KeyserSoze

Do you think Barry is worthy of the home run record if he reaches it??


Personally I think he is a EGO MANIAC and is not deserving of this record and hope the Baseball Gods intervene in the chase.

Your thoughts?

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The_Dude

yes he is an ego manic and not a very good team player.

but wont everyone become cocky when he/she reaches such a height in a career?

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TheJeff

Barry could be the greatest player if he werent an ass.

-Jeff

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Halx

I dont see an asshole, I see a very private person

go barry go

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BigGov

Is he "worthy"?

Umm...The only answer is fuck yes. Why? Because he hit all of them.

Are the pitchers throwing underhand to him? Nope.

Hell, he only keeps breaking the record for walks each successive year. Then again, that's what happens when no one pitches to him. So hitting that many home runs when he bearly gets that many pitches means he's an even BETTER hitter.

Hell, if he's that good he DESERVES to be an ego maniac if he damn well pleases.

Besides, why should you get to judge if he's worthy or not? How many major league home runs have you hit? How many guys have you gunned down at home plate? How many reporters come to you everyday you don't hit a homer going "why didn't you hit a home run today Barry?"

Hell, Ruth didn't even play against the top competition. Disagree? Then you're wrong. Because the baseball Ruth played in was all-white. Some of the best players ever were playing at that time, except in the Negro leagues.

In the end you have the question wrong. It should be, "Am I worthy enough to watch a player of his caliber since I can't even be appreciative of his far superior play and accomplishments."

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One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

Konichiwaneko

Actually I heard from a fan in San Fransico that Barry is actually very nice. He smiles and talks to people at the home stadium and is always there first to get ready and play.

It's well known that Media and Barry don't get along, so you wouldn't see pictures of barry hanging out with the crowd.

Hell look at Eddie Murray, whom just got inducted into the hall of fame. All you hear about is him "Not getting along" with the Media, and how he's really a nice guy. In baseball the media very much controls how you are potrayed.

I wish Barry gets the home run record, I wish his father recovers, and I hope baseball lives on for a long time. It's such a beautiful sport, and most importantly a beautiful history.

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BigGov

So very true.

One of the things most people seem to forget is the media is just a voice, not the word of God. That voice starts to say bad things about you if you don't talk to it enough. For Barry, that's upwards of a few hours everyday of the exact same questions repeated in every way imaginable with the occasional damned if you do damned if you don't question thrown in.

With that, the media puts a nice big spin on it that would impress Pat Sajak so their bosses are happy and they have a story that draws attention. Barry reads it, doesn't like it, then doesn't talk to the asshole anymore. Asshole writes another useless article and the cycle continues to repeat itself.

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One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

teflonian

Puhlease.... Barry gets a bad rap from the media people... And only from certain media types.

One, this has nothing to do with what he does on the bases. And, two, even if he does have a big ego, he seems to be a good guy in most other respects. He gets a bad rap for a few poorly worded answers that the media blows up. His Babe Ruth comments are an excellent example of this. All he said is that he will hold all of the records (hitting) that Ruth himself once owned. Therefore there will be no more talk of him beating these records. He wasn't saying Ruth should die (again) and burn in hell. From other answers Bonds gives it doesn't even seem that he cares all that much about breaking all the records, he is just out doing his job, and a damn good job of it too.

Ok, that wasn't the most eloquent argument I have ever presented. I am tired and think being anti-Bonds is pretty ridiculous. I am just glad I got to see him play and witness a few of the home runs that will make him a legend.

Oh, and extra kudos to Halx for being both a Dodger fan and supporting Bonds (at least in this sense).

Halx

teflonian, barry is too good not to cheer for. The Dodgers pitching staff has him figured out this year and he hasn't done any damage against us, so I see no harm in cheering him on.

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Konichiwaneko

Dodgers beat my team today I was sad.

Oh well, at least we took 2 out of 3 against them. Hopefully it will signal the Dodgers getting more runs and causing a more interesting race in the west.

The Braves should own the east, but knock on wood.

Oh also Barry has one thing that won't be beaten in a while.....500/500

Amazing.

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Met22

The media is full of want to be's
Pro athlete's are scrutinized by these people for the sake of sensationalism and you wonder why they are snubbed. Barry is the greatest player of our time. Enjoy the opportunity to watch. Check his stats, on base more than 50% of the time. How many good pitches does the man see? And he leads the league in homers. Put yourself in his place and someone sticking a mike in your face any where and any time. So he wants his privacy, don't we all? Babe was often called an ego maniac, still the greatest of his time.

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Bobaphat

Ty Cobb was an asshole, doesn't mean he wasn't a hell of a ball player. Of course Barry deserves the record.

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Artermis

First off no matter what Barry does he will not compare to the Babe.

While I would not put an asterisk next to his records but lets get real. 715 in a career when you saw Babe hit more home runs in a season than some teams hit combined. How about the fact that he won like 94 or 95 games a pitcher.

