mets.
Worst argument ever.
Uhhhh… More circus = better circus? I don’t see the logic here. If you read a few articles about Barry Bonds concerning his “likability” as a person, I think you’ll find that he’s not someone you would wish on your worst enemy’s clubhouse.
1) Olney is a doooche
2) I agree that Bonds would add a perceived taint to this team for all the reasons listed already.
HOWEVER.
Where i was once totally against even the thought, actually seeing that lineup with Bonds in it (not in that particular order though) made me reconsider.
Now before you roast me please see my reasons:
A) Bonds in not currently on the juice nor has he been convicted of anything yet. NOW, i am not fooling myself. He almost definitely juiced…BUT SO DID A LOT OF BALL PLAYERS CURRENTLY KNOW AND UNKNOWN. It was the “steriod era”. After all, where was this huge outcry when Omar resigned Mota a known PED user? (Of course he was chased out of town, but I am talking about right after he was resigned). We should not engage in this hypocrisy.
B) Alou & Bonds can trade places on the disabled list. By the time Alou gets back, Bonds will need a rest. Alou will go down and Bonds steps in. And over and over again.
C) He costs us only CASH. Not players. I would love Nady, but he and anyone else we trade for will cost us more than cash and will most like not produce offensively like Bonds. Sure he is a liability in the field, but his offense will more than make up for it.
With that being said, I am still undecided. I agree that it is early and that everyone except Alou should be ready by opening day. BUT, the absence of Alou creates a huge void in our lineup. Bonds would fill that void and then some. We simply cannot rely on Alou. I don’t care if the report says 4-6 weeks. When dealing with Alou, double that time frame. All the super-subs are good for limited duty, but not for the long term.
I definatly feel we need to bring in some right handed power, whether it be Nady, Millar, or he who shall no be named.
Roast away….
Yes i know, Bonds, is a lefty. What i meant to say is if we don;t get Bonds, we need to bring in some right handed power…
I actually said your 1st points right above. Their is a lot of hipocrits with Bonds and it’s mostly media driven.
I really dont see the mets persuing either bonds or thames. I believe the best fit for them would have been Nady considering he plays outfield and first(a position we are very thin in), but that will probably not happen. Alou is going to be back by mid may so what will happen to thames/bonds/sosa or anyone the mets would attempt to aquire when he comes back(the bench…talk about a waste of money and/or prospects). Look if everyone comes back from injury ready to play i dont see why putting endy/clark/pagan to cover those 41 games would be a problem. We have the pitching staff to give us a good chance at winning any one of those ballgames. As “old” as we are, theres alot of hurtin this offense can dish out “when healthy” and when alou comes back even much more. And as far as milledge….lets say we would have kept milledge. The plan if im not mistaken was for milledge to play RF and alou to play LF. If alou went down as he did now we would STILL be in the same Predicament we are in today exept we would have a season long drama queen that has “promise” but is offensivly/defensivly inconsistant. And btw we would probably have Johnny Estrada as our catcher…. the milledge trade i think was a good move by minaya to bring in a dependable defensive catcher with an arm and a regular everyday outfielder whos not going to blow you away with his power but is consistant not to mention they are both young and left handed. Alou is only going to be here for one more year then out with the old and in with the new (F.Martinez!).
You know, on a team of 25 players, you’re just not gonna like ‘em all. For example, some hate Delgado for his God Bless America stance (though personally, I applaud him). Some hate Ryan Church for anti-semitic comments, and plenty of Mets (past and present) have had all sorts of moral make-up issues (both on and off the field) for which one might hold them in disregard. But at the end of the day, what matters is baseball, and let’s face it, the guy is one of the best ever. He’ll make someone’s team better; I’d prefer it was ours. Personally, I also think he brings a lot of the hatred on himself, becasue he has so much disdain for the system, and he’s a smart, arrogant guy who just doesn’t care what people think. I’ve seen the guy with other ball-players and, moreover, with kids, and I get a good feeling — but — whatever; if the Mets’ players would welcome him, so would I. Now, if it was Clemens, I’d be singing a different tune; he will always be a jerk, a moron, and, most importantly, the enemy.
If he didn’t use steroids and lie, anyone could put up w/ arrogance and disdain, but all signs indicate that he is a disgrace to the game.
Not willing to trade this for a some Ws.
