The latest installment in the saga of “When Will Barry Bonds Return?” features an anonymous “high-ranking member of the San Francisco Giants organization” telling an ESPN reporter that the injured, beleaguered and steroid-taking Home Run King Wanna-Be will return some time in mid-August.
If I were simply a cynic, I’d say, “Yea sure” but since I’m not a just a cynic, but a blogger as well, I’ve come up with the following.
This ever-evolving “return-date game” is pure nonsense. Questions abound, and not just regarding Bonds and his admitted use of steroids.
Here are a few of the most immediate questions that people should want answers to.
Why does an ESPN reporter have to rely on an anonymous source when it comes to this total non-story?
Exactly who, or what, is this high-ranking member of the Giants organization? Is this person the head of the sales and marketing department, concessions department or grounds-keeping crew?
Why is it necessary to even try to estimate a return date for Bonds, especially when you consider, according to this ESPN item, that “Bonds’ running activities have been curtailed and that he’s yet to begin any baseball-related activities?”
Are these leaks to the press meant to make Bonds look bad?
Bonds has had three knee injuries so far this year, is in his 40’s, he doesn’t have total range of motion with his injured knee, he isn’t really running, he hasn’t even begun any baseball related activities and it’s mid-July…hey why not be optimistic?!?
Even if Bonds were to somehow improve enough to the point where he regained range of motion, and then was able to start running, and then start some baseball-specific activities there is no way of knowing how his oft-surgically repaired knee would respond. Would it hurt, would it swell? Would he be back to square one or square two?
As a matter of fact, it’s way better than even money that even if he was able to regain these activities through his rehab, the rigors of real conditioning and competition would cause his knee to swell and/or cause problems that will prevent him from getting back into the Giant’s lineup.
Article comments
1 - Tan The Man
But if Bonds has used steriods since 2001, why hasn't a significant injury hampered Bonds earlier? Giambi became worthless super fast.
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
Plus there is tons of evidence out there that steroids, even if taken, cannot significantly help someone be better at baseball.
But what that makes Bonds so scary is his reflexes and his bat speed.
3 - sal m
the point that steroids don't help an already superior baseball player play better speaks to the poster's complete lack of understanding as to what steroids can do for an athlete, especially an aging one.
and to the post regarding bonds' injury, steroid use results in exactly this kind of injury "syndrome"...a seemingly simple or common-place injury becomes career altering/ending...refer to mark mcgwire as a most recent example of this...giambi is another example...his knee was totally shot and the damage done was not in keeping with the demands on his body, especially for someone who plays first base.
4 - sal m
Here's the latest version of the bonds nonsense...if you read the item, bonds goes out of his way to mention that he still has the hand eye coordination that he's always had....very funny....
5 - Ronald C McKito
I think his injury is a way to take time off from baseball so they cannot test him for steriod use. Gives him a chance to get it out of his system.