Thursday, July 24, 2003
Happy Birthday, Barry Bonds
And many more (birthdays and home runs): It's 39 years. And Barry celebrated early, bombing another home run. Thanks in part to last night's blast off the D-Backs' Steve Randolph in the sixth inning, the Giants upped their lead over second-place Arizona to a full 10 games in the N.L. West. Nothing like a double-digit lead to quell concerns that you might not make the playoffs.
Up until recently I'd had a sneaking suspicion that Bonds would hit his 660th home run at some point and then retire on the spot, to honor his godfather Willie Mays, who hit exactly that many. But now, considering his recent comments about Babe Ruth, that theory is pretty much by the boards at this point. I suspect that Barry is dubious of Babe Ruth's total of 714 home runs, which was achieved without his having to play against black players, which is reasonable. What is NOT reasonable, though, is Barry's suggestion that his 715th home run will "wipe out" Babe Ruth. Nothing will wipe out Babe Ruth, who will remain baseball's greatest legend for a very long time.
One request: Could we stop with Barry's home run total being updated on the spot on the scoreboard at Pac Bell Park every time he hits one? Save it for the true milestones: 660, and 661, 700, 714, 715, 755, and 756 (and 800?) Barry's 645th career home run was not a milestone. Let's please stop proclaiming everything to be legendary the moment it happens. By definition, something that is legendary can't have JUST happened.
Starter, Please; I think the Giants need to pick up another starter. Why not Sidney Ponson? He's on pace to win over 20 games this season.
View From The 300 Level: Drove down to the Bay Area from Portland earlier this month and caught the A's-Orioles game at Oakland Col....excuse me, Network Associates Coliseum. Great pitcher's duel: Barry Zito and Jason Johnson were matching zeroes throughout, and Zito was even half way to a perfect game. Bottom nine, still scoreless, first and third, one out, Ramon Hernandez hits a little grounder to pitcher Hector Carrasco, who proceeded to make two mental errors in a span of about one second: 1) He never looked at Mark Ellis sprinting home, and 2) he tossed the ball to second baseman Brian Roberts, who was standing, well, fifteen feet in front of second base. Oops. Game over. I see my first-ever walk-off run out of the forty or so major league games I have attended. Not exactly as exciting as Barry's 69th, which I saw in person at Pac Bell.
Up until recently I'd had a sneaking suspicion that Bonds would hit his 660th home run at some point and then retire on the spot, to honor his godfather Willie Mays, who hit exactly that many. But now, considering his recent comments about Babe Ruth, that theory is pretty much by the boards at this point. I suspect that Barry is dubious of Babe Ruth's total of 714 home runs, which was achieved without his having to play against black players, which is reasonable. What is NOT reasonable, though, is Barry's suggestion that his 715th home run will "wipe out" Babe Ruth. Nothing will wipe out Babe Ruth, who will remain baseball's greatest legend for a very long time.
One request: Could we stop with Barry's home run total being updated on the spot on the scoreboard at Pac Bell Park every time he hits one? Save it for the true milestones: 660, and 661, 700, 714, 715, 755, and 756 (and 800?) Barry's 645th career home run was not a milestone. Let's please stop proclaiming everything to be legendary the moment it happens. By definition, something that is legendary can't have JUST happened.
Starter, Please; I think the Giants need to pick up another starter. Why not Sidney Ponson? He's on pace to win over 20 games this season.
View From The 300 Level: Drove down to the Bay Area from Portland earlier this month and caught the A's-Orioles game at Oakland Col....excuse me, Network Associates Coliseum. Great pitcher's duel: Barry Zito and Jason Johnson were matching zeroes throughout, and Zito was even half way to a perfect game. Bottom nine, still scoreless, first and third, one out, Ramon Hernandez hits a little grounder to pitcher Hector Carrasco, who proceeded to make two mental errors in a span of about one second: 1) He never looked at Mark Ellis sprinting home, and 2) he tossed the ball to second baseman Brian Roberts, who was standing, well, fifteen feet in front of second base. Oops. Game over. I see my first-ever walk-off run out of the forty or so major league games I have attended. Not exactly as exciting as Barry's 69th, which I saw in person at Pac Bell.