For God’s sake, I’d like to see the Mets maintain a shred of integrity and ethics; and, yes, I realize how increasingly difficult this is in the current era of professional sports.
There are no current ethics when we know that the owners and managers knew that the players were on steriods and just turned away. There could have been 50%+ of the the players on it and we would never know. The fact that Bonds is one of them does not make a difference to me. He is an ass but again so are many players.
Baseball needs to turn the page. He is not currently on steroids or he would not pass the test. If he is on the clear then how would we know? How would we know that Beltran is not on it?
Let that part of Baseball die and hold nothing against the people of that generation unless you can hold it against all of the ones who commited the crime.
They test for the clear now.
But they don’t test for HGH and Bonds could be doing that heavily. I’d say the chances are good he’s been doing HGH right up to now.
Fine, lets move along. But that doesn’t mean big steroids abusers like Bonds who failed to acknowledge their cheating or apologize for it should be signed and given jobs with major league clubs.
Why not go with what we have and then wait until closer to the trade deadline? I think we have enough to wait and see what we need. Then what if the Reds are out of the hunt? They may look to unload Griffey and or Dunn. I don’t want to trade many prospects but Dunn at the deadline would be perfect. LH can play 1B and LF this season and take over at 1B next season.
Here’s a poll I’d like to ask Met fan. If your choice sign Bonds and win a pennant or remain as is and not make it to the post season, which would you choose?
I’m not saying getting Bonds will guarentee anything, just a hypothetical.
Boy that is really biased, of course if we thought that was THE ONLY WAY to make the post season many of us would do it. However, I am sure most of us agree that is not the ONLY WAY.
When the guy makes a Brett Myers fastball fly 500 feet and bounce off of Citi Field we’ll all like him a little more.
im all for it for no reason other than it would tick off philly fans even more. can you imagine the reaction to a bonds hr in CBP. that would be great.
Thats the only compelling argument i have heard all day on considering Bonds in our rotation.
I wouldn’t mind Bonds, depending on his cost. I have no idea what kind of clubhouse impact he might have (and neither does anyone else), and he would definitely make for easy targeting for opposing fans and media. Fact is, the guy can still hit better than most of us can do anything we do. He could not possibly be juicing anymore. He’s probably a liar, and an a-hole, but he makes any lineup in baseball better (and please no “he gives all those runs back in the outfield”, because no, he doesn’t. His hitting more than covers his defense, and by a wide margin.)
However, he may go to trial and/or be in jail during the season. That is the one reason I buy as legit, and it’s a pretty big one.
Ummm, ………no!
I do not like Bonds as a person. I think he can be a cancer to a clubhouse, and I believe he took steriods, but I do not think that any of these reasons diminish him as a great baseball player. If the Wilpons, Willie and the team felt that they would be able to handle all the negative media then there is no reason why shouldn’t get him.
The fact that people do not like him because of the steriods should not be an issue. Jose Guillen, Paul LoDuca, Byrd, and Pettite either signed or resigned this year. Mota and Glaus were traded. These are all guys that have been linked to steriods or HGH, yet that did not stop teams from signing them. So why should his history stop us? It was apparent to the Dodgers scouts and front office that LoDuca was on steriods, so their is a good chance that someone in our organization knew before we traded for him. So if steriods has not stopped teams from putting together a winning team then why now.
But if people do not like Bonds because he is a jerk is that a reason to not sign a player that can truly help our team reach the playoffs and hopefully the World Series? Plenty of players with questionable characters are on teams throughout baseball, football, and basketball. Did it stop the Patriots from getting Randy Moss? No, and it almost helped them win it all.
If we signed Barry, would I go out and buy a Bonds Mets’ jersey? No, but I will cheer our team every game.
Also, he will barely miss any time due to his legal issues because the process is very long, and in the beginning stages of this process, his attorneys are the only ones that need to be present.
I would be intrigued for the last season at Shea for Bonds to go out like Mays.
Yea, Bonds has tried to emulate Mays as much as he can in his career.
Bonds is well liked by media in San Francisco and by the fans, it’s everywhere else that he is hated.
Bringing in Bonds to get 350 ABs in 2008 makes the Mets a powerhouse for the season.
It’s a perfect fit, it’s a shame that the fan base, and likely the ownership, is willing to give up a great chance to win because of “baggage”.
I actually think on a whole that the Mets fans would accept Bonds if he came and spoke about the desire to put the past behind him and to honor Mays.
