Bonds brings way too much baggage along with him. It's funny to think that the all time home run leader is jobless. And really, no could care less.

Barry compiled a remarkable .480 OBA last season and clubbed 28 homers in just 352 at-bats. The blogger's assertion that he can still hit is a vast understatement. And as for his fielding, while it is now rather poor, it is certainly no worse than that of, say Eric Hinske or Manny Ramirez. Heck, Derek Jeter costs his team far more runs defensively thn Bonds in left ever could.

So the implication that no NL team could use a hitter of Barry's caliber is silly. Couldn't he play first base (I bet he'd be better than Giambi is now).

Bonds has obviously been blacklisted by management. Several managers have gone on record as wanting him on their clubs, and many players have said that they respect and support Bonds. None of that seems to matter: the bosses are colluding against him, and he will never get a job.

I honestly hate Barry Bonds but I strongly disagree with this article.

Compare Barry's .OPS and .OBP to that of the other DH's in the American League and the production isn't even close.

Barry is a poison to the club house, horrible around young players, and a total distraction for any team. That is why he is not signed.

Any team could benefit from having him at DH from a pure numbers standpoint.

"Barry is a poison to the club house, horrible around young players, and a total distraction for any team"

First of all, if you look at the performance of Barry's teams with an open mind, they have clearly done a lot better when he was there than not. The Pirates were a terrible team when he came up, won 3 straight division titles when he matured, and haven't won since.

The Giants were a terrible team when they signed him, and won 103 games the first season (he was voted league MVP).

That's a team cancer? If you mean by that that Barry has a difficult personality, well did't Roger Clemens, Rogers Hornsby, Reggie Jackson, Steve Carlton, Ty Cobb...you get my point. Many of the greatest athletes have been ruthlessly competitve, and not always nice. Does that make them cancers?

Does anyone doubt that the Giants would be a superior team with a 43 year old Bonds on the field today?


Bonds has actuall been involved in very few fistfights, or nasty on-field incidents in his two decades in MLB. He got into a shoving match with Jeff Kent when he was in his mid-30s...that's about it. Compare Barry's rap sheet with that of Babe Ruth, as I have. Bonds was clearly a better baseball citizen.

The press has always hated the outspoken Bonds,

The situation with Ruth was entirely different then the one with Bonds. Ruth was never indicted for starters so that rap sheet arguement goes right out the windown.

As far has his problems in the club house; the effects of his total seclusion from the team, complete with his own entourage, and special sets of rules, have been very well documented.

Now out of the players you cited the only one I can agree with is Reggie Jackson. If you don't think he was a cancer in Billy Martin's club house do a little research on the Bronx Zoo, or at least watch the mini series on ESPN. The difference being obviously that Reggie actually won.

A better comparision of the bonds effect would be T.O. Do teams win with him? absolutely. Is he a total cancer to whom ever he plays on. Inevitably.

I'll never forget the footage of a young Barry screaming in Jim Leyland's face in spring training.

Bonds was even hated in college. Jeff Pearlman did an outstanding article on this; you can still search it on ESPN.com. A few quotes:

"Arizona State coach Jim Brock looked forward to Barry Bonds' sophomore season with mixed feelings. ASU's roster would be its most talented ever, yet Barry was a social leper"

"Barry posted strong numbers (.360, 11 home runs, 55 RBIs, 30 stolen bases) in 1984 for a team that went 55-20 and was ranked No. 1 in the nation for much of the season, but his attitude was terrible. He missed a bus trip, arrived late to several practices, often took BP with half-hearted intensity and turned in lukewarm efforts in the outfield that infuriated the pitching staff. "He would never attempt to throw a guy out at home if it was going to be a close play," says Randy Rector, a pitcher. "There'd be 15 scouts in the stands, and he didn't want them to see that he had no arm.""

""It's been brought to my attention that a lot of you think Barry is causing more harm than good," he told his players. "And I don't believe I can excuse his actions any longer. So here's the deal -- I'm going to give you boys the authority to vote on Barry's future. Do you want him to continue on the team, or do you want him off? Keep in mind, our ultimate goal here is to win a national championship, and he's obviously a big part of that. But it's your decision." Brock walked off, and his troops retreated to the player's lounge to talk. He was certain that, with enough thought, Barry would be asked to apologize and stay. Nobody wanted to lose one of the team's brightest stars -- not over a late curfew. Right?


But the vote wasn't about a curfew. It was about Barry's bad habits and arrogant indifference; it was about the way he referred to himself in the third person during interviews and always made excuses for misplays. "He was missing practices, showing up late, leaving early," says Louie Medina, the Sun Devils' first baseman. "He would say, 'Oh, I have a stomach virus,' and it would be allowed. I can't speak for everyone, but I was tired of his act.""

When McDowell informed Brock of the team's decision, the coach got what he had expected -- a strong consensus. But shockingly, the majority had voted against Barry continuing as a Sun Devil. Only two players, outfielders Devereaux and Todd Brown, were in favor of Barry's return, and their support was tepid. The rest had decided that he was finished. "I'd never seen the expression on Jim Brock's face that I saw right there," says Jeff Pentland, the team's hitting coach. "Absolute shock. It was obviously a plan to have the vote come out in favor of Barry, and it backfired."



-- There's so much more, I could go on all night. A cancer. Enough said.

OMG, quoting Jeff Pearlman as an authority or even honest.


Which of these DH's would Bonds not be a MAJOR improvement over?

After all the attention and new fans Bonds home run hitting has brought to baseball it's sad to see that MLB is turning his back on him. He's still a viable run producer and deserves at least part time job. The steroid problem might be a Bonds problem but it is defiantly a baseball problem. At this point no one has been vindicated. Last year everyone got all excited thinking that A-Rod would someday break Bonds home run record and we would have an untainted home run king. I don't see any reason that Rodriguez or any other player in the last 20 years should be considered untainted. If Barry Bonds is willing to play for an appropriate salary for an outfielder with tired knees than he should have a job this year.

Barry is my all time favorite player. A book that I read recently tells something, I think: I think that is him. What he did and even I will admit he never had a good arm they shouldve got him out there w/ a friggin bat then he couldve showed sactown whats up.

Welcome to the Labatt Blue Jays of Toronto, Mr. Bonds. See you later Big Hurt.

The AL East is even stronger now, if that is possible.

I'd like to see the NY Yankess sign Barry Bonds. Imagine Bonds batting in front, (or behind)A-Rod. Pinstripes might be just the right look for Barry B.!

Oh Canada! Shipping Barry Bonds out of the country may be the only answer!