How about the fact that Barry will always have the steroid issue hanging over his head. You could tell the only thing the babe was lifting was a snifter and cigar.

While I say the above about Barry. I would also l like to say he is one hell of an athlete and is the best modern day player.

I would also like to say that if Barry wants to catch the babe or Hank he needs to come to the American league be a DH. This Barry said himself.

I also do not have a problem with anything Barry says. The media wants the players to talk and when they do....they usually lambast them if it is not "politically correct" and then they get pissed when Barry stops talking again. Barry is Barry and I respect what he does on the field and that is all that really matters.


Art

BigGov

How about the fact Babe Ruth was pitching to sub-par talent that couldn't hit home runs.

How about the fact that Barry has about 500 more stolen bases than the Babe.

How about the fact alot of pitchers can just plain pitch better because of technological advances.

Barry is going to catch Babe though, without being a DH.

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One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

Artermis

Ruth G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BA SB

Totals 2503 8399 2174 2873 506 136 714 2211 0.342 123

CS BB OBP SLG OPS TB
117 2062 .474 .690 1.164 5793

Bonds G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB

Totals 2534 8632 1911 2560 528 74 647 1723 2025 1375 500

CS BA OBP SLG OPS TB
140 .297 .431 .600 1.031 4961

I would say comparing them at this point in their careers is pretty fair. Only about a 250 AB difference. We will discount any of the other differences that we have had about playing style and just compare numbers between the two.

Ruth > Barry


Art

iceman2032

The only reason you hate Bonds is because the media tells you to. He had and agrument with one guy early in his carrer and that one guy continued to put Barry in a bad light for his first few years.

Hell I know that I would answer the question he gets asked the same way he does. Their stupid questions to begin with. "What were you thinking when you made that home run?" WTF kind of question is that? You were up at the plate concentrating on hitting the ball, not thinking about how to solve the problems of the world.

BigGov

And again, Ruth was up against sub-par pitching. And not even against some of the best pitchers because black players weren't even allowed to play against him.

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One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

Artermis

Your arguement about sub par pitching does not hold any water.

The fact is that everyone back then had to hit against sub par pitching by your accounts and yet as stated babe hit as many home runs as some teams in a single season. If it was so sub par why was everyone not dominating pitchers the way the Babe was? In fact most eras back then were under 3.00 as compared to today when most team eras are above 4.00.

With a juiced baseball it is easier to hit homeruns and the ballparks are made for homeruns.


We can speculate about lots of things.

Is Barry himself juiced? I mean we can all speculate about this or that but the numbers speak for themselves.

If you look at the numbers Babe had a better career with the numbers about the same with ab's and games played. We can sit here all day and go back and forth about why this person has an advantage in their era over another player but what is that going to prove?


Art

Met22

Eras are eras, you can't compare the two head to head because the context of the game does not allow it. For example, you talk about pitching, It not the quality. In Babe's era you saw one or two pitchers a game. So as a hitter you got a good read on a guy's stuff. Today pitching is situational, you have specialist that come in to face a batter or two. That's what makes today's pitchers have an advantage over the old guys. Babe was awesome as you look at the numbers. Stolen bases were not part of the game. How about the fact that the Babe pitched and today that means he would not of hit for the Yankee's or Boston.
That is how different the game is. Babe and Barry are by far the greatest to play the game. Babe old time and Barry today. Babe played in the glory years when it was more of a game than a business. It's not fair to say one is better than the other.

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bobw

He definitely deserves it, he is a great offensive (as in hitting, stealing, etc) ballplayer.... it's just too bad he is such an ass!

shaq=ignorance

I agree with Hal on this one. I think the guy just does not want the media attention, and keeps to himself.

cliffxpro

Why the Barry Haters? Can you imagine what it would've been like to sit here and talk about watching Ruth set a record? How about Larson's perfect game in the World Series? There's probably a few folks here who vividly remember when Aaron broke the career HR record. Living in Missouri, I followed every last HR McGwire hit to break Maris' record. Then, I did the same when Bonds broke that record. Now, imagine being able to tell your grandkids about the year that Barry Bonds hit number 756. The man is a hero. So what if he doesn't like the press? I don't either. He's among the greatest players to ever take the diamond. Of course he is worthy.

Now, I also have to say I think he's going to have to go to the AL to break the record. I don't think he can keep fielding. The DH may be his saving grace to breaking Aaron's record.

grayman

I think that the fact that the media hates Bonds only makes his accomplishments that much more impressive. If he was a fan and media favorite like Babe Ruth was, then there would be no question that he is the best ever, but because he is perceived to be an arrogant jackass, he is only thought to be "one of the best." From all accounts, the comments that Bonds makes about Ruth are borne of frustrations with always being held up to this mythical standard that Ruth supposedly set, and he is not alone in his views. I'm pretty sure that Mickey Mantle wasn't a big fan of Babe Ruth. Neither was Maris, or probably any other Yankee player who has played since Ruth retired. Memory is fuzzy, things are always remembered as being better than they were. I know we have stats, but as everyone has pointed out, you can't compare two completely different eras. I think Bonds is a great player who plays in a fishbowl where everyone tries to find things that make him look bad. I hope he gets the record, and can stay healthy enough to put it out of reach for anyone else. I think one of the most telling things I have ever heard about Bonds was after his huge homer in BP at Wrigley last week, the crowd was cheering him and he tipped his hat to them. Now I have seen little kids in the crowd at Wrigley boo CUBS players! little kids! If they can appreciate Bonds, and he can acknowledge it, how bad can he actually be?
Go Barry Go!

