I really hate Barry Bonds. Well, Bonds’ game-tying, ninth-inning three-run homer off Billy Wagner pretty well answers why people still pitch around him in that situation. Though I still think there are too many situations where he gets walked.
UPDATE: Adding insult to injury, Armando Benitez gets out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th.
SECOND UPDATE: Mets rally in the 11th and win! This is exactly the kind of game championship teams win, coming back after blowing a 3-run lead on the road on an error (by Wright) and a bomb in the ninth. Bonds flies out against Darren Oliver to end it.
18 thoughts on “I Hate Barry Bonds”
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What are you doing watching an afternoon baseball game? Get back to work!
It’s called a radio.
Although it didn’t work, I think Willie made the right call pitching to Bonds. If you can’t pitch to Bonds with a left-handed reliever who throws 98 MPH, you really can’t ever pitch to him.
You really just can’t pitch to him then.
After watching Bonds pull that sort of thing regularly against the Astros the last few years I’ve come to the conclusion that the only way you pitch to him in that situation is if its a 1 run game with the bases loaded. You just about have to walk him even if the bases are loaded as long as you aren’t walking in the tying run.
Screw it. Make someone else beat you.
Pitching to him was the right call. The real dispute I can make, if there really is one, is that Wagner got the pitch he wanted, high and ouotside, 99 mph (In San Fransisco, so it was probably 96).
Up and in, low and away. Up and in, low and away. You never hear up an out, low and in. There is a reason for that.
I think Randolph made the right call. An aging, if still dangerous, lefty slugger with elbow problems who’s losing his bat speed vs. a lefty reliever who throws 97+ mph? What are they paying Billy Wagner for, if not to get the game’s best hitters out? He made the right call, and it backfired. It happens to the best managers.
I would still pitch to him almost every time. There are only so many homeruns you can hit with just your arms.
I would too, I just think a 3-run lead with two outs and two guys on base is the time to walk him.
I, too, think Bonds is a #**hole. Andy Van Slyck (sp) said Bonds’ problem is that he is exactly as people perceive him to be.
I think you have to pitch to him.
If anyone cares (shameless plug time), I wrote about it this morning:
https://mikesneighborhood.blogspot.com/2006/04/ladies-gentlemen-your-first-place-ny.html
Instead of walking him, do what Don Drysdale (or was it Gibson, or Koufax) would do and plunk him. In the knee.
Or throw him low and away, low and away, low and away, high and in.
Koufax didn’t hit too many batters. They usually didn’t last long enough. He did go after Lou Brock though once. Brock bunted on him 3 straight times, right bact to Sandy, who fielded about as well as he hit (like Piazza-shameless plug to another thread), you get away with it when you are so good at your prime function.
Anyway, up comes Lou the 4th time, and down goes Lou. The word got out, and there were few bunts after that.
Darren Oliver got Bonds out to end the game? Darren Oliver?!? He came up with Bobby Witt! Isn’t he like 160 years old now?
Also, minor correction: Andy Van Slyke.
Cousin Dave-
No, Jose Valentin is 160 years old. Darren Oliver died 160 years ago, but he was only 32 at the time.
Heh. I love threads like this.
‘yeah, pitch him. plunk him in the knee.’
Hehe.
It seems the general sentiment is to pitch to him, and I totally agree. Buster Olney was saying today that because of his knees, Bonds is having trouble reaching the low and away pitches. I think he’s basically done, and I’d keep pitching to him.
I don’t like what Bonds has perpetrated but “done” is probably not correct. In his last 7 games he is hitting .308/.571/1.000 with 3 HRs. He is not what he once was but dude can still hit. Moises Alou is no piece of cake behind him but unless I have someone who can really pitch to left-handed hitters when the game is on the line, Barry gets a walk.