Yes! But only if we play this season at the Polo Grounds and Bonds plays center. I’d be awesome to see him making a fool of himself with a 500 ft fence at his back. Elsewhere, Price Fielder salivates at the thought of an inside-the-parker.
I love the “but but he won’t miss that much time for his legal issues” argument. That really puts things in perspective.
i hate this kind of bs ‘journalism’…it was a slow day and Olney just decided to stir the pot…no one in their right mind believes it would be a good idea to add Bonds to the Mets.
Completely agree. Olney is selling out. No way Bonds goes to a NL team. No way a manager like Randolph signs him. He also loses credibility by suggesting Beltran would bat 3rd and Wright 4th. Journalism at it’s worst.
Bonds is a jerk, but the platoon of him and Alou together would be perfect for us…
I have to agree, as much as I dislike Bonds. That said, there is no doubt that the Mets brass are a very “character” driven group. I guarantee you the Wilpons would nix any attempts to bring Bonds in.
But from a pure baseball perspective, there’s no one currently out there that wouldn’t cost us young pitching (like getting Nady back) that could do more for us.
It frightens me to say it, but I think I might actually have a chat with Bonds and his agent. I would guess he might be interested in taking less money and playing time to be in NYC and have a shot at a ring than playing every day in front of 2,500 fans in St. Pete.
Given that Bonds will NOT be considered the star of this team like he was in SF, but will certainly be in the midst of a media frenzy that might actually help deflect some media hounds from other players, I could actually see this working out.
But all that said, forget it. No way the Wilpons are willing.
I don’t know if this was said above, but I don’t know how they don’t have DW batting 3rd in any of those lineups. The kid absolutely mashed the ball in that spot last year.
Hey Buster:
The Mets switched Wright to 3rd and Beltran to 4th in June last year. Way to show how much you follow a team you’re writing an article about.
What a sad attempt at journalism.
To Repeat what I said yesterday. Sosa would be better!!!! Less of a cancer. Hasn’t been found in any reports to have done steriods (Yes I know Thin argument). and hes right handed so if alou does come back he can platoon.
1. Reyes
2. Castillo
3. Wright
4. Beltran
5. Sosa
6. Delgado
7. Church
8. Schneider
I tend to agree that Sosa would be a good fit, however I do not want Church to platoon and Sosa and Alou are both RH but Church can play CF some to give Beltran a break if needed.
GUYS COME ON WHO WOULDNT REALLY WANT BONDS??? I know i sure as hell would…hgh/roids whatever, he can still hit, and the truth is we need some POWER in the middle of the lineup…he still gets walked a ton, hed have better hitters then he ever had in SF protecting him (at least arguably) and let DW hit 3rd, beltran 5th delgado 6th…now thats a lineup to reckon with
people get past your bias, and lets get busy LETS GO METS!
But hes a Jerk. Do we really want that on this team
Omar could sign Jesus Christ to replace Alou and Wright still wouldn’t be bumped from the 3 spot. How did he not know Wright is our #3 for the next 8-10 years. Buster, stick with what you know and go back to the extra sexual party network to write about the Yankees and Red Sox for the next 6 months.
Look we are capable of winning 41 games or the majority of them with pagan/chavez in left. Bonds would be a major distraction and the mets are not ones to tolerate that kind of press(ie benson, milledge). Besides even though someone said earlier bonds defensivly is “statistically” better than alou, i think alou has better range and can run down balls better than bonds. Not to mention bonds could be an injury risk givin the state of his knees. No point in spending bucks for 41 games…We will be fine. We are not going to lose 41 games w/o Alou and if anyone thinks so… go join the OTHER ny team. You would fit in perfectly with those fans who counted them out last year….Look what happened with them.
what is this 41 games you are talking about man? its a 162 game season, not sure I follow you….
I really think we’re not seeng the big picture here, this would be the best team bonds has ever been on.
The mets have very little POP in this lineup…besides beltran/wright and (hopefully) delgado…bonds would provide that hr power in the heart of hte order
I think he really would be the happiest hes ever been on this team, the best hes ever been on & a team primed to win it all
Um – genius, he meant the 40 games Alou is likely to miss.
um genius it still doesnt make sense, then he’s saying w/o alou who will (according to him) miss 41 games (I say he misses at least 60) we will win the majority of or all of them? undefeated w/o alou? That is what we call “wishful thinking”…even w/ alou that still means we got church & alou as our corner Ofs…not too impressive
The Pagan/Chavez platoon? come on we all saw that Endy is not an everyday guy, but a terrific bench fill in which he could still be w/ bonds on the team…
Sign Bonds if you’re trying to field a team for a video game or fantasy team. In real life, you consider distractions, PR, chemistry–not to mention defense.
