Barry Bonds... Should he or Will he? [Archive]

Dave Visbeck

12-07-04, 03:51 PM

As the ongoing scandal concerning Steroids unfolds, do you think that Barry Bonds (who will reach the age of 41 during this upcoming season) SHOULD or WILL retire after the 2,005 baseball season... presumably BEFORE he reaches the all-time homerun record of 755
set by the 42-year-old "Hammerin' Hank" back in 1976?

Personally, I want him gone, along with his "ENHANSED" baseball career which saw him starting as a 180 pound lead-off hitter for Pittsburg to what now looks like the 230-240 pound "Dinger Poster Boy" that he is with the Giants.

Many baseball record books still list the man at 190 pounds, the same playing weight as his "creditable" father, the late Mr. Bobby Bonds.

RhodeyYankee2638

12-07-04, 03:57 PM

He might break it this year........

I don't know what he will do, but I think he will retire after this season, unless The Giants can prove to him they can make a championship run the following year

PinstripePride

12-07-04, 04:31 PM

I don't know, but I hope to hell he does.

reelbiggecko

12-07-04, 05:14 PM

I don't think he'll break it this year, and I also don't think he'll retire before breaking it, barring injury.

But I sure hope I'm wrong about that second part.

RhodeyYankee2638

12-07-04, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by reelbiggecko
I don't think he'll break it this year, and I also don't think he'll retire before breaking it, barring injury.

But I sure hope I'm wrong about that second part.

He has averaged about 50 home runs a year for the past 5 seasons. Subtract his 73 home run season, and he averages about 44 or 45 home runs. If he hits 45 home runs again this year, which is very likely, he will be at 747, a mere 8 home runs away from one of the most respected records in sports. I think he would play one more year, but I surely hope he doesnt

parkerstrong

12-07-04, 06:07 PM

I expect Bonds to play 2 more years and break the record. I wont be happy if and when he does it. I hold out hope that A-Rod can beat the mark the Bonds does. I think A-Rod (381 HR's and will turn 30 in July) has a very good chance if he stays healthy. He only hit 36 homers this year, but I think that was an adjustment year. I dont think he will hit 50 homers a year, but I think he will hit more than 40 next year.

A-Rod's stats
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?statsId=5275

KP88

12-07-04, 06:12 PM

Should he? Yes, without question.

Will he? This is Barry Bonds. Of course he won't.

EddieCoyle

12-07-04, 06:15 PM

I believe that Bonds is signed through 2006. I'm guessing that he'll stick around long enough to break the record, maybe longer. He could make it to 800 before he hangs it up.

sanfranciscojetergirl

12-07-04, 06:20 PM

Originally posted by EddieCoyle
I believe that Bonds is signed through 2006. I'm guessing that he'll stick around long enough to break the record, maybe longer. He could make it to 800 before he hangs it up.

Yes, Barry has signed with the Giants for 2 more years, I would like for him to break the record.

RhodeyYankee2638

12-07-04, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by KP88
Should he? Yes, without question.

Will he? This is Barry Bonds. Of course he won't.

what????

KP88

12-07-04, 06:28 PM

Originally posted by RhodeyYankee2638

what????

In terms of retiring before breaking the mark...I think he should. I don't think he will, however, at least from what I hear about the character of the man.

Sorry for any confusion.

RhodeyYankee2638

12-07-04, 06:29 PM

Originally posted by KP88

In terms of retiring before breaking the mark...I think he should. I don't think he will, however, at least from what I hear about the character of the man.

Sorry for any confusion.

whoops my bad, i misread, i thought you meant he wouldnt break Aarons record. i got confused

KP88

12-07-04, 06:31 PM

Originally posted by RhodeyYankee2638

whoops my bad, i misread, i thought you meant he wouldnt break Aarons record. i got confused

No sweat :cool:

ChewieTobbacca

12-07-04, 07:51 PM

He's signed through 2006 so he will break the record.

