Barry to the Angels? Say it ain't so!

[Providence A's]

From sportsline:

Could Barry Bonds be on the block? The Sacramento Bee says Giants managing general partner Peter Magowan won't encourage the notion but would listen if Bonds expressed an interest in concluding his career as an American League DH. That possibility, specifically a trade with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim so he could be close to his home, has been mentioned by Bonds in the past.

Stay in SF or retire...but don't go to the Angels

[HollywoodLeo]

If Bonds really wants to break Hank's record he should strongly consider going to the AL.

I, as a Padres fan, strongly encourage him to do so

[HollywoodLeo]

then agian, the Gnats could probably get a lot in return for Barry

So, in that case, Barry..JUST RETIRE

[CrazyEights]

Barry has to remain a Giant. The best years of his career have been as a Giant, and he should retire a Giant

[riverdunesrat]

Barry has to remain a Giant. The best years of his career have been as a Giant, and he should retire a Giant

100% totally agree, and not because I am not a fan of the guy, but because of what you said about the majority of his career has been in SF. Ohhhh noooo Mr Bill, not the Angels.....

[HollywoodLeo]

Bonds wasn't too shabby as a Pirate, he just broke all the records he broke with the Giants.

Anyways, I was just being facetious with my remarks, I actually agree with CrazyEights

[riverdunesrat]

No man....I totally agree with your retire remark.....wouldn't that be great I'd never ask for anything else ever again......

[love_that_reefer]

Giants can't afford to lose Bonds. Bonds sels that place out and generates a lot of money. Bonds stays.

[riverdunesrat]

ANGEL REPORT
Interest in Bonds Appears Minimal
By Bill Shaikin
Times Staff Writer

September 5, 2005

Barry Bonds might want to play for the Angels, but the feeling is not mutual. Neither owner Arte Moreno nor General Manager Bill Stoneman is interested in pursuing a trade for Bonds, according to organizational sources.

Although Bonds stands to challenge the all-time home run record next season, San Francisco Giant owner Peter Magowan recently told the Sacramento Bee the Giants "would explore trading Barry" if he asked them to do so. Bonds has said he might end his career as a designated hitter — preferably for the Angels, because he has a home in Los Angeles.

The Giants would prefer to retain Bonds, who needs 12 home runs to pass Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time list and 53 to pass Hank Aaron for first. They would not trade him simply to dump his $18-million salary next season.

The Angels would shy away from giving up premium talent in return and assuming that guaranteed salary, in part because Bonds is 41 and has not played this season after three operations on his right knee. They also would be wary of locking Bonds into a DH slot they might need for outfielder Garret Anderson if his injuries recur.

In addition, sources said, Moreno and Stoneman emphasize clubhouse culture and would not make the concessions to Bonds that the Giants have. The Giants permit Bonds to keep a row of lockers for himself and earlier this season assigned an intern to block reporters from approaching him.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

After hitting no home runs in his first 44 major league games, first baseman Casey Kotchman has seven in his last 22. He has hit a home run once every 10.7 at-bats this season. Atlanta's Andruw Jones, who leads the majors with 44 home runs, has homered once every 11.4 at-bats.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Center fielder Steve Finley, in his first appearance since the Angels benched him last week, batted ninth for the first time since Sept. 3, 1990. The Baltimore Orioles traded him to the Houston Astros in 1991, and he played in the National League — where pitchers bat ninth — until joining the Angels this season. … Second baseman Adam Kennedy and first baseman Darin Erstad got the day off. Kennedy is hitless in his last 19 at-bats and has not had an extra-base hit since Aug. 11. … Vladimir Guerrero was the designated hitter for the second time in three days, which Manager Mike Scioscia said indicated a desire to get him off his feet, not an injury. "Everyone in there, their legs get a little tired from time to time," Scioscia said. … Outfielder Jeff DaVanon has one at-bat in the last 13 games.

[griffeyfan3]

well it would be best for barry to go to the AL....i would like to see him go to either the yankees or the a's ....can you just imaging barry hitting behind vlad....ahh that would be scarry for pitchers. and for the yankees with the 3,4,5 hitters being sheff, arod and barry....

but JR will be in this spot in a few years. he will prob be dealt to the AL to be a DH so he can continue his career.

[777rak]

If Bonds really wants to break Hank's record he should strongly consider going to the AL.

I, as a Padres fan, strongly encourage him to do so

As a D-Backs fan I also encourage him to go to the Angles

[love_that_reefer]

Barry is going nowhere. Need to concentrate on resigning Schmidt.

[riverdunesrat]

This writer is an idiot.....

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Angels fans, be honest: You'd take Bonds


By JEFF MILLER
The Orange County Register

LOS ANGELES – You don't like him, do you? Be honest. Rather than see Barry Bonds hit a baseball in the gap, you'd prefer to see a baseball hit him in the gap.

