Monday, July 9, 2007

When Bonds Isn't the Worst Barry in San Francisco...

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- A lot of people don't like Barry Bonds. Whether it's his arrogant attitude (while articulate, it can still upset a lot of people), his treatment of the media or the suspicion of performance enhancing drugs to break home run records, Bonds still has one redeeming quality... he performs.

You never question that he's not performing, unlike another highly paid player named Barry in San Francisco. The 42-year old Bonds is making 15.3 million this season (/295, 17 HR, 42 RBI, .512 OBP), while the 29-year old Zito (6-9, 4.90 ERA, 11 HR allowed, 104.2 IP), who sucks more than the horniest sorority girl on a Saturday night, is making 18 million a year and for the next six after this.

Zito has no one to answer to except himself. His agent, Scott Boras, whored Giants GM Brian Sabean and the entire organzation, which sent up a signal of desperation to make this move for 126 million over seven years. Essentially, Zito doesn't have to perform until his contract year (the last one). Regardless of what happens in the next six years, as long as he has a solid seventh year, he's going to rake again. Not like investing 126 million over seven years won't pay its dividens.

Bonds, meanwhile, is at 751 career home runs, just five home runs short of breaking Hank Aaron's and Major League Baseball's career record. People say that Bonds probably wouldn't have been on the way to breaking the record if he wasn't on performance enhancing drugs. Well, let's be honest here. Bonds was a hell of a player even before when he was going 30-50 for the Pirates. The guy began his career hitting lead-off and was a threat to steal 50 bases a season. He was the ultimate weapon. If a team walked him, chances were he could turn it into a double rather quick.

I remember an 11th inning walk-off home run against the Cardinals in 1990 that was his signature home run. It was a big moment then. Now, it's a bigger moment if the pitcher strikes out Bonds in that same situation.

However, despite his personality and the enhancements, Bonds performs. He hits like an all-star and while his comments are often rude and critical, he does have an intelligent and articulate was of relaying them. Oh, by the way, he's also 42-years old.

In my opinion, he's the most feared hitter in Major League Baseball history. Maybe that wouldn't be the case if he didn't use performance enhancing drugs, but he'd still be an all-star.

However, unlike Zito, there's one thing you can't say about Bonds, and that would be that he doesn't earn his paycheck.

Enjoy last place San Francisco! This is what you paid for, right?