April 27, 2006

It's fine with me if he never steps foot on a diamond again. Yeah, I can't wait for Selig to leave.

posted by chicobangs at 05:10 PM on April 27, 2006

I was kidding. Sorry my snark wasn't obvious. (Don't defend Selig unnecessarily; you know he's not worth it.) But to be honest, if Bonds gets #714 (or #715) at home, I hope there's still some kind of celebration. They don't have to stop the game, but as far as I care, a healthy curtain call for such an achievement, regardless of the surrounding drama, is entirely justified.

posted by chicobangs at 05:26 PM on April 27, 2006

it doesnt matter where he breaks it im going to celebrate it

posted by fingers at 05:33 PM on April 27, 2006

I hope it happens in Philly. The way the Phil's pitcher's are playing, it probably will. He will be drowned in boos, I think. Although we are very tough on "villianous" opponents, we did give Mario Lemieux a very long ovation upon his 1st retirement. I was actually proud of the crowd at that Flyers game.

posted by pauleye at 05:44 PM on April 27, 2006

for once, I agree with Selig - when Bonds passes Ruth, that puts him in second place on the all time list. There's never usually a celebration for a guy getting second place, why would there be one now?

posted by Toxteth O'Grady at 06:08 PM on April 27, 2006

Obviously we've ran threw about every critiscism and support you can have for Bonds, but I think that he should get at least a moment. Allegations aside, he will be breaking the most hallowed record in baseball, something that has not happened very often. Toxeth, second place in this case is very different than in most cases. For one, Babe Ruth is a legend and another, it is immensely difficult to get to even 600 home runs. To pass 715 is an immense achievement and should be recognized.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 06:17 PM on April 27, 2006

Me too Pauleye, proud of the Flyers fans that night that is. Betcha if Bonds does it in Philly they throw the ball back. Wonder how much that bad boy would be worth?

posted by GoBirds at 06:27 PM on April 27, 2006

Two things: 1) It may not be the record anymore, but 714 is still a mythical number. People who know next to nothing about baseball know the significance of that number. 2) The precedent was set when he passed 660 and they stopped the game. Nothing, in a legal or even a MLB rules sense, has changed since then. That's the case for doing something.

posted by chicobangs at 06:40 PM on April 27, 2006

The precedent was set when he passed 660 and they stopped the game. Nothing, in a legal or even a MLB rules sense, has changed since then. That's the case for doing something. Agreed, but what if he hits it on the road? I think that's the problem. Stopping play, letting bonds say a few words, those types of things could be disastrous on the road.

posted by justgary at 06:47 PM on April 27, 2006

I wonder if McGuire played long enough and passed Ruth would Selig be there.

posted by doggstarr at 07:53 PM on April 27, 2006

C'mon guys lets not needle old Barry too much now

posted by markhjohn at 08:11 PM on April 27, 2006

We celebrate every 300 game winner, and every 3000 hit guy. Why not show a little respect. At the end of the day he still hit every one of those balls out of the park. If he juiced when it wasn't tested for so what, if he passes every test now what has he done wrong? 714 just shows how much respect the world still has for babe. Too bad Griffey never did juice or cream or whatever, he could have had iron ankles and hit a lot of homeruns..... That was a joke.

posted by BigSpizznizzle at 08:40 PM on April 27, 2006

Was that joke OK'ed by the Anti Troll Committee and Panel for Analogous Humor, BigSpizznizzle?