It’s a move Isiah Thomas would make if he were GM of the Mets.
that is quite an extreme (albeit hilarious) comparison….
Isaiah signs guys who have historically sucked and lost and been on good teams and still lost & thinks he can turn them around, bonds doesnt really fit that bill to me, hed be a role guy here
Defense? Alou sucks on defense, so not sure about that. PR yes i agree bad PR however, chemistry im not sure i agree with you. Why wouldnt the guy be happy on this team, this team is built to kick ass, we just need that HR pop
I wonder if it’s possible to acquire Delwyn Young (25 OF bats R) of the Dodgers. The Dodgers have a glut of outfielders, he’s out of minor league options, and so he is trying to play 2B.
He made some nice plays at 2B against the Mets in a ST game last week. I bet he can also play or learn 1B.
In 34 AB’s he hit .384 with LA and hit around .330 in the minors. It sounds like he has the potential to be a solid player and a chance for the Mets to get him while his stock is still low. Granted it’s a gamble at a time when the Mets are thin, but I think it’s definitely worth considering.
Good work Massey.
Have any of you Bonds supporters ever been to Shea when he played?
Honestly, his numbers mean nothing. The majority of the Mets fans would still boo him even if he was in a mets uniform, myself included. I;d rather have A-Rod than Bonds.
And Alou owns him in the outfield. When was the last time you saw Bonds make a diving catch? I don’t care what nerdy BB stats you guys come up with, I’ll take Alou in the OF any day over Bonds…I watched too many baseball games to count last year with Extra Innings and I assure you Alou is a much better fielder. The downside is Alou is hurt more often. As for offense, Alou owns the most consecutive games with a hit record for the mets…
Anyone know how much Bonds projects to make this year?
He made $15.8M for 2007.
Yes, but he wouldn’t find anyone to pay him anything near that amount this year, I’d bet.
Well, when Straw was being interviewed after his hire, he said he still had 25HR and 75RBI left in him.
to be honest and fair…Barry Bonds was thought to be a self-centered jerk BEFORE the roids…the fact that he did the roids only made the media come after him more…
remember him and Jim Leyland going at it in Pittsburgh…?
Noooooooooo! if they sign bonds I’m burning my tickets, wrenting my garmets, donning sack-clothe and annointing my head with ashes. It will end my family’s legacy of Mets fandom. But seriously, I honestly have more respect for the Wilpons than to believe that they’d consider Bonds.
Then YOUR NOT A METS FAN YOU SOUND LIKE AN IDIOT! WHAT IS THIS MORALS GARBAGE…ENOUGH ALREADY
You rooted & went to see Mota & Blowenweis, what is the damn difference…
Vince Coleman threw firecracker in stands
Bonilla flipped off the fans
Gooden & Straw Cocaine etc
Talk about idiots, good stop rooting for them like tidewater said, we could use more seats
would the mets consider bonds if Bonds took a blood test everyday before a game?
The results of this test would be published every day…
would Bonds find that acceptable?
would the fans find that acceptable?
would Bonds do this in exchange for his last shot at a ring?
Is there anyway Bonds can become the sacrificial lamb for MLB and then in turn start a trend, where every ballplayer has to be tested before a game. Do you think this would turn things around for Bonds and the games image?
hmmmm
No Barroid, please. Let him roid up someplace else.
1. FYI–Bonds projects to make under $5mill this year tops. Throwing out last years contract as an example of his rate is ludicris
2. Don’t be so high and mighty everyone–you didn’t give up your tickets when the Mets signed Mota, so why do it now? If you do you are a hypocrite.
3. I love that the people who hate the Bonds idea, still wish we kept Lo Duca who did the same thing.
4. Bond doesn’t taint the Mets. HE IS NOT USING PEDs NOW, AND WILL NOT USE THEM AS A MEMBER OF THE 2008 METS TEAM. MLB tests for PEDs today NOW THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY ILLEGAL.
