Barry Bonds Homerun Tracker

[J.R.]

Barry Bonds is back and obviously clean from whatever people have accused him of using, and he continues to show why he is arguably the greatest baseball player ever. In less the a week back from not playing baseball for nearly a year he hits two homeruns to close the gap between himself and Babe Ruth to just nine homeruns. At 705, that's only 50 homers behind Hank Aaron to tie the career homerun lead.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/BarryBondshomeruntracker.png

That's just a quick graphic I put together with MS Paint. I'm going to work on a better one when I get time to commemorate Bonds chasing sports history.
Another splash hit: Bonds bashes 705The Associated Press
http://www.kansascity.com/images/common/spacer.gif
SAN FRANCISCO ? Barry Bonds carefully marked almost every piece of his equipment with No. 705 and the date, boxed it up and sealed the top with athletic tape.

His bat and hat, his gloves, his shoes, even his black-and-orange wristbands ? all of it got authenticated and put away for safekeeping.

Bonds splashed a home run into McCovey Cove for the first time this season Sunday as the Giants beat the Dodgers 5-3. His 705th career homer led off the eighth inning, causing a commotion as soon as it reached the water and kayakers raced to retrieve the ball.

Bonds? homer followed a tiebreaking solo drive by Mike Matheny in the sixth inning.

Matheny?s homer off Franquelis Osoria helped the Giants win their third straight. San Francisco trails the first-place Padres by 5 1/2 games in the National League West, and the Dodgers dropped 7 1/2 games back.

?It?s nice to win,? Bonds said. ?I still feel like I?m in the spring-training mode. Sometimes I feel really good. Sometimes I feel off balance. Those are things you go through in spring training. I?m trying to put it together in such a short window of time.?

Saving all his stuff from each home run has been Bonds? routine for years now, since before he hit his 500th homer in 2001.

Bonds said he won?t allow himself to think about the 10 home runs he needs to pass Babe Ruth (714), second on the career list behind Hank Aaron (755).

?No, no. Right now we?re trying to chase a team that?s in front of us,? Bonds said.

Bonds concluded his first week back five for 16 with two home runs and three RBIs.

?He looks old, but he?s still swinging the bat,? said the Dodgers? Jeff Kent, Bonds? former teammate.

[leaferfan87]

So everyone will he reach Ruth by the end of this season?

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

He hit another one tonight to put him at 706. I think he can definitely catch Ruth by the end of the season because he has clearly demonstrated that if the opposing team pitches to him for at least the 3 times that they have to, Bonds will hit one out. I just don't think that teams will continue to let Bonds smack 'em out and take over a game, when they can simply walk him.

[THE HACK]

I don't think Bonds will catch Ruth this season.Bonds needs 9 hrs to catch him and there's only 2 weeks left in the season.The Giants have a huge showdown left against the Padres and I can't see them pitching to him.Bonds homerun last night was a mammoth of a shot deep into the upper deck at RFK stadium and now thats 3 straight games he's homered in!Keep it up Barry! :)

Cheers

[Iced Tea]

Barry Bonds is back and obviously clean from whatever people have accused him of using, and he continues to show why he is arguably the greatest baseball player ever. In less the a week back from not playing baseball for nearly a year he hits two homeruns to close the gap between himself and Babe Ruth to just nine homeruns. At 705, that's only 50 homers behind Hank Aaron to tie the career homerun lead.Right there, you show why Bonds will never be the greatest baseball player ever. Bonds has been on the juice for the last few years and that has tainted any record he has established or is currently in pursuit of.

Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth are two of the greatest baseball players ever and consider how incredible they were back in their day. Ruth and Aaron played in the Stone Age of baseball compared to today where the fitness and health of players is down to a science and the length of the season and careers are so much longer especially compared to Ruth's years. Ruth also went out drinking and fooled around with the ladies most nights before his starts; the only thing Bonds does is shoot up steroids.

By the way, Ted Turner naming the stadium after himself instead of Hank Aaron was one of the biggest travesties ever in MLB. Bonds being in the record book without an asterick is another travesty.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

Do you happen to have any proof of Bonds taking steriods Iced Tea???

[J.R.]

Right there, you show why Bonds will never be the greatest baseball player ever. Bonds has been on the juice for the last few years and that has tainted any record he has established or is currently in pursuit of.I love when people tell me this. I get this same statement thrown in my direction several times a week and I will not reply any differently.

Even if he was "on steriods" (*cough* speculation *cough*), what's the problem? There was no rule in Major League Baseball against the use of steriods. He is clean even if he did take them because he didn't do anything wrong. It's that simple. And now there can't be a doubt in anyone's mind, because of the number of times he's tested. Funny how he's able to play at this same great level before and after steriods were banned in baseball.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/BarryBondshomeruntracker.png

Bonds homers in fourth straight; Giants win fifth straight

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Barry Bonds homered for the fourth consecutive game to raise his career total to 707, and San Francisco starter Brad Hennessey beat the Washington Nationals 5-1 Wednesday night.

The Giants have won five straight to hold onto an outside chance of catching the NL West-leading San Diego Padres, who began the day with a five-game lead.

For Washington, it was a fourth straight loss, and manager Frank Robinson spoke before the game of wanting to avoid a last-place finish. Looking ahead to Thursday, the one bit of good news for the Nationals? Bonds probably won't start because it's an afternoon game.