posted by mjkredliner at 09:57 PM on April 27, 2006

as Bonds steals a record honestly gained by others. I have a feeling that we could pump you full of twice the amount of juice that Bonds may have taken and you couldn't hit a hefty bag full of nickels if you swung a ladder at it. Here is the only problem I have. Cal Ripken jr. Never missed a game for I don't know how many years in a row and nobody finds that suspicious? Bret Farve is considered and iron man after he has admitted using pain killers (narcotics), which give you an obvious edge in a contact sport. No problem there. Bonds never tests positive for steroids ( like Palmeiro did) and he is "stealing records". If Bonds uses roids then so did Mcguire and no one has/had a problem with him riding around the stadium in a car with Roger M's family present celebrating what he did. If Bonds never tested positive for steroids why are his records tainted? Farve has been popping percocet for Lord knows how long, any record he ends up with won't be "tainted". If Juice helps you hit homers, why isn't every competitor in the Mr. Olympia leading the league in jacks. Arnold S. (obvious juicer) wins a few Olympia titles, becomes a big american movie star, you buy your kid action figures that are built just like him, he transcends the sport of bodybuilding, and gets rewarded with political office (and he is not even an american). But Bonds can't get a shoutout for hitting more home runs then the best baseball player ever? A blind man facing a brick wall in the dark could see that there is something wrong with that IMHO.

posted by Bishop at 10:46 PM on April 27, 2006

If Bonds uses roids then so did Mcguire and no one has/had a problem with him riding around the stadium in a car with Roger M's family present celebrating what he did. In all fairness, those were different times. Not comparable. McGuire's legacy is ruined in many people's eyes. He just deals with it by going into hiding.

posted by justgary at 11:56 PM on April 27, 2006

I'm just happy the Ruth heirs will be spared the infamy of having to be present as Bonds steals a record honestly gained by others. Just for the record, Babe Ruth used to cheat. "Ruth was caught using a trick bat in a game in August, 1923." "Ruth tested the limits of the rules constantly; this was what made him who he was. He refused to be ordinary; he refused to accept that the rules applied to him, until it was clear that they did." (The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract)

posted by grum@work at 12:29 AM on April 28, 2006

T$SPORT4lawschool, all those examples are outside the realm of this site.

posted by chicobangs at 12:50 AM on April 28, 2006

Q: What does baseball have planned for Bonds' upcoming mark of 2749 games played? Selig: Nothing. Headline: MLB Snubbing Bonds' Achievements Q. Mr. Selig, will you be in attendance when Bonds gets his 78th triple? Selig: Uh, probably not. Headline: Selig To Turn His Back on Bonds Feat Q. Bud, is 711 more or less than 714. Selig: I think less. Headline: Selig: Bonds Doesn't Measure Up To Ruth

posted by BullpenPro at 07:58 AM on April 28, 2006

Probably learning the legal system from the inside, given his usual take on it.

posted by yerfatma at 08:31 AM on April 28, 2006

The precedent was set when he passed 660 and they stopped the game. Nothing, in a legal or even a MLB rules sense, has changed since then. That's the case for doing something. Although I sort-of agree with the previous comment in the same post (about 714 being a mythical number) - I couldn't disagree with this more. Using 661 as justification for demanding a celebration of 715 is a major stretch. When Bonds hit 600 and 661: - he did it in his home park - to pass arguably the greatest player to ever play on the same team - to pass his godfather Particularly the last 2 are pretty distinct issues. For example, I don't remember anything major for Pete Rose when he passed Aaron for 2nd on the all-time hits lits ... and I didn't expect anything to be held in his honor. If it happens at SBC, have at it San Fran, do whatever you want for one of your own players. If it happens on the road, kudos to the fans if they decide to give him an ovation. But, I think it's entirely acceptable and appropriate for MLB not to officially organize something. And, frankly, to demand something from MLB - seems to be supported only by a desire to stick it to MLB because someone doesn't like the ways Bonds has been "treated".

posted by littleLebowski at 09:40 AM on April 28, 2006

Owlhouse it is obvious by your rhetoric you know nothing about the law or what tests there are for guilt. I'd say Owlhouse has exhibited reasonable knowledge on this subject, $port. You, on the other hand, have exhibited an irrational willingness to convict Bonds on circumstantial evidence, you consistently spit in the face of, or outright deny, the basic precepts of American law, you write poorly and your spelling is atrocious. I'm no lawyer, but I'm guessing that bar exam is going to be a bear.