There’s a trend in these responses. Those of us making cases for signing Bonds are being logical and deliberate, weighing pros and cons; those of that are against the idea are being quick to judge, emotional, and irrational. This is (or should be) about winning a championship. If Barry can help us do that (and I think he can), I say Bravo!
Sometimes thinking your way through something that is obviously absurd leaves you farther from the right answer than you were when you started. Can you rationalize a Bonds signing? Duh. Of course! It’s no feat of genius — but you do have to ignore a rather large pachyderm between you and your keyboard. Is adding Barry Bonds just adding numbers to the stat sheet? N. O.
This is (or should be) about winning a championship, and doing it in a sportsmanlike manner. It should not be about rewarding cheating and distracting the quest for a championship by adding a surly clubhouse presence who will be a sideshow. No thanks. No need to think long or hard on this one.
Note that at no point did I say he would still cheat in 2008 (though I have little doubt that he would if he could, because there are some things you can’t test for, and he finds the notion of playing by anyone else’s rules offensive.) This is also — like it or not — about principle. It may be “only sports”, but that doesn’t mean principles are thrown out the window and you look for any little edge to win. That’s what got Barry into trouble.
So if Beltran’s name was in the Mitchell report you would have wanted to release him right? You would not have taken Loduca back at 2 million, you would have released Show and Mota. You would also expect Larussa to resign from the Cardinals.
Yes. Some people have ethics.
That’s not ethics. Do you realize on the large scale how many people were involved with this stuff during the time?
You would have to relase over half the owners, trainers, managers, coaches, players. What about the fans, should we release the ones who cheered for Sosa and McGuire during their “magical” run? Sure nobody KNEW they were taking steriods, we were just all naive enough to think that stuff was normal. RIGHT?
Look let it die. It’s over. We have no idea who did it and I have no desire to know. Move on from here. MLB has taken measures to clean it up. We have to assume that everyone is being tested and cheaters at this point will be found.
Look, this one time when I was young I cheated on a test. I guess I have to give back my diploma now. Hypocrit.
OK — so if one thief gets caught, you let him go because others got away?
And this guy didn’t just “cheat” — there was no one time dabbling here. This was a systematic, continuing effort to deceive and to take down baseballs most hallowed records in the process. The “hypocrite” (it has an “e” on the end, Capt. Ethics), line in bogus — we can’t punish anyone or judge anyone unless we ourselves are spotless and perfect? No, I’m not condemning Bonds to eternal damnation, I’m saying he shouldn’t play for the Mets. There’s a difference.
Bonds wasn’t about to starve if he didn’t cheat. The fans didn’t pop a syringe in Bonds’ backside. He and his BALCO cronies did it themselves, and they should live with the consequences.
The “since86″ name is telling. Some of us didn’t start with a championship team. We’re not frontrunners. What’s important is baseball, and playing good, solid, winning baseball. Not winning at all costs.
In the history of baseball, thousands of players have “cheated” by taking banned and/or illegal substances. These aren’t aren’t magical, super-power embueing shortcuts. Bonds is a remarkable baseball player.
If we could design and implement a fair, comprehensive, and effective program to keep the game free of these things it would be a viable option, but it is not possible to do this.
Baseball and the govenment should get out of this nasty business. Let’s leave it to the teams to regulate, the same way companies do with their employees.
Ultimately, though, it’s up to the individual to make choices. If a player wants to risk his long-term health, he is the one that stands to suffer the most serious consequences.
I’m not here to stand in moral judgment of Barrry Bonds on this subject. I don’t have a leg to stand on.
Let’s go Mets.
In the history of baseball, thousands of players have “cheated” by taking banned and/or illegal substances. These aren’t aren’t magical, super-power embueing shortcuts.
“Thousands” is inaccurate in terms of steroids and HGH and major leaguers. And steroids are the magic elixir. Without them, Maris and Aaron still hold the HR titles.
If we could design and implement a fair, comprehensive, and effective program to keep the game free of these things it would be a viable option, but it is not possible to do this. Baseball and the govenment should get out of this nasty business.
They already have a fair, comprehensive (as much as is possible), effective program in place that has dramatically cut down on steroids use. So, yes, of course it is possible. And without the government putting pressure on MLB, we wouldn’t have this program in place. So, no, we should welcome the government’s oversight of the issue.
And, no, ultimately it is NOT up to the players to decide. The integrity of the game is too important to place it in their hands. It’s up to MLB to protect, and if they can’t do it, as was the case a few years ago, then it’s up to Congress to step in.
