Happy Birthday, Barry

It's amazing how much goes down in the space of only a year.

Different

Lots of new stuff going on over at ATT Park. According to Damon Bruce of KNBR, the strawberry shortcake is delicious. There's a party suite on the right field wall. All traces of Barry Bonds are completely eliminated. Wait, what?

Everything. The 756 banners are gone. The "Giant Among Legends" and "Road to History" lettering on the left field padding is gone. The home run counter is gone. The rubber chickens are gone.

Only one memorial remains to remind us that Barry Lamar Bonds once trotted around the bases at 24 Willie Mays Plaza. And it "might be" a plaque or a painted seat to indicate where home run 756 landed. That's it.

The Giants are handling the post-Bonds aftermath the same way they let him go: cold, awkward, and mismanaged. The chase for 756 was so last year, but to completely remove any reminder that Bonds donned the orange and black for 15 years? The Giants want to assert that they are moving in a new, different direction in 2008. Fine. It's the way that management is presenting these actions that makes it so uncomfortable. Instead of rallying the fanbase to the new "grit and hustle" standard, the Giants have alienated and divided it.

I don't know. Maybe the Giants are saving up their fireworks and banners for a huge "Support Barry Bonds Day." Probably not.

Maybe they'll wait until this whole thing blows over, and then we'll see a bit of Barry trickling back into the stadium.

I hope so.

Bonds Indicted

SFGate: Bonds indicted on perjury, obstruction of justice charges

Honestly, what a waste of four years. All of this government money went into an effort to figure out if a guy put substances in his body. In the big picture, there are so many worse crimes. Rape, homicide, manslaughter, genocide, child abuse. I’m disappointed in the feds for turning this into a fully-fledged witch hunt.

[UPDATE]

Ray Ratto: One thing seems clear, consider Bonds retired

I just skimmed the article, but here are some interesting lines:

The five-count indictment blows so many holes in Bonds' desirability to other teams that it is unfathomable that another team would be willing to sign him, either in December, March, June or ever. Never mind whether he is still a salable commodity to the average fan - no team is going to sign someone who might have to take a few weeks off during the middle of the 2008 season to go on trial. Even the most benign viewing of the events of today undercuts Bonds' ability to make himself attractive to another team. His new uniform is a suit, his support staff is John Burris and Michael Rains, and 762 is the home run record for the foreseeable future.

And finally, there is one last conclusion not to be jumped. That with Bonds indicted, the Steroid Era is finally behind us, and baseball can dance free and untainted. No, it's in front of us, halogen high-beams right through our corneas, and it's going to stay in front of us for at least as long as it took for the drugs to become a full-blown era.

Finale

I’ll miss the play.

The games.

The non-games.

The maybe games.

The at-bats.

The swings.

The walks.

The chickens.

The splashes.

The catches.

The steals.

The cameras.

The highlights.

The cheers.

The boos.

The power.

The singlesdoublestriples.

The anticipation.

The home runs.

The home run.

The media.

The controversy.

The interviews.

The press conferences.

The attitude.

The identity.

The mark.

The Giant.

Here’s to Barry Bonds’ last night at Mays Field. Here’s to the fifteen years.

[Update] Well, that's it.

Barry’s last at-bat as a San Francisco Giant in Mays Field ends on the warning track, a few feet short of the front-row. For one moment, it felt like what we Giants fans have felt 762 times before. The wait and the accelerated heart rate. The knowledge that whenever Barry stepped into the batter’s box, he would make things interesting, no matter if the Giants were deep into the postseason grind or playing a meaningless game in September. And then the ball dropped into the glove of Brady Clark on the warning track. Just short, just short, just short….

That’s what it feels like. A metaphor. Giants fans have been witnesses to power, greatness, and towering heights for 15 years. As tonight’s game winds down, those 15 years and 2430 games feel too short. Not enough. One more shot.

Thanks for the 15 years’ worth of memories, Barry Bonds. It’s been awesome.

[Update] I don’t believe how genuinely sad I am about this right now. SFGiants.com has taken down their 756 background image. The grounds-crew is probably clearing up the Bonds 25 image on the outfield grass. No more Road to History signs save for the home-run tracker out in right field. No more waking up every gameday and wondering if Barry’s gonna play. No more rubber chickens hanging from the arcade wall. No more jersey No. 25. This hurts.

Wow...

Dear Fans,

This journal will be one of my last entries as a San Francisco Giant. Yesterday, I was told by the Giants that they will not be bringing me back for the 2008 season. During the conversation with Peter Magowan I was told that my play this year far exceeded any expectations the Giants had, but that the organization decided this year would be my last season in San Francisco. Although I am disappointed, I've always said baseball is a business -- and I respect their decision. However, I am saddened and upset that I was not given an earlier opportunity to properly say goodbye to you, my fans, and celebrate with the city throughout the season as I truly believe this was not a last minute decision by the Giants, but one that was made some time ago. I don't have nor do I want any ill feelings towards the organization, I just wish I had known sooner so we had more time to say our goodbyes and celebrate the best 15 years of my life.