San Francisco's surge has coincided with last week's return of Bonds, who missed most of 2005 following three knee operations. The team is 6-1 in his starts, and Bonds is hitting .318 (7-for-22) with four homers and six RBI.

There were fewer boos and disparaging signs directed Bonds' way Wednesday than Tuesday, his first road game of the year. But he still heard plenty of jeers, including when he caught Brad Wilkerson's shallow fly leading off the bottom of the first.

Bonds connected for a two-run homer in the first inning on a 1-1 pitch from John Patterson (9-6), sending it into the visitors' bullpen beyond right field. The ball traveled in the same direction, though not as high or far, as the upper-deck homer Bonds hit off Livan Hernandez in the fourth inning Tuesday.

It wasn't all that surprising that Bonds would turn on an inside pitch; he is, after all, now just eight homers from passing Babe Ruth (714) for second on the career list behind Hank Aaron's 755.Via: ESPN.com (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250921120).

[THE HACK]

Right there, you show why Bonds will never be the greatest baseball player ever. Bonds has been on the juice for the last few years and that has tainted any record he has established or is currently in pursuit of.

Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth are two of the greatest baseball players ever and consider how incredible they were back in their day. Ruth and Aaron played in the Stone Age of baseball compared to today where the fitness and health of players is down to a science and the length of the season and careers are so much longer especially compared to Ruth's years. Ruth also went out drinking and fooled around with the ladies most nights before his starts; the only thing Bonds does is shoot up steroids.

By the way, Ted Turner naming the stadium after himself instead of Hank Aaron was one of the biggest travesties ever in MLB. Bonds being in the record book without an asterick is another travesty.

I agree that Bonds will never be the greatest ball player ever but for you to say he's been on the juice the last few years is outright ridicoulous and false.He's been tested the last few years and has come up clean.He was tested in Sept 2004 when the Giants were in a playoff battle with the Astros and not only did he come up clean but he had a batting average of over .350 and 45 homeruns and was voted National league MVP for the 7th time that year!To say he was on the juice in that time is preposterous.From 2001-2003 there is a very good chance he was on steroids since he was getting the "clear and the cream" from BALCO and they're associated with steroids.

Bonds being in the record book with an asteriks would be a travesty and would single out one player and thats wrong!How about the others who have tested positive for steriods and the ones who were on steriods that we don't know about.We'd be opening up a whole new can of worms.If Bonds were to test positive NOW then by all means but an asteriks by his name or even just completely omit him from any records and the hall of fame!

Bonds has hit a homer in 4 straight games now,not too shabby! :)

Cheers

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Bonds is just an animal. If the Giants make the playoffs he should get some MVP votes. Not win it, some 4th or 5th place votes. I don't think there's one player in pro sports right now that changes the way an opposing team prepares for a game, the way Bonds does. He gets so much respect from opposing pitchers, and even with all the garbage thrown his way he still puts up amazing numbers. IMO that's a big reason why Bonds is one of the greats to ever play the game, because his patience at the plate is unparallelled by anyone I've ever seen play the game.

[J.R.]

In the first inning of tonight's game in San Diego, Barry Bonds hit his fifth homerun of the season (708th of his career), in an effort to help the Giants surge for the N.L. West division title.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/BarryBondshomeruntracker.png

[leaferfan87]

In the first inning of tonight's game in San Diego, Barry Bonds hit his fifth homerun of the season (708th of his career), in an effort to help the Giants surge for the N.L. West division title.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/BarryBondshomeruntracker.png

Yeah, but the Padres still won. That division really truly stinks.

[THE HACK]

Yeah, but the Padres still won. That division really truly stinks.

It sucks that the Giants lost because of an error on the reliable J.T. Snow but its only his 3rd error of the year and will likely cost them any chance of making the playoffs.The reason that division truly stinks is because of the massive amount of injuries to the Giants and Dodgers which no team would be able to overcome.

Cheers

[Amoroq]

Did anyone happen to see the congretional(sp) steroid coverage today? One of the politicals and I'm not sure who, maybe McCain, said "A certian someone who is going for the home run record, I agree, shouldn't have an asterisk next to it. I think an RX would be appropriate" :nod:

[J.R.]

Did anyone happen to see the congretional(sp) steroid coverage today? One of the politicals and I'm not sure who, maybe McCain, said "A certian someone who is going for the home run record, I agree, shouldn't have an asterisk next to it. I think an RX would be appropriate" :nod:Very close. :) From my newspaper this morning:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/Asterisk-RX.png

I don't like the fact that congress is getting involved with an issue that should be decided upon by each individual league/sport. There are more pressing issues to deal with and right now with all this hoopla surrounding steriods and sports, I personally don't understand it.

Anyways back to the topic, Barry Bonds, not steriods. His Giants were eliminated from postseason contention last night by losing 1-9 to the N.L. Worst division team with the least number of losses. No homeruns to report.

[J.R.]

*BUMP* :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/BarryBondshomeruntracker.png

One to tie Babe Ruth. Two to pass.

[Mel]

next one ties Ruth, correct?

[J.R.]

next one ties Ruth, correct?
Yep. I just edited my post.