I just wanna say I’m not a big fan of Barry Bonds but you gotta give it to the guy. He’s one of if not the greatest hitters of all time regardless of the steroids..I mean come on hes far from being the only one who juiced. The lineup lacks pop especially when Alou is out of the lineup. I’m guessing we’ll be lucky if we get Alou to play 90-100 games. Bonds in between Wright and Beltran in that lineup is flat-out scary. Its not worth trading away even more guys for a below average player like Thames. Getting Bonds won’t involve trading away any more farm-system players or our bullpen. I’d take a chance on Bonds.
He’ll be a bargain. And as far as the idea that the Mets brass would never go for this, I think it would show a lot of class for them to give the guy a shot. And I guarantee you that if Barry does a good job, Mets fans will embrace him, because we have class (and we like winning).
Exactly, if the Mets are winning Bonds won’t be a problem. If they Mets aren’t winning then with or without Bonds will be a media blizzard.
Matt Murton is really the answer to the whole outfield problem. He could fill in for Alou until he comes back, and then platoon with Church. If he ends up not in a platoon, he can become an option off the bench with some decent pop in his bat.
Also, Murton is right-handed and would allow Easley to focus his spring towards insuring Delgado at first base as the backup.
I like the Murtton idea. I think he actually could hold down the fort in LF next year until Fmart is ready. He should not be expensive as the Cubs tried to trade him for Marlon Byrd and the Rangers turned them down. Show and cash might be enough.
sign him up!!!(as long as we don’t loose a draft 1st rd. pick then he’s not worth it) he can hit the cover off the ball, we’ll get a full season between him and alou, he can DH in the playoffs (we’re will still going despite what some may think)let willie earn his money and manage the biggest jerk in the game for one year. Worst possible case we release him on waivers.we’re banged up overhere.
I have a lot of problems with this article. For one, it’s stupid, which is no shocker as it’s coming from Buster Olney. The Mets are too centered around PR right now with the market war and the new stadum to even sniff Barry Bonds, and he would be an old, injury-prone OF from SF replacing an old, injury-prone OF from SF. Mech.
Also, I hate any projected lineup that has David Wright, our most complete player and best hitter, batting 5th, and losing a nice pile of AB’s right off the bat. Screw lefty-righty if it buries your best player, or screw Beltran’s insistence on hitting 3/4.
10 Reasons not to sign Bonds:
1. He cheated for a long time and has never acknowledged it or apologized. As such, it would be rewarding a cheater to sign him … a bad message to send from the organization.
2. He would be a big distractions all year long. He’’s been a media circus for the last few years and everywhere he goes he’s a target of taunting fans. The game becomes about him, instead of the competition on the field.
3. His ongoing legal issues make it a possibility he won’t be available for stretches of time throughout the season.
4. He’s a health risk at his age, just like Alou and El Duque are.
5. He will cost more money than he’s worth and the Mets are right up against the LT threshold now.
6. He’s never hit well at Shea. I think he’s better suited to the West Coast and would probably not fare well under the scrutiny of NY
7. He’s a lousy fielder. His RZR for 2007 was worse than Alou’s who is an average fielder at best.
8. He’s surly to the media. They will likely focus on his personality and ongoing legal issues all year long, taking away attention from other worthy players and issues.
9. Despite his recent good OBP, he’s a risk for diminished performance due to his advanced age. He’s got to fall of the cliff sooner rather than later — with or without continuing to take HGH.
10. He’s a detriment to good team chemistry.
Remember that old SNL skit from the early 90’s, “Bad Idea” Jeans? They should go back in time and include this article in that commercial.
i would have a hard time rooting for the mets if Safe Head was on the team
I hate barry bonds, I don’t understand how any of you can even consider having him on our team… considering how so many people booed him at Shea. What are you guys thinking. It’d be like selling our souls. He took roids, lied, he’s a no good teamate and I just don’t like him as a human… no way, I would boo him out the door whether he was a met or not. I don’t want to see that loser on my team
Well lets look at this rationally.
How many times has Bonds been caught dragging his wife down the street by her hair?
How many times has he been caught drinking and driving?
How many times has he been caught snorting coke in the trainers room?
How many times has he failed a drug test?