But you'd like to have him, wouldn't you? Be honest. You'd love to have him. Come on, Angels fans, you'd take Bonds yesterday, take him and drop him into the middle of your team's frail lineup faster than you can say "Garret who?"

This might not be the most popular opinion but, at the same time, it is the majority one. That is, if you're being sincere. It has to be. Don't think about the person; think about the lineup.

There's a rumor Bonds, with one year left on his contract, would like to finish his career as the Angels' designated hitter, a spot known this season for being very dark, cold and anonymous. Mob informants, in fact, have applied for the job.

Now, we're not about to tell Uncle Arte how to spend his money - a sports writer would pass on free pizza before doing something so brassy, right? - but we will suggest that Angels executives explore this prospect as aggressively as Christopher Columbus once took a boat ride.

When the most dangerous hitter ever makes a pass at you, you don't just walk away. Even if he's 41. Even if he missed almost the entire previous season. Even if he brings steroids rumors, a personal stretching coach and a clubhouse presence that could crack an iceberg.

Naturally, this is based on Bonds showing a lot once he is activated from the disabled list. If he instead disappears like Rafael Palmeiro now literally has, the Giants can keep their fingers crossed while dotting the i's in "million" on Bonds' checks.

There's nothing small about $18 million, his salary for 2006. There also is nothing small about the package of talent the Giants would demand in exchange. But imagine Vladimir Guerrero hitting in front of Bonds next season. Remember, it's the lineup, not the person. There's nothing small about the distance some of Guerrero's flyballs would travel, either.

Admit it, folks. You'd take Bonds last week, especially last week. Consider the prospect of having him right now, on the verge of returning to the active roster, a pennant there for the winning, while his Angels teammates claw for runs in Boston and Chicago, home of the American League's top two teams.

It's OK, really. Bonds is booed everywhere - except San Francisco, where they build statues of him, name streets after him and write songs about him. Sure, people in the Bay Area can be different from us, but not that different.

This is all part of the fascination with an athlete like Bonds, not that many are comparable. Few like the guy, and we're including his teammates (see new Angel Jason Christiansen and the Clamor In The Clubhouse), but even fewer wouldn't want the player. Be honest. Bonds is abhorred ... almost as much as he's coveted.

Asked to describe the difference between having Bonds and not having him, Giants general manager Brian Sabean said, "Look at our record against right-handers. You're supposed to be good against righty starters."

The Giants are 40-55 vs. right-handers, 23-19 against lefties. And four games over .500 in any category in the NL West practically earns you a seat on Letterman.

(Conversely, Tuesday was rally towel night at Dodger Stadium. The free towels were white, and when 20,000 people wave white flags at the same time, the sight can be awfully inspiring. And, around here, awfully appropriate.)

Bonds, so close to becoming the greatest September call-up in baseball history, worked out again Tuesday. He hit for 20 minutes, fielded for 15 minutes and ran from first base to third base precisely three times - not to suggest the media obsesses over all things Barry.

He then opted not to speak to his chroniclers as a group, saving all wisdom for his Web site, where, in his most recent entry, he calls the movie "Dirty Deeds" a "cross between 'Animal House' and 'American Pie,'" suggesting someone actually would give a rip.

This also is part of treading into Barry's World, where communication isn't a one-way street as often as it's a do-not-enter. Dealing with him is sort of like dealing with Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog. Every time he pops his head out of his hole, people gather in anticipation.

The difference is this Punxsutawney Phil generally lifts his leg in response.

Giants manager Felipe Alou said it's tempting to activate Bonds now, just to make the opposing manager squirm. He said he turned to look at Bonds "two or three times (during Monday's game) to see if he was activated." Yes, the Giants, suddenly closer to first place than they have been since May, are eager.

The Angels should be, too. They need to check out this possible offseason trade, assuming this latest version of Bonds proves similar to the old one. If Bonds 2006 is going to be Sosa 2005, forget it. Really, what's the harm? Especially when the upside could be historic.

Maybe they'll decide the baggage isn't worth the man who hasn't carried a bag since he was a rookie. Heck, these days Bonds hires people to hand him his water. Maybe the Angels will decide they don't want Barry Bonds, even if he is back to healthy and homering.

But you still would, right? Be honest. It really is OK.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright 2005 The Orange County Register

[Emo]

If the Giants ever want to sell tickets again at SBC Park, they better keep Barry in a Giants uniform until 2006 playing in left field no matter how dismal he gets year on the field defensively. However, I do see that the Giants have to rebuild, and that we missed our once in a lifetime chance yet again to reach the World Series. We definitely can use the 18 million dollars remaining on his contract to go out via FA, and fill holes wherever neccessary to keep the Giants contending for years to come.

[love_that_reefer]

Yeah hopefully in 2007 there will be a FA OFer worth a ****. This offseason there won't be.