It's quite a feat, however I don't like people calling it a record, because it's not -- 755 is the record.

[wildboy26]

I hope none of you are cheering for him. How can anybody cheer for that substance-loaded pompus jerk. I am sorry I just have no respect for this guy. I am glad there is no celebration planned when he does break Babe's mark. Hopefully injuries end his career before he gets to Aaron's.

Usually I would never like to see somebody suffering, but seeing him hobbling around on bad knees which were obviously seriously contributed by from his excessive substance performance enhancement use is fitting karma in a way.

[wildboy26]

Do you happen to have any proof of Bonds taking steriods Iced Tea???

Saying there isnt proof on Bonds is like saying there isnt proof Marion Jones.
You dont quite reach the 100% perfect beyond any doubt point, but it gets as close as you can get to that without reaching it. Giving either of them the benefit of the doubt would be exceedingly generous in this day in age of sports.

[J.R.]

I hope none of you are cheering for him. How can anybody cheer for that substance-loaded pompus jerk. I am sorry I just have no respect for this guy. I am glad there is no celebration planned when he does break Babe's mark. Hopefully injuries end his career before he gets to Aaron's.

Usually I would never like to see somebody suffering, but seeing him hobbling around on bad knees which were obviously seriously contributed by from his excessive substance performance enhancement use is fitting karma in a way.
I'm cheering for him. I don't mind his pompus attitude and I like his sideshow behaviour. Bonds' is entertaining and I hope he does hit 756.

Obviously he's not "substance-loaded". He's one of the most often tested baseball players. And even if he was at some point in his career, he was doing so within the rules of the league, so don't even try the whole "cheater" diatribe.

The reason why MLB isn't celebrating him passing Babe Ruth is because why would they want to celebrate second place? Like I said 715 isn't a record, so there's no need to celebrate it. They never did it for Cal Ripken Jr. being one spot away from Lou Gehrig, so they're not doing it for Barry Bonds' being one spot away from Henry Aaron.

[wildboy26]

I'm cheering for him. I don't mind his pompus attitude and I like his sideshow behaviour. Bonds' is entertaining and I hope he does hit 756.

Obviously he's not "substance-loaded". He's one of the most often tested baseball players. And even if he was at some point in his career, he was doing so within the rules of the league, so don't even try the whole "cheater" diatribe.

The reason why MLB isn't celebrating him passing Babe Ruth is because why would they want to celebrate second place? Like I said 715 isn't a record, so there's no need to celebrate it. They never did it for Cal Ripken Jr. being one spot away from Lou Gehrig, so they're not doing it for Barry Bonds' being one spot away from Henry Aaron.

Fair enough. I dont like him, but that is me, I am sure there are some who do.

Normaly celebrating second place would not make sense, but since it is Babe I would have thought maybe that made it a special circumstance.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

It would be a special circumstance for anyone else, but it's Barry, so they won't celebrate it.

[THE HACK]

Anyone catch that monster of a homerun Bonds hit against Philadelphia on Sunday Night that hit the McDonalds sign in the upper deck,apparently its the longest homerun ever hit in Philly!

Say what you will about Bonds but he's been clean of steroids for atleast the last 3 yrs and has proven that even without steriods he's one of the best homerun hitters ever,as evidenced by his mammoth shot in Philly on the weekend!:) I for one will keep cheering Bonds!:thumb:

Cheers

[wildboy26]

Bonds tied Babe Ruth today with his 714th home run.

[a4l]

Babe Ruth didn't use steroids for his home runs. I am sure that the Babe may have been a little tipsy for some of his home runs so he should get extra credit. :pimp:

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

Bonds used steriods for his home runs? To some people, drinking could give as much of an advantage to players as steriods.

[J.R.]

It's about time.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/BarryBondshomeruntracker.png

Congratulations, buddy! :D

[THE HACK]

It is about freakin time and now maybe Barry can concentrate on just getting hits now that this weight off his shoulders has finally been lifted! If he ever does catch Hank Aaron it will be sad that it won't be in a Giants uni as Bonds will surely be playing in the American league very soon.

Congrats on 714 Barry,you deserve it!:)

Cheers

[THE HACK]

Barry Bonds hit #715 Sunday putting him at #2 all-time on the homerun list passing Babe Ruth.Bonds hit another mammoth homerun estimated to be 445 feet to straight away center!:eyebug: I don't know how he does it with his bad knee and bone chips in his elbow,its just unreal!

Congrats Barry!:thumb:

Cheers

[Max Power]

Bonds used steriods for his home runs? To some people, drinking could give as much of an advantage to players as steriods.

lol
you're joking right?

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

lol
you're joking right?

Not everyone gets into a drunken stupor where they are uncoordinated and off balance, unless they get really smashed. But I didn't say drunk, I said drinking. Calms the nerves of some people.

[Amoroq]

Ok I've made some jokes about this issue and Barry Bonds, but has he EVER tested positive or is he just guilty by association?

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

No, he hasn't tested positive.

[Max Power]

Not everyone gets into a drunken stupor where they are uncoordinated and off balance, unless they get really smashed. But I didn't say drunk, I said drinking. Calms the nerves of some people.

I'll concede that a few beer can loosen some tension but don't try to say an alcoholic can increase his dexterity when drunk. The affects of heavy drinking in the end affect us all the same and that?s a medical fact based on what it does to your system.