Since the answer to all those questions is zero I think he is a much better person than people give him credit for. Tony LaRussa passed out drunk at a stop light and no one cares. Last time I checked drunk drivers kill more people yearly than steroid users. I don’t like Bonds and he most likely did steroids, but the Mets could sign him and let it be known that he will have no special privileges. Bonds would probably accept this because the one thing he wants is a championship and I willing to believe that, like Randy Moss, he would be willing to swallow a little pride to get the ring. Bonds would make the line-up infinitely better than it is and better than any other free agent out there. Also could you imagine the line-up the Mets could have in the WS with Bonds as the DH. If the Mets smoked the Yankees or the Sox in the WS with Bonds, every Mets fan would be jumping on the Bonds bandwagon.
Not this Mets Fan!
What crap you write. This is ALL ABOUT the steroids. Look pal, drunk driving, spousal abuse, etc. are all terrible things, but they do not compromise the game of Baseball. Don’t you f-ing get it? “Roids are all about unfairness. Snorting coke and beating one’s wife are types of criminal behavior that have little to nothing to do with performance enhancement in bb; they’re punishable criminal acts.
All steroid users, unless under a physician’s care for a legitimate medical reason, are absolute treason to professional sports. Now is the time to start taking a friggin’ stand, even from our relative powerlessness as fans.
Maybe you’ll get it one day. Cheating and unfairness are sh*^ in professional sports. If my beloved Mets can help out, I don’t ever want them knowingly hiring a person like this.
I guess you haven’t been following the news recently, in particular Bonds’ two samples that suggested steroid use.
Barry Bonds is a BUM. End of story, if he is on the Mets somebody will eventually jump onto the field and beat the hell out of him. Oh he’s big but he’s old and slow and can barely walk and would get rocked. I would never ever condone Barry Bonds in NY. Were any of you at games where the Giants came in the last 2 years? Good god he was booed more than Satan.
it would be very, very weird to see barry with the mets, and my first reaction was “hell nah”. but after thinking about it i say do it. DO IT!!
You Bonds supporters can ignore common sense, ignore defense, ignore PR and ignore chemistry, and hope for the Bonds circus to come to Shea, but…
It is definitely NOT going to happen. NO WAY the Wilpons, Minaya, or Randolph would go for it.
So you might as well stop talking about your pipe dream.
Massey,
Randolph’s opinion is minimal compared to wilpon ans minaya, as far as who they get. and i bet minaya would go for it. it is the owner, who wouldn’t go for it. minaya wanted sosa, remember?
Maybe by this time, post-Mota, Omar has come to his senses regarding steroids users.
Regardless, if its true that the Wilpons would be the only ones to nix it, good for them. If this is the case, Omar does not deserve “full autonomy” and I’m glad the Wilpons put reigns on him.
A “BUM,” huh? “Roids”? “Cheater”?
Wait…you’re New Yorkers, tough talking, tough living, expect success, right? Well, you gotta get on your high horse for something or someone, right?
Here’s the answer: Bonds can play baseball and he can help the Mets win and the whole “circus” talk is utter lunacy. Bonds may very well be a jerk, but he minds his own business in the clubhouse and at his home. The “circus” is the media creating a circus around him, it’s not his doing. He hates the media and virtually ignores them. Want a guy who can handle NYC’s scrutiny? Bonds would do that in spades.
Oh wait, many of you’d “boo him.” Of course you would, ’cause many of you boo Beltran when he doesn’t do what you want and you boo Reyes when he tires and has a bad September 2007. Hell, I’ll bet many of you will boo Wright when he goes bad for a few weeks and you’ll certainly boo Santana after a few bad outings. Booing? Jeez, that’s the best you got? No wait, it’s gets better. Les Paul’s suggesting some tough New Yorker is going to go on the field and “beat the hell out of him.” Why, seriously, why would someone want to do that? What’s Bonds done to them? Yeah, just great. So Les, you really “hate” a baseball player that you don’t even know–wait, you know about him from ESPN’s reports and anecdotes from the news–THAT much? If Barry Bonds is “worse than Satan,” some of you need to get a grip on life. He’s one of the best baseball players of all time.
What a bunch of moralistic crap the majority of you are spewing. “Steroids” and “PEDs”–neither of which are every quantified or qualified by hardly anyone here–come in many forms and their effects (THEIR EFFECTS!) continue to be, let’s say, debated. What’s more the Mets have been right in the, oh, the thick of this “steroids” scandal. (As you can probably imagine, I think that whole scandal thing is ridiculous.) What’s more, if you subscribe to the “steroids” scandal put forth by many, then don’t you think for just a second that many other Mets were in the middle of it as well?