I consider the City of San Francisco and you, the fans, my family. Thank you for loving me and supporting me throughout all the highs and lows. I feel a deep connection with you as I have grown up with all of you since the days my dad first became a Giant. The Bay Area has loved my family and friends for so many years and I thank you for that. It is now a time for change, as many athletes have experienced. It is comforting to know that those who have come before me -- Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, to name a few -- have forever remained in the hearts of the fans, as I know I will too.

During my career as a Giant, so many people made significant impressions on my life. I'd like to thank all my past and current teammates. I've had the opportunity to play with some amazingly talented ballplayers who have treated me with respect, supported me and rooted for me throughout the years. Mike Murphy, our devoted Equipment Manager, used to baby-sit me as a little boy at Candlestick Park. There are no words to describe the love and respect I have for him. Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper are the two best broadcasters in the business. Their professionalism, integrity and love for the game, puts them in a league of their own. I thank them for their support and I'm honored to call them friends. It is also important to thank all the men and women behind the scenes at the stadium who come to work every day and make it possible for us all to enjoy a day at the ballpark. I love walking to clubhouse hearing their "hellos" every day.

I would have loved nothing more than to retire as a Giant in the place where I call home and have shared so many momentous moments with all of you, but there is more baseball in me and I plan on continuing my career. My quest for a World Series ring continues.

Until next time,

Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds' blog

Maybe This is What It's About

I would like to offer my congratulations to Barry Bonds on becoming baseball's career home run leader. It is a great accomplishment, which required skill, longevity, and determination. Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball, and I have been priviledge to hold this record for 33 of those years. I'll move over now, and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historical achievement, My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dream. - Hank Aaron

On August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds hit his 756th career home run at Mays Field, passing Hank Aaron as the new home run leader. It was truly one of the greatest moments in all of sports, one that will now be shown countless times, as is the video of Hank Aaron trotting around the bases with two long-haired fans.

At 8:51 PM, Mike Bacsik gave up Barry's 756th home run. He went back to the dugout to collect himself, but listened to Barry's emotional speech and Hank Aaron's message. Bacsik is the son of another former Major Leaguer, a pitcher of the same name, Michael Bacsik. Bacsik Sr. faced Aaron two months after Aaron hit 755, but did not yield 756. During the press conference, Bacsik Jr. addressed the questions from the media, in essence saying, "There's no shame in giving up a home run to Barry Bonds." He had a demeanor about him, one of friendly acknowledgment that he and Bonds would forever be joined in history.

In that moment, he became a child again.

Every record, every accomplishment, every milestone, is built up by a number of smaller things, seemingly insignificant in the light of the achievement itself. During his interview with Mike Krukow and his press conference after the game, Barry said he applied one piece of advice from his father, Bobby Bonds, that is, to load his back leg. During the 10 minute on-field celebration, Barry lost himself when he thanked his father. He doubled over, but with his fist still pointed toward the night sky, his voiced choked and teary.

Number 756 did not just break a record. It turned the 43,000 at Mays Field and the millions at home watching into a human again, a child again. In one moment, people of both the younger generation and the older generation were united in that simple, pure, untroubled happiness only a child experiences.

And maybe that's what so great about the game. It humanizes us, it touches the child-like awe and appreciation for the great in us. Maybe that was what Bonds and Bacsik were feeling last night. Maybe that is what keeps us, the children of baseball, together.

756

The facts:

• Time: 8:51 PM (PST)
• Count: 3-2
• Pitch speed: 86 mph
• Pitches: 7
• Distance: 435 ft

Bacsik deals... and Bonds hits it high... hits it deep!... it is out of here!... 756!... Bonds stands alone. - Duane Kuiper

Congratulations Barry.

Must See TV

How crazy will it get tonight?

Bonds is coming home on the verge of 756 and The Enchanter is starting on the hill tonight at 7.

Bonds and the rest of the lineup will be facing Nationals' pitcher Lannan for the first time. I wouldn't blame the kid if he doesn't want to be a trivia question. Lannan is a young lefty (1-0, 5.40 ERA) who just picked up his first win in his last start.

The Nats will be facing Timmy for the first time. Despite not having his usual control, Timmy limited the Dodgers to 2 hits and 1 run in 6 innings of work in his last start. I guess it's some sort of magic. He had one AAA game where he walked everybody and still shutout the other team.

Barry and Timmy. Let the pandemonium begin.