I think Bonds personal demeanor and transformation can only be a result of hormonal drugs. Even if I gave him the benefit of doubt I'd still think he was classless as a true sportsman knows how to spell humility.

[Mel]

Even if I gave him the benefit of doubt I'd still think he was classless as a true sportsman knows how to spell humility.

That's pretty much why I don't like Bonds. EVERY time he hits a home run he stands there and admires it in awe, like nobody ever hit one but him.

A professional acts like he's been there before. He takes nothing for granted and hustles the bases.... and he sure as hell doesn't show up the pitcher with that asisine statue pose routine on every single home run.

I hope he does not break the record... and it has nothing to do with steroids (for me), it's just because he has zero class.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

You guys must not like Babe Ruth all that much.

Also, Max, I never said drunk, I said drinking. I said that if you drink enough, everyone will come to the same slurring, stumbling effects.

[Daryl Shilling]

I still can't in any way fathom the reasoning of a person that stands on the "but steroids weren't banned by baseball, so he wasn't cheating" argument.

Steroids are illegal to possess. Is it somehow ok for Major League Baseball players to use them because the league didn't have their own rule regarding something which is already prohibited anyhow? The law trumps any rule that the league could create. Since they cannot make them legal, it's a given that steroids are not permitted.

The CBA signed between my union and our employer doesn't specifically outlaw cocaine use. Perhaps that makes it alright for me to use?

If steroid use isn't cheating, then why don't athletes publicly admit to using them? I should say why, other than the obvious legal ramifications of such an admission.

Perhaps it's because in many other sports, the use of such drugs is acknowledged as being completely unethical, and serves as something of a fraud on the paying public, who believe they are watching a playing field that is only un-levelled by the disparity of talent, and not the illegal and unnatural enhancement of that ability?

Bonds' HR/AB:
Pre-Balco: 0.06
Balco Period: 0.11
Post-Balco: 0.07

It has to be said that I don't dislike Bonds because he's a prick. I don't have to deal with him, so it's no skin off of my nose. He's a guy that was one of the 15-20 greatest players ever. He also, at almost 40, became Babe Ruth overnight, when he began taking illegal drugs.

I'm not sure how that aspect of his career can be respected.

[KB in Kelowna]

I still can't in any way fathom the reasoning of a person that stands on the "but steroids weren't banned by baseball, so he wasn't cheating" argument.

Steroids are illegal to possess. Is it somehow ok for Major League Baseball players to use them because the league didn't have their own rule regarding something which is already prohibited anyhow? The law trumps any rule that the league could create. Since they cannot make them legal, it's a given that steroids are not permitted.

The CBA signed between my union and our employer doesn't specifically outlaw cocaine use. Perhaps that makes it alright for me to use?

If steroid use isn't cheating, then why don't athletes publicly admit to using them? I should say why, other than the obvious legal ramifications of such an admission.

Perhaps it's because in many other sports, the use of such drugs is acknowledged as being completely unethical, and serves as something of a fraud on the paying public, who believe they are watching a playing field that is only un-levelled by the disparity of talent, and not the illegal and unnatural enhancement of that ability?

Bonds' HR/AB:
Pre-Balco: 0.06
Balco Period: 0.11
Post-Balco: 0.07

It has to be said that I don't dislike Bonds because he's a prick. I don't have to deal with him, so it's no skin off of my nose. He's a guy that was one of the 15-20 greatest players ever. He also, at almost 40, became Babe Ruth overnight, when he began taking illegal drugs.

I'm not sure how that aspect of his career can be respected.

Well said. Bonds was a fine player pre-Balco, but he would not be anywhere near the gaudy numbers he enjoys now with out the aid of stimulants. My respect for the achievements of a Willie Mays, who lost 2 prime seasons to Military service, or Ted Williams who served 2 tours of duty in WW2 and Korea in his prime, or Hank Aaron who just consistantly went out and hit 30 home runs and drove in 100 RBI for nearly 20 staright seasons (or so it seems) just grows the more I hear about Barry Bonds.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

Well, if you want to use the steriods were illegal by law theory we also have to take the same action against Babe Ruth considering he very more likely drank during prohibition. Let's also get rid of Lawrence Taylor's records in the NFL for is cocaine use. Screw it, anyone who is in a drug program is immediately stricken from their respective sports, and we look back to find as many people as possible that have done the same thing and asterisk them all.

Also, Bonds' HR/AB looks good, but he also got better at hitting the ball as he got older. I would like to see a HR/H stat. I don't know if that is some how inferior to HR/AB, but to me it makes more sense considering the HR only comes into effect when he actually hits the ball.

[Max Power]

This is where you lose me
Alcohol is not specifically designed to enhance the human bodies? performance. In fact it?s quite the opposite. Second if you?re going to use this argument then you should realize alcoholics are called that because usually they are drunk every day.
The whole argument has no logical comparison let alone can we factually use this as a point of argument.

[Daryl Shilling]

Well, if you want to use the steriods were illegal by law theory we also have to take the same action against Babe Ruth considering he very more likely drank during prohibition. Let's also get rid of Lawrence Taylor's records in the NFL for is cocaine use. Screw it, anyone who is in a drug program is immediately stricken from their respective sports, and we look back to find as many people as possible that have done the same thing and asterisk them all.

