i’ll let others do it…
Written on 4 August 2007 by AneelDefending Barry is tiresome… he’s been a jerk for so long, it’s hard to root for him. But I’ve always maintained that Barry is getting a raw deal… he is singled out, picked on, and mocked by those who he mistreated in the past: the media. The same media who control what is both said and written about him. But every now and then, a writer steps back and takes an objective view of the Bonds “situation” as it has become, and I like to try and point out those instances. The LA Daily News’ John Klima wrote an article today that I really enjoyed, and that points out how biased the media, and fans, have been when it comes to Barry Bonds.
And, for anyone who is willing to devote a little more time to the Bonds issue, I highly recommend Jeff Pearlman’s Love Me, Hate Me.
So tonight, why not try enjoying a game, and watch as Barry takes another shot at the most important, famous, and exciting record in all of sports.
fun at LA’s expense
Written on 2 August 2007 by AneelHere’s a great little article about how hypocritical it is for LA-fans to boo Barry. Funny stuff.
links and thoughts
Written on 30 July 2007 by Aneel- Jayson Stark has written a great little article about the “anti-Bonds”, Duane Kuiper.
- It looks like Teixeira is headed to Atlanta, not San Francisco.
- I can’t bring my bottled water through the airport, but we can give 30 billion dollars in military aide to Israel. You tell me which poses the greatest “security” threat to the U.S. I’ll give you a hint… it’s not the bottled water. No wonder we’re so hated in much of the Middle East.
Sabean… fetch Saltalamacchia
Written on 25 July 2007 by AneelTo Brian Sabean:
Please, please go get Jarrod Saltalamacchia. According to ESPN, Salty is on the block as Atlanta desperately searches for some starting pitching. Ship them Morris, eat some of his $9 million salary in ‘08, and toss in a bullpen arm… just get him. He’s a legit young hitter who has proved himself in the bigs already this season… please… go get him.
hilarious
Written on 21 July 2007 by AneelGood stuff from the Onion…
two from aaron, three from history
Written on 19 July 2007 by AneelKen Rosenthal said it best: Like it or not, here comes Barry. In the midst of a dreadful season and another miserable one-run loss, Barry Bonds went deep twice, for the 71st time in his amazing career.
No matter what you think of Bonds, this is one of those moments to watch and enjoy… remember, Bonds is only the most successful beneficiary of the steroid-era… an era that took place entirely under the watchful eye of Bud Selig, who now looks to throw him under the bus. When Bonds breaks the record, it will, at the very least, be an important moment in baseball history… no matter what you think of Barry. Enjoy!
looking for some good news?
Written on 14 July 2007 by AneelBrett Tomko will start on Sunday for the Dodgers. If the Giants can’t snap this home losing streak to LA on Sunday, it may never end.
Another thought… if the Giants ownership intends to have Sabean “rebuild” the team, then there’s a long list of players who should be shopped (and shopped hard) before the end of July:
- Barry Bonds
- Ryan Klesko
- Randy Winn
- Ray Durham
- Rich Aurilia
- Omar Vizquel
- Pedro Feliz
- Dave Roberts
- Mark Sweeney
- Matt Morris
Sabean clearly doesn’t have the ability (or the staff) to scout for young offensive talent… and he knows it. He needs to bring in some help, some individuals who can and then he needs to stockpile. I will glady, glady root for a young talented team in 2008, even if the team loses 100 games. I just want some hope.
no hope in sight
Written on 13 July 2007 by AneelThe Giants… are screwed. Brian Sabean will be making the calls for my team for another two, or even three years. I have no faith in this man, who has now made at least as many bad moves as good ones. This man could not bring a World Series ring to San Francisco despite having the most feared and potent hitter in the game. For every Jeff Kent there has been an Edgardo Alfonzo, for every Jason Schmidt there’s been a Armando Benitez. He pulled the trigger on what may very well wind up being the worst trade in baseball history (Pierzynski for Liriano, Bonser, and Nathan) and the prize position player he’s developed is Pedro freakin’ Feliz. Not only that, Sabean has treated compensation draft picks as value-less commodities, perhaps his most blatant display of baseball mis-management. Listen folks, by no means is this a “fresh start” for Sabean, as so many analysts, writers, etc seem to think. The Giants have 18 million a year tied up in Barry Zito, who will not carry the Giants for the next seven years the way Bonds has. Sabean could make mistake after mistake and get away with it because hacks like Aurilia can hit 35 dingers batting in front of Bonds.
I’m upset, and I want to do something about it… any Giants fans out there who feel the same? Lets put our heads together and figure out what can be done, if for nothing else, to make ourselves feel better. Letters? E-mails? Petitions? I’m sad for my team’s present, and future.
time for some new blood
Written on 12 July 2007 by AneelA San Francisco Chronicle article by Henry Schulman suggests that the Giants ownership is in contract talks with Brian Sabean.
Schulman ends by saying,
The Giants are in the midst of their third consecutive losing season, and many fans have called for Sabean’s head. But many in baseball believe Sabean has gotten a bum rap because he has been forced by ownership to continue building teams around an aging Barry Bonds with older role players rather than spread payroll around and concentrate more on the farm system.
What irks me most is that Sabean (and probably the Giants ownership) have done it again. They’ve dedicated 126 million over seven years to one player, and not a very good one at that. For all you math geniuses, that’s 18 million a year, or a full 20% of a 90 million dollar payroll.. and oh yeah, he only plays every fifth game. Whoops.
If the ownership decides to bring back Sabean, all 100% of my frustration will move from the general manager to the ownership… and hopefully many, many fans will join me. Look out Magowan.
In much, much more fun news… Rickey Henderson missed his first day of work with the Mets. No word on whether he was playing cards or not.
first half wrap up
Written on 11 July 2007 by AneelHere’s where the Giants stand offensively at the break, with their 2007 MLB rankings:
4.24 runs per game - 26th
.250 batting average - 26th
.320 on-base percentage - 25th
.385 slugging percentage - 28th
Now, taking a look at how bad this first half has been historically for the Giants… here are the same numbers compared to San Francisco teams before the All-Star break.
4.24 runs per game - fewest since 1994 (4.03)
.250 batting average - lowest since 1994 (.240)
.320 on-base percentage - lowest since 1995 (.320)
.385 slugging percentage - lowest since 1994 (.381)
All that being said, there are some nice surprises to mention for the Giants in ‘07. The bullpen, for example, has an ERA of 3.61, good enough for 8th in baseball. The ‘pen has also thrown just 234.2 innings in the first half. Only one team (White Sox) has used its ‘pen less. Nobody is claiming the 9th inning hasn’t been painful this year, because it certainly has… but the Giants bullpen is better, and more rested, than most teams in ‘07.
Noah Lowry has been another really pleasant surprise. Among left-handed ERA qualifiers, only four pitchers have a lower ERA than Lowry (3.35), and his seven wins at home are the most by any National League pitcher this season.
For all the negative things I can (and have) said about Brian Sabean’s moves over the last few seasons, I must give credit where credit is due. Bengie Molina has looked outstanding in a Giants uniform. In fact, only one Giants catcher in the last fifty seasons had more RBI at the all-star break than Molina (45)… Dick Dietz had 77 at the break in 1970.
But you can’t talk about the first half without mentioning all the close games (and heartbreaking losses). San Francisco has played in 48 games decided by two or fewer runs, and is just 19-29 in those games… and it feels like I’ve watched all 29 of those losses.