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Konichiwaneko

Grayman...excellent post.

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RoadRage

Only Cliffxpro has mentioned Hank Aaron in this entire thread. You know, the guy with the Home Run record at 755.

You do know that Aaron had received death threats from rascist psycho baseball "fans" if he passed Ruth's mark, right?

What's worse, everyone hating you or no one remembering you?

Mad props to Bonds if he breaks Hank Aaron's record. If he doesn't, it will be a chase still worthy of the Hall of Fame.

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Konichiwaneko

Hank Aaron is a given for a Braves fan Hell I nearly got ran over by one of his endorsed BMW's the other day.

Hank kicked ass because he was consistent...he didn't hit 60 home runs in a year, but he hit 40 home runs for almost 20 years straight.

Bonds...Bonds is everything...I bet Barry could if they let him back in the day pitch also. Hit for power, run for speed...500/500 is not something everyone can do.

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KeyserSoze

A lot of good points made here, but I was referring to HANKS record not Ruths.

I was just thinking after watching last nights baseball game that the feeling would not be the same as when I was a kid and saw Hank hit that HR........AWESOME FEELING!!

Jimmy4 said it best when he stated that when Ruth played, most of the greatest players were playing in the Negro league at that time.........so would Ruth have been as good as he was??

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Achernar

I think he'll do it.

And I think he would deserve it if he does it.

He's been really consistent for a long, long time, and he's a good player, whether you like him or not.

BigGov

So, his swing can't be any part of it. The swing which you show a physicist and he will say "that's the best way to hit a baseball.

So his eyes, which recognize a pitch better than any other player in baseball, they must be juiced too.

The fact is, the rare times Barry actually gets a pitch to hit, he STILL has to hit it. Juiced or not, he's done that better than Ruth.

Oh, and the sub-par pitching holds more true than any part of either of our arguments. Otherwise, you're saying only white people were the best pitchers back then, and I highly doubt you're saying that.

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One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

iceman2032

Barry's swing is a big part of it. Until he got to San Francisco he was just an above average hitter. It wasen't until his dad and Baker got him to open up his hips at the plate, that he was able to hit so many home runs. If you have a chance watch ESPN's sunday conversation with Barry Bond and you'll see what I mean. They put a picture of him up swinging with the pirates and a picture of him today, you'll see a dramatic difference.

On the note of Bonds and the media, the Babe was just as ruthless with the media. The only reason you don't see them badmouthing him is because the media penetration isn't the same back then as it was now.

agentsmith

There are a handful of players today who have the potential to just demolish the homerun record, but alas, they never stay healthy to play enough games.

BigGov

Bonds - Healthy

A-Rod - Healthy

Pujols - Healthy

One of those three, if not all three, will be up there in the end.

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One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

agentsmith

A-Rod and Pujols were the two guys I was thinking of.

cheesemoney

One knock on Hank (who is awesome). He always hit in hitters parks. Can you imagine willy mays hitting somewhere like chicago, or anywhere current with short fences instead of in Candlestick Park where 400 foot homers become 300 foot pop-out due to that insane wind? He coulda passed aaron and the babe. Bonds has to face a similar situation at Pac-bell. Its freaking impossible to hit there, thats why what he does is so amazing. Pujols is coming out like the hottest thing ever, but even he has a relatively easy time in a hitters park, and if you look at the #'s, there's no freaking way Bond's shouldn't be the mvp this year. His on base is 100 points over eveyone else, his slugging is 40 points or so higher, his ops is freaking ridiculous, and the dude never gets any at-bats cause he's walked 2x a game. People will pitch to A-rod and pujols. NOBODY throws to Barry.
He'll break the record, then say something not quite as stupid as Rickey (Rickey still know Rickey can play) Henderson, and we'll be fortunate to watch probably the greatest hitter ever. It is impossible to compare eras. Mays, Williams, Bonds, Ruth, all are freaking amazing.

Ted williams said he'd only hit about .250 in the current era. When asked why only .250, he said something like "well hell, I'm 70 years old"
Cheese

Kurant

Any sports fan knows you can't compare eras in sports. Could you imagine Shaq in the 70's with no 3 second rule?

Ruth the greatest of his Era? Without a doubt.

The same can be said about Bonds. Personally, if Griffey ever gets healthy, he's got a shot at getting there himself. But, he's a living train wreck.