We're talking about the use of illegal substances to cheat, not merely the use of illegal drugs. To somehow claim Ruth's use of booze is all very well and good except that drinking isn't cheating. Steroid use serves as a performance enhancer, while drinking booze would serve to hurt a player's performance. If the consumption of alcohol were to have any enhancing effects, I could see your argument, but that isn't the case, as is well documented by scientific fact: alcohol serves to slow reflexes.

A baseball travelling at 95 mph gives a hitter 0.4 seconds to recognize the pitch, decide if it will be a strike, and finally start the process of swinging. Any player's attempts to successfully hit while consuming even low amounts of alcohol would be impaired, not improved.

Also, Bonds' HR/AB looks good, but he also got better at hitting the ball as he got older. I would like to see a HR/H stat. I don't know if that is some how inferior to HR/AB, but to me it makes more sense considering the HR only comes into effect when he actually hits the ball.

So, your argument is that Bonds, at an age where every other player's skills at hitting the ball worsen, got *better*, and just happens to coincide with the time that he began working with Victor Conte and Greg Anderson, which also just happened to coincide with the time when he got huge overnight?

Please note that I'm not suggesting that his name be removed the record books, or for an asterisk to be placed next to his name. I'm merely saying that suggesting that Major League Baseball's non-rule about a prohibited drug doesn't mean that using the drug is anything less than cheating is a strange argument, to me.

Daryl

[KB in Kelowna]

The thing about Babe Ruth and alcohol, tabacco and red meat is that while he over indulged in all three, he was rarely drunk when playing and in fact had many productive season after 1925 when his "bellyache heard around the world" sidelined him for much of the season. He became involved with Claire Hodges who became his second wife who managed to reign in, if not tame his excesses. In the era of 1914-1920 Babe Ruth was most of the most effective left handed Pitchers in basesball with a World Series scoreless innings record that stood for decades. The image of him as a bloated drunk swinging for the fences like some sort of beer league softball player is a charactiture. It is like the myth that great artist create work whiled stoned. The usual result of drug induced creativity is crap. As for the lack of respect afforded Barry Bonds, Karma what goes around comes around.

[Mel]

I'm not so sure I'm appalled by Bonds use of performance enhancing substances. The best athletes do everything they can to perform in peak condition.

Suppose a guy works out 3 hours a day, that's not cheating, he's training. He also drinks 12 protein shakes every day to get the most out of his training. It's all good right? Then he thinks he can get even better results by drinking creatine, so he starts taking that every day... is he cheating yet? No not quite, but he's doing more to gain an edge than just good old fashion hard work now, isn't he? Some guys might keep trying the next best thing until eventually they are considered to be "cheating".

I understand there is a difference between illegal and legal substances. However, I think a large amount of athletes float pretty close to that line... some cross it, some don't. There could be substances in use right now that the government hasn't gotten around to making illegal yet.

I'm not protecting Bonds from accusations. I know one can differentiate steroids from supplements... but as I said, I don't really care what he took to play better. I'm quite certain he's not the only one. I just hate him for acting like a classless, graceless, egomaniac at the plate.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

We're talking about the use of illegal substances to cheat, not merely the use of illegal drugs. To somehow claim Ruth's use of booze is all very well and good except that drinking isn't cheating. Steroid use serves as a performance enhancer, while drinking booze would serve to hurt a player's performance. If the consumption of alcohol were to have any enhancing effects, I could see your argument, but that isn't the case, as is well documented by scientific fact: alcohol serves to slow reflexes.

A baseball travelling at 95 mph gives a hitter 0.4 seconds to recognize the pitch, decide if it will be a strike, and finally start the process of swinging. Any player's attempts to successfully hit while consuming even low amounts of alcohol would be impaired, not improved.

Are steriods illegal because they will make players better at whatever sport they play? No, probably not. They are probably illegal because of the effects that happen after the use. They are dangerous. I don't think the performance enhancing qualities of steriods was the reason for the government banning them.

So, your argument is that Bonds, at an age where every other player's skills at hitting the ball worsen, got *better*, and just happens to coincide with the time that he began working with Victor Conte and Greg Anderson, which also just happened to coincide with the time when he got huge overnight?

Please note that I'm not suggesting that his name be removed the record books, or for an asterisk to be placed next to his name. I'm merely saying that suggesting that Major League Baseball's non-rule about a prohibited drug doesn't mean that using the drug is anything less than cheating is a strange argument, to me.

Daryl

There have been players that have great years when their age was supposed to catch up to them, most recently Roger Clemens. How many accusations are being thrown at Clemens? Granted he doesn't have the paper trail that Bonds has but he still had his arguably best year at an age where he should have been done.

I also agree with what Mel said above. The performance enhancers that are legal, weren't around back then with Babe Ruth. The protein shakes, better workout equipment, etc. Even medical science. You tear your ACL 30 years ago and your need to look for a new job. Now you tear your ACL and your out for a year and may come back a little slower. Does all this mean that Babe Ruth's records are better than everyone else's in the past 20 years? I don't know. Do we need to asterisk Pujols or A-Rod if he gets close to Ruth because they had something of the above? It's complicated.