posted by BullpenPro at 11:12 AM on April 28, 2006

littleLebowski, I was merely saying that there was precedent on both sides of the ceremony/no ceremony issue, if someone felt they needed it. I was trying to illustrate that Selig had his mind made up as part of the whole authority kick he's on these days. You're right: those mitigating factors were all a part of why the "661" party went down, and you know? A lot of how these ceremonies happen is site-specific anyway. And nobody, least of all Bonds himself, is "demanding" anything from MLB. I really, really hope he does it at home, though. The hate elsewhere would be too much for maybe even a curtain call, and frankly, this is an achievement that deserves a little dap, at least.

posted by chicobangs at 11:26 AM on April 28, 2006

Hey a mods there is a definite problem here. Either that or we are all being transformed into uneducated trolls. Arrrrgh!!!!!!!!

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 11:56 AM on April 28, 2006

chico - It just sounded like you and others (fenriq, for example) were clamoring for some kind of official hoopla, without justification, IMHO. I still don't agree with any argument I've seen that baseball owes Bonds anything for passing 714 - much like they don't owe any other player any celebration/acknolwedgement for a similar situation. And although I personally won't clap my pinkies together when Bond passes anyone, even if he hit 715 into my front yard - I don't begrudge any individual who wishes to acknolwedge it ... and, I totally agree, but only for the sake of baseball, I hope he does it in SF. Otherwise, it unfortunately wouldn't be limited to a "silent disapproval" by the local fans - I'm sure things would get ugly.

posted by littleLebowski at 01:04 PM on April 28, 2006

straighten up, y'all.

posted by gspm at 01:58 PM on April 28, 2006

Maybe that's why they've been sitting him a lot early on -- to throw off the scent for a scenario like that. Good call, chicobangs.

posted by BullpenPro at 02:39 PM on April 28, 2006

I'd go so far as to hope that if he gets to 713, Felipe Alou would pull him and only play him in home games until he hits the next two. That would be a smart move. straighten up, y'all. I think everyone's up straight now.

posted by justgary at 06:29 PM on April 28, 2006

I remember that. Can't say I'm sad about it being missing though. Forgive me, I'm not a baseball fan (yet, but the spofites are working on me), but how often do they actually stop a game to recognize someone breaking a record? or moving up a ladder? I haven't seen that happen in the sports I follow. It's always a pregame or postgame thing. (well, except for hat tricks, but that's only to pick the hats up off the ice)

posted by njsk8r20 at 09:44 PM on April 28, 2006

grum, that lap of Cal with the never ending flash bulbs going off is one of the best memories I have of the game of baseball. It still gives me goosebumps. I remember the St. Louis fan with the plan. I hope they've reconsidered. Bonds was awesome tonight. Playing in pain or no, the man can hit.

posted by fenriq at 12:33 AM on April 29, 2006

Ahh, Bullpenpro, I'd been drinking all afternoon and was in the bar with a good pal. And I'd probably gotten laid the night/morning before.

posted by fenriq at 01:37 PM on April 29, 2006

bishop- obviously you have never read any of my other posts. I live in the Bay Area and have been a Giants fan since the season they moved into Candlestick Park. I have always felt that if MLB or the government goes after Bonds, they should also go after McGuire, Giambi, Sheffield, Palmeiro, and anyone else who might have cheated. And that goes for any athlete in any sport that uses any substance to enhance their performance. It's pure bullshit that they aren't guilty just because their particular enhancement wasn't illegal at the time. It still diminishes not only the player and their accomplishments, but the entire sport. and bishop, I have never subjected you to a personal attack, but any time you want, I'll take a ladder and knock a hefty bag of nickels between your eyes, and do it without any juice.

posted by irunfromclones at 05:32 PM on May 02, 2006