It’s like reading a bunch of junior high kids who’s knowledge of anything is from some baseball video game and what their dad told them. “Must hate Barry Bonds.” “He’s a cancer.” “He ruined baseball.” Whatever.
Of course Bonds took PEDs, stuff that I can’t even pronounce. We don’t know if he did so willingly or closed his eyes to what he “knew” was going in his body. Whatever is the truth, he isn’t now. Whatever is the truth, he still worked out harder than 90% of other baseball players; he had some of the best talent of all time that didn’t get thrown off-kilter by bulk…bulk that was obviously legitimate, accentuated by whatever he was taking; he minds his own business and, yes, respects the game.
Yeah, yeah, bring on all the criticism. I’m nuts ’cause I think–no wait, I know–that Bonds could help this team win, right? Yeah, right. Bonds is not Ray Lewis or Rae Carruth. His “cheating” is “cheating” that all professional sports try to protect themselves from and never really define: getting that edge. Drugs are defined, but there’s new stuff all the time; LASIK is okay; Andro was fine until it wasn’t; greenies were fine for Hank Aaron and Willie Mays and until recently, but not now; The Yankees payroll isn’t cheating or getting an edge vs. say the the Royals, it’s just the NYC advantage; Shillings cortizone shot to let him pitch was fine, ’cause someone determined that it was fine. You all don’t care, but people like me don’t have a problem with condemning “cheating,” people like me have a problem with the simplification of the issue. Bonds as the sole cheater, while guys like Selig and LaRussa get passed off as insignificant and guys like Ryan Franklin and Gary Matthews Jr. get rewarded with big contracts , is just wrong AND unfair. But, I guess the only scrutiny is for the guys who were good who “cheated.”
And, aside from the preconceived notions of so many about the “truth” with respect to Bonds, the fact is that the “truth” isn’t really known AND the “truth” that we’ve been fed is not exactly on the mark (e.g. his perjury case).
The “truth” is the Bonds can still play baseball and can help the Mets win. My “truth” is that Minaya is too much of a coward to sign him; the ownership group is too worried about their image. He’d rather jettison depth for big names and/or long contracts. It’s his way from Grady Sizemore to Lastings Milledge. (As an aside, my .02$ has Minaya “success” in New York do to the Mets’ money, not his abilities)
Wow, your post contains more bull-doody than any other on this page!
“Steroids” and “PEDs”–neither of which are every quantified or qualified by hardly anyone here–come in many forms and their effects (THEIR EFFECTS!) continue to be, let’s say, debated.
Pure BS. While the usage of HGH alone is debated, there is essentially no debate on the considerable performance enhancing effects of steroid. Unless you want to count the debates started by apologists like you for cheaters such as Clemens and Bonds.
What’s more the Mets have been right in the, oh, the thick of this “steroids” scandal.
More hooey. The Mets have actually come through rather relatively unscathed by the Mitchell report and the other steroids scandals. Not one single high profile player has been alleged to have done steroids or HGH while a Met in any of these investigations. Unless you want to count Hundley, but then that’s a stretch.
What’s more, if you subscribe to the “steroids” scandal put forth by many, then don’t you think for just a second that many other Mets were in the middle of it as well?
We just don’t know who the others are. Perhaps it’s no worse than the number of Mets already revealed to have been PEDs users. You don’t condemn those for who exists no evidence of usage. They deserve the benefit of the doubt. The public already knows that players like Clemens and Bonds DID cheat … big time.
We don’t know if he did so willingly or closed his eyes to what he “knew” was going in his body.
Well yes we do. Because his positive tests will show that as well as testimony by Bell and others. The idea that he didn’t know is a mountain load of pure crap. No one with half an ounce of sense believes that.
he had some of the best talent of all time that didn’t get thrown off-kilter by bulk
More crapola. His body only blew up twice its size during the years he was alleged to have done PEDs heavily.
You can continue to wear your blinders regarding the impact of steroids and HGH on Bonds. That’s your choice. But the amount of BS you need to throw out there to try to justify your position is enormous.
buster is good at writing what a billion people have already said a thousand times, only a couple of days if not more, later.