[Mel]

Yes, it is complicated. I'm no baseball historian... but knowing sports the way I do.... I have to believe that the caliber of the pitching faced by Ruth and other "old" record holders, were no where near the caliber of pitching present today.

It's a 2 way street. If batters are getting a chemical edge then so are pitchers. It would be naive to think otherwise.

Even in hockey and basketball.... there is such a huge difference between the guys playing now and the guys playing 20-25 years ago - in size, speed and talent. 20 years ago... *most* of the NBA could not even dunk the ball. From what I've seen on highlights... there's nobody left who CANNOT dunk the ball any more!

The difference between the guys today and the guys 50 years ago is even greater.... astronomical! Watch a few clips of the 50's Boston Celtics dynasty, and seriously ask yourself how those teams would fare in today's NBA. It was a completely different game back then.

So was baseball and hockey and even american football.

[THE HACK]

So, your argument is that Bonds, at an age where every other player's skills at hitting the ball worsen, got *better*, and just happens to coincide with the time that he began working with Victor Conte and Greg Anderson, which also just happened to coincide with the time when he got huge overnight?

Please note that I'm not suggesting that his name be removed the record books, or for an asterisk to be placed next to his name. I'm merely saying that suggesting that Major League Baseball's non-rule about a prohibited drug doesn't mean that using the drug is anything less than cheating is a strange argument, to me.

Daryl

Victor conte has already testified that he gave Bonds only vitamins and nutritional stuff and NO steriods.The steroids came from Greg Anderson in the form of "the clear and the cream".

I could really care less if Bonds cheated because the sport of baseball is full of cheaters and has no integrity,yep I'm calling you out Bud Selig!To me its just a sport I watch for fun and entertainment and I love to see Barry pound out the homeruns.I'm also one of the people that believes that even without the steroids that Bonds would still have over 650 homeruns.In 1993 when Bonds was clean he hit 46 homeruns and during his steroid use he hit over 50 homeruns only ONCE and thats when he hit the record 73.Since joining the Giants he's always hit over 33 homeruns(except for 2005 when he played only 15 games).Bonds has always cranked out the homers and its sad to see people say he's only done it because of steroid use.If thats the case then how could he still hit out mammoth homeruns like he still does and thats with him being clean?I'll tell you why because he works extremely hard and used to work out 5 hours a day,its called commitment and maybe if others trained as hard as Barry did they would be great too!

As for the asteriks,if Bonds or any other player tests positive after drug testing began in Baseball then they should definitely have an asteriks by their name,case in point Rafael Palmeiro who tested positive.

Bonds may be arrogant and have no class but there's no denying he's one of the best to ever play this game and I for one hopes he can keep playing long enough to atleast win a championship,crank out homers and keep telling the media to go "shove it"!:thumb:

Cheers

[Daryl Shilling]

Victor conte has already testified that he gave Bonds only vitamins and nutritional stuff and NO steriods.The steroids came from Greg Anderson in the form of "the clear and the cream".

...

Victor Conte pleaded guilty (among other charges) to "conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids to athletes". He sold the drugs to Anderson (who also pleaded guilty to the same chage) who then distributed them to athletes.

Conte may not have put the stuff right into Bonds' hand, but he still sold them indirectly.

Bonds may be arrogant and have no class but there's no denying he's one of the best to ever play this game and I for one hopes he can keep playing long enough to atleast win a championship,crank out homers and keep telling the media to go "shove it"!:thumb:

Yeah, it doesn't bother me if Bonds is arrogant or any of that. I have nothing against him, aside from the topic at hand, and always pulled for him in the past. He's been robbed of MVP Awards, probably mostly due to being a jackass, and I don't agree with that. Wasn't cool when it happened to Williams, not cool to do it to Bonds, either.

Daryl

[THE HACK]

Bonds cranks out another HR and is up to 11 already in this short season,#545!:eek: Its only a matter of time before Hank Aarons record falls.But this is crazy,Bonds at this age and now being steroid free shouldn't be able to still crank out homeruns!;) Stay healthy and Bonds could be looking at another MVP award.

Cheers

[Iced Tea]

Bonds cranks out another HR and is up to 11 already in this short season,#545!:eek: Its only a matter of time before Hank Aarons record falls.But this is crazy,Bonds at this age and now being steroid free shouldn't be able to still crank out homeruns!;) Stay healthy and Bonds could be looking at another MVP award.

CheersSteroid free? Where is that wink wink smilie?

Bonds, like a lot of Olympic athletes, is on the cutting edge of performance enhancing drugs. MLB, like Olympic drug testing, is way behind on catching cheaters.

Bonds will never be the homerun leader in my eyes.

[THE HACK]

Steroid free? Where is that wink wink smilie?

Bonds, like a lot of Olympic athletes, is on the cutting edge of performance enhancing drugs. MLB, like Olympic drug testing, is way behind on catching cheaters.

Bonds will never be the homerun leader in my eyes.

If he's on the cutting edge then where's he getting these newfound steroids from? BALCO is shut down.You can say he was on steroids before but since testing came in he's been clean.