A Weekend of History

August 4, 2007: 755 home runs - B. Bonds

• Side by Side With Aaron
• The Dugout: MLB Official Chatroom AIM Log
• Long awaited No.755 was one to savor
• Fans 1, Selig -412
• Golic Goes to Town
• Homecoming of sorts for Bonds
• Barry Bonds' 755th shot to tie Hank Aaron's home run record begins to sink in
• San Francisco fans rejoice at Bonds' historic homer

August 4, 2007: 500 home runs - A. Rodriguez

• A-Rod finally belts career homer No. 500
• Wait is over for Rodriguez
• Yankees fan who caught Alex Rodriguez's 500th home run ball considers his options
• A-Rod belts historic 500th homer
  

August 5, 2007: 300 wins - T. Glavine

• The lunch-pail magician
• Glavine may be last to reach 300 wins
• Glavine wins 300th; shares weekend spotlight with Bonds, A-Rod
• Glavine wins No. 300, bests Cubs
• For Glavine, winning 300th was a family affair
• Glavine could be last to reach 300 for years

SEVEN FIDDY-FIVE, BABY!

7:29 PM. 2-1 count. Fastball away. Swing. That full, rich thwap. High. Deep. Opposite field.

And that awed gasp heard 754 times before.

Hours before the game, Bonds was taking batting practice. He and Bochy were trying to simplify his swing. Strip it down the barest essentials. He took over 100 practice cuts, 19 of them going high and deep.

Bonds gave something to the fans at Petco Park at 7:29, or perhaps took something away. Number 755 stripped away the controversy, the allegations, the hate and indifference, and created one moment of baseball. The Padres fans were no longer Padres fans, but baseball fans who were witnessing one moment of greatness. The cheers and applause were spontaneous, but came from the inherent nature of baseball fans to appreciate history.

That's all number 755 is. Baseball. And that's all it ever will be.

Congratulations Barry.

The Dilemma

With Barry hitting only 754 during the homestand and the looming series with the Evils and the Padres, the Giants are stuck between a rock and a hard place: should Barry play, or should he sit to increase the chances of hitting 755 and 756 at home? If he plays less than 2 games during the entire 6 game road trip, Arizona and other wild card teams would be extremely unhappy. If he plays more than 2 games, it's much more likely that 755 and 756 end up in the hands of the malicious cannibals they call Dodgers/Padres fans. Here's what Steve Kline had to say:

"He could hit it in our bullpen, and one of us can catch it and give the ball back to him," San Francisco reliever Steve Kline said. "I'm afraid some Dodger fan might jump down there and try to stab me. Who knows what kind of weapons they might carry. They're rough."

Here's the list of options Barry and the Giants could take:

• Who cares about the other contending teams? Sit him out the entire trip.
• Play him. He'll bunt every time up though.
• Play him. Hit some dingers, preferably in the general direction of Giants fans.
• Vanish. Mysteriously go on the bereavement list for 6 days.

I think I'll go with option 3. Even Evils and Padres fans can appreciate some history, right? Or am I expecting too much from them?

754

History


In


The


Making

Staving Off the HR Record?

Barry most likely isn't playing tonight, so I guess Selig's just gonna have to wait another day. Barry's currently riding a 3-37 slump excluding his 2 HRs in Chicago, so it probably won't matter anyway. Rod from Fitz & Brooks on KNBR was suggesting that Barry should prolong it just to make Selig suffer. Hey, the man said he'd follow Barry when he hits 755-756, so why not drag him along for all the road games?


Drag him to LA and SD for a while, come back to SF, then break the record while playing the Pirates. Nice.

Noah Lowry's on the mound tonight. He's appearing in his 100th big league game, so congrats to you, Noah! He's currently leading all Giants pitchers with 10 wins. Let's keep going, man.


Atta babe. Happy 100th!

Happy Birthday Barry!

Happy 43rd, big guy!

Here's wishing you a whole lot more long bombs (hopefully tonight!) and a long life! I'll be sending you a whole lot of TFRJ love, and it looks like the commish decided to give you a birthday present too, because apparently he's coming to witness history. Well, it's not like you, me, or any other Giants fan cares nor will it make a difference.

Hopefully there will be a party tonight in the form of a win. Matty Mo will be facing the Braves Tim Hudson, who's been having a good year (10-5, 3.24 ERA). Morris has had a string of bad starts, 0-3 in the last 6 with an 8.35 ERA. He gave up 5 earned runs in 4.2 in his last start in Chicago, culminating in a Giants loss 9-8. We'll see if Morris has it straightened out by tonight.

Watch for Bonds. He has a knack for doing big things on big nights...

Bonds vs. RHP Hudson: .474 (9-for-19), 4 HR, 6 RBI, 6 BB

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