Don't count on seeing Barry Bonds in a Yankees uniform
So it now looks likely that HIdeki Matsui will miss the rest of the season, which will prompt another round of calls for the Yankees to sign Barry Bonds.
Read this quote by Brian Cashman, however, and you'll see the Yankees' true thinking:
"I would say any rampant speculation on us involving a player of that magnitude would be extremely premature. I would caution everybody to not misunderstand that since I'm not saying no to it, that that means, 'Oh my gosh, that that might be happening down the line.' It's not something we're focused on at this point. We're focused on getting Hideki Matsui back rather than, you know, what we're going to do if he's not back."
There's two components to that quote:
1) Cashman can't come right out and say that he doesn't want Bonds, because everyone knows that the Players Association is seeing if there's a collusion case to be made concerning the lack of interest in Bonds. A "We don't want him" quote from Cashman is ammo for the union.
2) With the actual words, Cashman attempted to help the reporters standing around him at Yankee Stadium today (I was in the pack of reporters). He wasn't very subtle.
While the Yankees will likely have a job opening for Bonds, Cashman has tried to make his team younger, more versatile and less cranky. Bonds is 0-for-3 on that score.
Yes, he had a very impressive 2007, but when you weigh a) that Bonds has now missed more than half a season; b) that players' statistics drop when they go from the National League to the American League; c) that the Yankees, one of the teams most burned by the Mitchell Report, have little desire to bring in a key figure from baseball's past; and many other negatives, potential negatives outweigh the potential positives.
I think it's quite likely you'll see Richie Sexson in a Yankees uniform when they return to action on Friday. They'll try that avenue for now. Maybe they'll revisit Bonds. But I wouldn't bank on it.
Bob T., I eagerly await your response.
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Comments (17)
I'm not sure the Yanks have a uniform that would fit Bonds, except maybe the one Cecil Fielder wore. Also, think about all those unhappy fans in the left field seats who won't be able to see the batter when Bonds plays the field. Don't "buy Bonds"!
Giambi, Clemens, A-Rod...of course bring in Bonds!! He's a perfect fit for a team with a recent history of drama queens!!
I don't think Bonds fits with the Yankees. The drama queen component (which A-Rod handles so well - and so does Jeter under the table) and the steroid issue (which Giambi and Pettitte admitted their violations, well, almost admitted and got the free pass that Bonds will never receive) do not work in his favor. And Bonds is detested by the press - and Ken, your cohorts will never allow him an even break to play in NYC.
The only AL teams for him would be Seattle (way out of the race and they may want him as a curiousity for attendance while they continue to sell and slash players), Texas (if they can take a schedule II drug user why not an assumed schedule III user - and Milton Bradley to boot!), Tampa (desperation as their bats cool off in August - and attendance) or perhaps the Angels (as a PH more than a full time DH).
As for accusing other players of using steroids and not wanting them on their team, Yankee fans should reamin less sanctimonious and pretty quiet, as their team dominated the first 2/3rd's of the steroid era.
I THINK BONDS SHOULD STILL PLAY FOR THE GIANTS
Take one diehard Yankee fan with great disdain for Bonds, subtract two big bats from the line-up, add a dispised, discount, power lefty and a short porch and you get a surprising concoction that actually might please the palate of the Yankee faithful. The new "straw that stirs the drink"? If the Bonds experiment is going to work anywhere, it's in the Bronx.
Jesus. He's stayed in baseball shape, will play for peanuts and will add an instant offense threat. If it doesn't work out? Well, you paid nothing for him and gave up no talent.
I have not watched a game this season because of the way MLB has treated Mr. Bonds. Has he been convicted ? Owners should sign him to fill those empty seats. Remember the fans voted him in as an All-Star just last season.
My BOYCOTT stands until he is signed.......
I welcome Bonds becoming a Yankee
Despite how much of a problem he has been in the past, I suspect Bonds will smarten up real fast if he gets a job in pinstripes. With history and top notch baseball talent and brains all around him, I suspect he will relish the opportunity and will quickly become very respectful and actually appreciate the opportunity. He may be a rogue, but he's not a complete idiot.
What better stage for Bonds to clean up his image?. People forgive fast. Give him the rest of 2008 and 2009 in pinstripes. If he produces all will be well.
Bring him in if he's in baseball shape. Bonds happens to be the right fit at the right time because of Matsui's injury. Bonds desrie to play baseball in light of his offer to play at a low salary shows some character. The Yankees offense has really struggled this season and especially of late so he looks like the right plug.
Give him a shot, if he doesn't work out then at least there was an attempt made.
I have a feeling that it would work out quite well.
It could be a great test for Girardi and i think it would work out well. The Yankees are quite dynamic and the leadership of Jeter, Posada, Giambi, et. al., would probably assist Bonds in overcoming a difficult time in his life & lift NY to achieve great expectations.
F-It Times are hard in the BX you got to do what you got to do. get him cheap see how it goes.
It was nice he got the record (with or without the *) in a Giants uniform, though if he were still with the Giants, they wouldn't be where they are today I don't think. They would be last or next to last in the division, and all but out of the race. I was happy to see Bonds leave the Giants, as it freed up some payroll and allowed them to rebuild the team and add some good players to the mix.
Come on! Bring him in! We need to win and Bonds is a whole lot better then richie sexson. It was one thing bringing in richie as a PH bench player against lefties it's another thing bringing him in as a full timer. Bonds could be that full timer at DH. Distractions or no distractions i want to see us deep in the playoffs and bonds gives us a better chance to do it then sexson or some farmhand. And don't give me that crap about "national league to american league decline". Bonds would convert from playing in the field to sitting on his butt till he came up to the plate. You can't tell me that extra rest won't help the guy. And i don't think the "NL to AL transition" has hurt Josh Hamilton's numbers!
I think Bonds is a sally, Hes way past his prime. To put him in the spotlight in the Bronx after a half of a season off and the high-maintenence publicity he had to deal with after the mitchell report is enough for him to want to come back. To him, coming back to the majors may seem like the cure to all his problems but what happens if he comes back and has a terrible season (or half of one) then all hes done is give the press more reason to emphasize how good he was, "pre-Mitchell report." Thats just my opinion. Only time barry should be in the bronx is if he bought tickets to watch them play, or hes playing against them as a mariner or devil-ray.
I'm with Byrante. I'm disgusted by the way baseball has treated Bonds. It's the league and the owners who are truly culpable for the steroids era - trying to scapegoat Bonds is disgusting. He deserves to be signed. He still wants to play. Sign him. Based on last season it's ridiculous he is not playing this year. I think his lawyer has a very strong case re: collision. It's obvious as day.
I'm in NYC and I'll be heading out to the Bronx to see Bonds if the Yankees sign him. The rest of team? Who cares. None of them are THE GREATEST HITTER TO EVER PLAY THE GAME.
And no, A-Rod doesn't come close to Bonds. Rodriguez is over-rated.
All Barry Binds did was lead the National League in OPS last year.
Of course the Yankees should sign him. It's not like he's washed-up or anything. Imagine the damage he would do in the Yanks lineup. The guy was magnificent with Bengie Molina protecting him in the Giants order. Picture an A-Rod/Bonds lefty-righty scenario in the middle of of the lineup. Christ, that would just about kill an opposing pitcher.
The return of Murderers' Row! I say bring him to The Bronx.
You got to bring him. We are running out of time and we need everyone we can get. He will definitely help our offense