Exactly... there's no good reason Bonds isn't in uniform right now, and the fact that he isn't- barring some evidence that multiple teams have made realistic offers and have been rejected- does seem to suggest some collusion on the part of the teams to blackball him. As for Ortiz... fuck. He was getting his hitting stroke in May after a piss-poor April, and now this? Argh. Through the first two months, the standings- league wide- are as tight as they've ever been. Almost no teams are truly out of it, and the top and bottom teams are separated by really just one reasonable (6-7 games) winning or losing streak. The Sox can't afford a long period without Ortiz, and hopefully he'll be back in 3+ weeks, and not out for the season. But if Ortiz was out for the season, and we knew that right NOW... then I'd have zero problem with picking up Bonds for a song to get him playing as DH. He'd be perfect for it, if he wasn't too pricey (similar to Thomas in Oakland, practically free for the team he's playing for) and he wanted a simple 1 year deal.
Of course, every week that he goes without playing is another week where his skills may be atrophying, so I think you'd reach a point of no return by July. That's my biggest concern. If he was a bit younger and part 1 of your post was guaranteed then I can see it. But at his age, with the amount of time he's had off, I have a hard time believing his hitting wouldn't take a pretty big hit. What sort of hate and discontent will he be spreading? Like most clubhouses, if the Sox were winning with Bonds, I doubt you'd see any problems. However, I believe bonds has stated before he doesn't want to play in boston, and if he doesn't perform after signing for big money (he's not signing for a song hal) then I could see it getting ugly. He's only a perfect fit if he hits, (and unlike Hal, again) I don't see any guarantees he will. I also wouldn't count the sox out without ortiz. Things would have to fall into place. Drew (who like LBB I've also been impressed with), Manny, Lowell etc, will have to step up. But if the pitching is there, who knows. Teams over the 100 million mark in salary shouldn't be done after one injury, wether ortiz or arod. The sox played well earlier in the season when ortiz wasn't hitting, and they've played badly when ortiz was going strong.
An Open Letter To Theo Epstein
Bonds said in the past he'd never play in Boston. Of course, the last time he said that, Bonds actually had a job. I still don't like Bonds. Sorry Bonds lovers. The media in Boston would devour him, and in turn, he'd end up being a one man circus. If Ortiz is out for the season, see what's on the trade market in July.
Final season OPS for Ted Williams - 1.096 That does not indicate "out of the game" or "worthless" to me. That was my reaction as well, but I'm guessing James' point is that Williams was never a good fielder and at age 42 it was probably hard to hide him. I still think you could put a 1000 OPS somewhere. What's first base for if not that? I only mentioned Mike Blowers because I was amazed that name came back to me. It only came back to me because he owned Wakefield in Wake's first couple of seasons with the Sox.
The media in Boston would devour him, and in turn, he'd end up being a one man circus. Wouldn't that be a two-ring circus, with Manny-Being-Manny?
see what's on the trade market in July. Starting DH for your Red Sox, Adam "Lummox" Dunn!
Sorry Bonds lovers. Besides himself, name one.
lil_brown_bat , I didn't mean to put the comment in there, but then I couldn't figure out how to edit the thing. For the record, I don't think the Sox need Bonds. I was just wondering aloud how long before the Bonds chatter would begin. It is a natural assumption that as soon as any major bat goes down, his name is going to come up. I remember some people suggesting Bonds might sign with the Rays before the season began. I wonder how the Rays would be now if that had happened.
By the way, justgary, great link!
Starting DH for your Red Sox, Adam "Lummox" Dunn! They'd take him in a heartbeat. I'll never understand general fandom's disgust with Three True Outcome players who are good. I also don't understand how Russell Branyan is still playing.
crqi, you were certainly right about how quickly the speculation got started.
The media in Boston would devour him, and in turn, he'd end up being a one man circus As opposed to...? From my recollection, wasn't Bonds already that while playing for San Fran?
As opposed to...? From my recollection, wasn't Bonds already that while playing for San Fran? The media attention bonds received in SF would be trivial to the amount he'd get in Boston. It's not even comparable.
yfm, I think you're right. And I honestly think Dunn would be a great addition in Boston, where he could even occasionaly play left without looking like a complete buffoon (hell, Manny's doing it.) The Reds could continue on the youth movement, perhaps gatting a talented arm or two to add to their vastly improved staff. There's planty of power in Cincy, even without Dunn, and the Sox could definitely use him now. However, that ain't gonna happen. The Castellini family loves Dunn and would be loathe to part with him for anything less than a top-notch prospect or proven player. And Ortiz will be back eventually, with Dunn commanding way too much money to be a pinch-hitting specialist. I see Griffey moving first, and I'm not sure how he'd feel about Boston (although he's earned the right to play for a legitimate contender, so who knows?) He's definitely got more of an upside than Bonds, being five or six years younger, and lacking the baggage. But I digress...
Pfft. You have the best record in the league and your DH who's out for a month wasn't hitting great anyway. Try losing your centre fielder and 4 hitter for two months and get back to me. Dunn is going to be traded for pitching I think this year. It makes sense. Not sure what Boston has kicking around in the minors, but I'm sure they wouldn't part with Lester or Bucholtz for him. Nor should they. You guys really think you need to make a trade or sign a free agent? For a one-month injury?
You have the best record in the league Second in division as I write this. and your DH who's out for a month wasn't hitting great anyway. In may ortiz has an OPS of 1.026. He leads the team in home runs and RBI. He's 3rd in the league in both home runs and RBI. Hopefully he'll come back from the injury and start hitting well. You guys really think you need to make a trade or sign a free agent? For a one-month injury? Nope. Haven't seen a single person calling for something to happen now, and that's on multiple websites. The subject of bonds came up because the poster brought him up in the original post.
You have the best record in the league 4th in the minors, third best in the AL actually. He might be out for a month... or it might be the end of the season for him. I think he's done for 08, just from the tone of some media people and those who know more (Ortiz included) when discussing the matter. The 1 month isolation of the wrist is a shot in the dark. Doctors have stated that a high percentage of people recover with just isolation of the wrist... of course, "people" is the broad description for anyone who has suffered this injury and generally wouldn't cover power hitting professional baseball players. Truthfully? I think Boston can keep afloat in the interim and should attempt that first. If they suffer any further injuries and Ortiz is actually done for 08, a trade for a batter would be more likely.
anyone who has suffered this injury and generally wouldn't cover power hitting professional baseball players. I agree. Everything I read leads to the same conclusion. I have to start learning to live without Papi for 08. Then if he comes back we'll party. I still don't know why he can't just bat with one hand, the big pussy. Jesus, just walk it off.
Everything I read leads to the same conclusion. I don't really get that feeling. I understand being out for 08 is a possibility. Hell, I've read that it could be career ending. But from what I've read no one has any idea what's going to happen. I imagine Theo knows more than anyone, and he seems upbeat. As far as his being a power hitting baseball player, I don't think it matters. Either his wrist is healed when they take the cast off, or it's not. If it's healed, and he re-injures it with another swing, then we've got a chronic problem. But that would another problem altogether, and not because his wrist didn't heal the first time.
The media attention bonds received in SF would be trivial to the amount he'd get in Boston. It's not even comparable. I wasn't talking about the media in San Fran, I was mentioning the media as a whole while Bonds was playing in San Fran. Everyone knows how beloved he was in the bay area but everywhere else he went to play, Bonds was vilified. The media was all over him when and where ever he was playing as the visitor.