Speaking of steroids there's been like 8 suspensions in baseball in the last 2 weeks but yet all people talk about is Bonds:no: .Reyes has been caught twice and now is serving a 100 game suspension.Personally I can't wait until all Jason Grimsley and Radkowski's clients are listed publicly that way I'd like to see how everyone else thinks of these players.And where's the hate on Roger Clemons and his steroid use?:D

Only around 37% are cheering for Bonds and I'am one of them,heck I just liked to be entertained!

Cheers

[Iced Tea]

If he's on the cutting edge then where's he getting these newfound steroids from? BALCO is shut down.You can say he was on steroids before but since testing came in he's been clean.

Speaking of steroids there's been like 8 suspensions in baseball in the last 2 weeks but yet all people talk about is Bonds:no: .Reyes has been caught twice and now is serving a 100 game suspension.Personally I can't wait until all Jason Grimsley and Radkowski's clients are listed publicly that way I'd like to see how everyone else thinks of these players.And where's the hate on Roger Clemons and his steroid use?:D

Only around 37% are cheering for Bonds and I'am one of them,heck I just liked to be entertained!

CheersBALCO is the only lab that has been busted but for every BALCO there is half a dozen other labs that haven't been found yet. Who knows, maybe steroid users are getting stuff from other countries or unsavory sources.

Bonds is the player everyone wants to talk about because he is a big name and on track to break a major record. Anyone short of Joe Squeaky Clean Ballplayer is going to be grilled when it comes to breaking a major record.

Another thing is Bonds looks guilty. The media and public opinion could care less about innocent until proven guilty when we are bombarded with images of Bonds as a skinny Pirate and Big Bad Barry, who put on 20 - 30 pounds of muscle one off season. Bonds is disliked by the media and that is half the problem right there. McGuire and Sosa were loved by the media and fans so chemical enhancements were overlooked. I'm not saying it was right just that it happened.

On a side note;

1. How close would a "clean" Barry Bonds be to breaking Aaron's record?

2. Would Bonds have such an easy time breaking the record during the tail end of his career if say 50 of his homers never happened because of less power thanks to being "clean"?

I guess I just don't care about baseball enough or it's my disgust at players of many sports taking steroids to be the "best". Call me Cynical Iced Tea but I think that if amateur athletes can afford to pay for steroids and masking agents and not many get caught, then a baseball/football/hockey player making millions can afford better steroids and better masking agents.

[THE HACK]

Bonds is the player everyone wants to talk about because he is a big name and on track to break a major record. Anyone short of Joe Squeaky Clean Ballplayer is going to be grilled when it comes to breaking a major record.

Another thing is Bonds looks guilty. The media and public opinion could care less about innocent until proven guilty when we are bombarded with images of Bonds as a skinny Pirate and Big Bad Barry, who put on 20 - 30 pounds of muscle one off season. Bonds is disliked by the media and that is half the problem right there. McGuire and Sosa were loved by the media and fans so chemical enhancements were overlooked. I'm not saying it was right just that it happened.

On a side note;

1. How close would a "clean" Barry Bonds be to breaking Aaron's record?

2. Would Bonds have such an easy time breaking the record during the tail end of his career if say 50 of his homers never happened because of less power thanks to being "clean"?

Totally agree Ice!

I just wish more people would go after the heart of the problem and thats commisioner Bud Selig who let this steroid thing go on and on just so the came of baseball could make a profit.

I'm a SF Giants fan so I watch Bonds regularly when I can and I can honestly say the difference in homeruns would be anywhere from 0-20 hrs.Bonds has hit over 50 hrs only once in his career and even when he was a scrawny little puke with the Pirates he still hit homeruns and was top ten material.The only thing is back then there weren't many people that hit over 30 hrs and no one ever hit over 50(except Cecil Fielder).

I hope Bonds breaks the homerun record and puts Bud Selig in that uncomfortable position he deserves to be in but then again I'll be rooting for A-Rod to come along and break Bonds record too!

Cheers

[KB in Kelowna]

The whole baseball establishment should feel uneasy about this. They used the home run fest of the mid to late 90's to bring back fans after the 1994 Lockout and cancelled World Series. I stopped following baseball as devoutly as I used too as a result. Various people turned a blind eye to the steriods as they did the Cocaine issue in the late 70's and early 80's. Barry Bonds won 3 MVP's as a Pirate, he would have been a fisrt ballot Hall of Famer without the juice in my opinion.
If I had been a betting man back in the Year 2000, I would have bet that Ken Griffey Jr would have been the one to challenge Aaron and 755. Too bad about the injuries for him in Cincinnati.:(

[THE HACK]

The whole baseball establishment should feel uneasy about this. They used the home run fest of the mid to late 90's to bring back fans after the 1994 Lockout and cancelled World Series. I stopped following baseball as devoutly as I used too as a result. Various people turned a blind eye to the steriods as they did the Cocaine issue in the late 70's and early 80's. Barry Bonds won 3 MVP's as a Pirate, he would have been a fisrt ballot Hall of Famer without the juice in my opinion.
If I had been a betting man back in the Year 2000, I would have bet that Ken Griffey Jr would have been the one to challenge Aaron and 755. Too bad about the injuries for him in Cincinnati.:(

That whole 94 fiasco left a really bad taste in my mouth as the Montreal Expo's were not only robbed of possibly a World Championship but it also spelled the end of the franchise.Any integrity the game had was lost and then when the whole steroid thing came up and was swept under the carpet and then all integrity was gone and why I don't take this game seriously like I used too.