BroadwayBomber55

12-07-04, 08:23 PM

The biggest question is not only will Barry Bonds break the career HR record, what type of ovation he will get?

I say a mix of boos and cheers.

YankeePride1967

12-07-04, 08:26 PM

Barry Bonds will break the record. But listening to Hank Aaron's comments about Bonds, I really wonder if Hank will even attend the game as he would have otherwise. I seriously wonder what kind of a ceremony MLB will do considering.

RhodeyYankee2638

12-07-04, 08:59 PM

yankees76

12-07-04, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by GoRocket
Barry Bonds will break the record. But listening to Hank Aaron's comments about Bonds, I really wonder if Hank will even attend the game as he would have otherwise. I seriously wonder what kind of a ceremony MLB will do considering.

I can find the link if you make me, but last year Aaron was basically quoted as saying that he thought Willie Mays running around with the Giants waiting for Bonds to pass him wasn't something that he was interested in doing when Bonds reached 755. Maybe Bud could have changed his mind, maybe Bud could still change his mind (to the extent this "blows over" when we realize that how prevalent performance enhancing drugs have become ... if we accept that).

Only point is that, as of last year, Aaron had specifically planned to avoid a big ceremony.

RhodeyYankee2638

12-07-04, 09:07 PM

Originally posted by yankees76

Only point is that, as of last year, Aaron had specifically planned to avoid a big ceremony.

Aaron, has always seemed to me, to be a very down to earth guy that really doesn't want the spotlight on him. I'm sure Selig would have found a way to have many of the career home run leaders in the park when Bonds hits 756

Calvin and Hobbes

12-07-04, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by RhodeyYankee2638

If he does it at an opposing park, can you imagine the backlash?

I would throw cartons of orange juice on the field. Or maybe some flaxeed oil.

RhodeyYankee2638

12-07-04, 09:33 PM

Originally posted by Calvin and Hobbes

I would throw cartons of orange juice on the field. Or maybe some flaxeed oil.

Imagine if he did it in Shea. Oh boy I would pay top dollar to see that ass whipping

bnorris85

12-07-04, 10:12 PM

should he retire=yes
will he=no

i hope he breaks the records at away parks...there will have to be riot police there...

PinstripePride

12-07-04, 10:14 PM

Originally posted by Calvin and Hobbes

I would throw cartons of orange juice on the field. Or maybe some flaxeed oil.

Nice. :lol:

yanksrule69

12-07-04, 10:17 PM

If he has any respect for the game he will retire before he breaks the record. Didn't he once say that all he really cared about was passing Babe Ruth? If so, let him pass Babe and then retire. The record will forever be tainted there is no reason for him to do such a thing.

SoCal Pinstriper

12-07-04, 11:57 PM

Barring injury, he'll finish his contract (through '06). He has more respect for $ than anything else.

ChewieTobbacca

12-08-04, 02:05 AM

I enjoy how much people here seem to know what Barry thinks...

And throwing stuff on the field? Yeah, thats real class...

Dooley Womack

12-08-04, 06:19 AM

The man is an apparent liar and based on many of his quotes, a racist.

I don't wish him any luck at all.

WebsterMulligan

12-08-04, 10:22 AM

There should be a large scarlet "S" next to the record, when he breaks it.

tedesco23

12-08-04, 12:19 PM

Originally posted by parkerstrong
I think A-Rod (381 HR's and will turn 30 in July) has a very good chance if he stays healthy. He only hit 36 homers this year, but I think that was an adjustment year. I dont think he will hit 50 homers a year, but I think he will hit more than 40 next year.

I'm not too sure about this--I have trouble imagining *any* righty averaging 40+ homers a year in Yankee Stadium over an extended period of time. I guess if anyone in baseball can, it's Arod, because he has so much power to the opposite field, but my hunch is that his total this year might be about right in the long term.

I'm more hopeful that his average comes up, especially with RISP, and that he becomes a solid .320, 35 HR guy.