Its too bad about the injuries for Junior as he had a good shot but A-Rod is possibly the most purest homerun hitter I've seen in awhile and will hopefully break Bonds record.While I don't think much of Bonds as a person as a player he's done his job as entertaining and thats all I ask for from athletes in any sport.

Cheers

[Amoroq]

A very interesting take on the whole steroid case.

Defending Barry Bonds

Published May 26, 2007 7:55 AM
Dear Workers World,
I generally agree with most of the articles on Workers World, as I have recently with those addressing issues such as worker’s rights, Bush’s War on Iraq, and the reasons for the tragedy at Virginia Tech. But I cannot agree with your assessment of Barry Bonds or Mike Gimbel’s article. (www.workers.org/2007/us/letter-0426/) I’m actually surprised that you would print such an article, considering so many of your other stances on social issues.
Not too many years ago, Bonds was a man with extraordinary natural talent and physical abilities, but back then he was never built like the Incredible Hulk. Then, almost overnight, he took on the appearance of a man from another world, and the home runs began popping out of the park like popcorn. How did this extraordinary player, a man who was never a very nice person, as many who have known and dealt with him will agree, become such an over-muscled, overpowering, baseball smashing machine so suddenly. Was it drugs? I can’t know that for sure, although I have to suspect that he has done something “unusual” to get the way he is. Sort of reminds many of us of Mark McGuire, who is now generally scorned for his feat of extraordinary power and home run hitting while juiced on steroids, and of Sammy Sosa, also a scorned juicer, who was practically booed out of Wrigley Field the other day.
But if none of this means anything to you, think of this. Hank Aaron, whose record Bonds will most likely break, said of the situation, “I don’t want anything to do with it.” And neither do I. And so, I’ll take Aaron’s take on this any day over Bonds. Aaron is a man of character, who broke Ruth’s record fair and square, with no superhuman substances to help him get there. Bond’s is a hulk, with a bad attitude, who would never be in the place he is in if it hadn’t been for “a little extra help.”

Doug
California


Hi Doug,
WW forwarded your message to me.
I’m more than a little surprised by your take on this issue, both in regards to Barry Bonds as well Sammy Sosa, or even for that matter Mark McGwire and Orlando Palmeiro.
I hope that you noticed that it was John McCain, right wing buddy of the former owner of the Texas Rangers MLB team George W. Bush, who lead the attack on MLB players during the congressional witch hunt where, just like Joe McCarthy, he dragged helpless star MLB players before his “HUAC” type committee, purporting to investigate the use of steroids in MLB baseball while using a turncoat player like Jose Canseco to “name names.” The real purpose of that hearing was to give MLB team owners leverage against the MLB players union. The owners, as you are perfectly aware, have been defeated at every turn by the MLB players union, which was born at the height of the civil rights movement in the late 1960s. The phony steroids issue is being used as a way for the wealthy right-wing owners to gain leverage over the union. The fact that the media has praised the union and management, for the first time, of reaching agreements without a strike or lockout is not an accident. It is the result of the weakened bargaining position of the players.
I’d like you to rethink your reference to Barry Bonds having “a bad attitude”. I have a “bad attitude,” at least according to the ruling class and company management. Every WWP organizer has a “bad attitude” in relation to the class nature of this country. A “bad attitude” under the circumstances of class society is usually a “badge of honor.” Union organizers trying to sign up co-workers are always viewed as individuals with a “bad attitude” by management. Any union organizer without such a “bad attitude” would likely be looked upon with suspicion by his or her co-workers!
In addition you have to take racism into account. The media is white-controlled. The reporters are mostly white. Shouldn’t we honor those Black athletes who are “uppity” rather than those who are “nice” and “cooperative” according to the big business media? The slave that accepts their slavery and tries to adapt to their oppression is not the individual that we’d expect to be “role models” for our class. They are the “role models” that the ruling class wants to hold up for the oppressed to imitate. We are obliged to defend players like Barry Bonds and Rickey Henderson, also alleged to have a “bad attitude.” Rickey Henderson was one of the greatest players to ever put on a uniform, yet he had to endure constant criticism of his “bad attitude” and charges of “dogging it” when, in fact, he may have been the best all-around player in MLB history when it comes to being outstanding in every offensive and defensive category. When Rickey Henderson played for the Yankees he was constantly in the shadow of media darling Don Mattingly. Mattingly was a very good player, but immeasurably inferior to Henderson, yet Mattingly was placed on a pedestal by the white media, while the media was constantly critical of Henderson’s “bad attitude.”
One last note: Barry Bonds has never been accused, let alone convicted, of steroid use but Babe Ruth openly and brazenly violated the law in an effort to hit more home runs. Prohibition was the law of the land but Ruth defied the law by drinking beer because Ruth said that he believed that it made him stronger. In addition, in an effort to give himself more strength, Ruth ate sheep’s testicles. Do you know what a steroid is? It is a form of testosterone. I’ll give you one guess as to what is in sheep’s testicles! Yeah, it’s testosterone.
Please re-think your position.
—Mike Gimbel
Articles copyright 1995-2007 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.

Source (http://www.workers.org/2007/us/letter-0531/)

[charlio lemieux]

Interesting read.