Trial set, Bonds searches for job

by RaysOfHope on Jun 6, 2008 11:48 PM EDT Comment 17 comments

sign him right now rays!!!!

Now that a trial date has been set for next year in the perjury case brought against Barry Bonds by the federal government, his agent said on Friday that he wonders whether the market will open for the former San Francisco Giants slugger.

Bonds, Major League Baseball's all-time home run king with 762 homers, is still a free agent. Bonds said recently that he won't retire and is eager to continue his career.

"Barry still hopes he will receive a phone call from me saying that I got him a job and he can resume playing the game he loves," said Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, in a telephone conversation from his Los Angeles office.

"If any team was fearful that Barry would not be available during the 2008 season, they can now put those fears aside after the events of today," Borris said.

Bonds hit his 756th home run to pass Hank Aaron into first place on the all-time list into the bleachers just to the right of dead center against the Nationals on Aug. 7 of last year at AT&T Park. He played his final game for the Giants there on Sept. 26.

Bonds finished last season with a .276 batting average, 28 homers, 132 walks and a .480 on base percentage in 126 games. He will be 44 on July 24.

if the rays want to go all out and prove that they want to win this year they should go after the HR king who still can rake with the best of them and his on base percentage was almost 50% last year and it would bring more fans to the trop and i know that everyone in this blog would just go nuts!!!! i know i would!!!

Poll

do you want the rays to pursue bonds?

yes

24 votes

no

20 votes

44 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

What do ya think guys? Should we add Barry?

What’s that saying? Oh yeah, WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER!!!! This would bring the Rays some serious attention, but not the kind we want here. Screw Barry and the horse his fat head ran in on. However, it would be an instant cash cow for Stuart Steinberg and company. If they want to sell tickets, business wise it would be a good move. I just dont think Friedman or Silverman want to deal with the huge amount of backlash that would be unleased dealing with a guy named Barry Bonds.

by Rays Rule on Jun 7, 2008 12:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

RaysofHope

Could you please add the source of the article to your FanPost? Proper attribution is important. Thanks.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jun 7, 2008 12:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention the buzzkill in the locker room.

Everyone knows that Barry is not so nice to the uh well anyone! He would totally kill the team chemistry that we have built all season. Plus he’ll be like 44 in July. He aint no Julio Fanco. Just retire Barry.

by Rays Rule on Jun 7, 2008 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We go through this every month...

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 7, 2008 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

But every passing month, this thread becomes less relevant. It was a great career, and we can debate our feelings on Bonds till we are blue in the face. But its over.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jun 7, 2008 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I know I know.....

But if he really is on the market, the Rays would be wise to steer clear.

by Rays Rule on Jun 7, 2008 12:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I voted yes

under the current circumstances, with Pena hurt and struggling and leaving us with Floyd as the only big lefty bat on the team and a surrounding lineup that has failed to come around as of yet I wouldnt mind seeing him brought in. It could add some spark

This team has strong character, and I am positive that Bonds would be unable to ruin that. I’m sure Bonds would be different here. He wouldnt demand 4 lockers to himself. He wouldnt become the center of attention in the locker room. Especially in an environment like this, where veteran players and big personalities like Cliff Floyd and Troy Percival realize this clubhouse has its own identity already and they are not needed to set the tone like they might have needed to 2-3 years ago. Bonds would have older players in the locker room he could relate to, and enough young veterans around him to show him we are serious competitors. He has to be smart enough to realize this isnt his lockerroom and if he wants to play he would nee dto let his ego take a backseat

When you get past that, Im not sold that he can EVER play the field at 44 years old or that he could even play everyday at DH. He would clog the basepaths, but if he could still be as feared a hitter as he has been I wont have a problem with that. Im just not sold he still has it in him, and if things were going the way they shoudl be with this lineup fully helathy and productive I dont think it would even be worth entertaining the idea

by blazinrayz on Jun 7, 2008 12:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Problem with Bonds

Is that his role is already filled by Hinske/Floyd. Putting him in the lineup virtually assures that one of those 2 will be sitting. While I think he is better than either one of those guys (duh!), it would be difficult to accomplish without roster shakeup.

I guess they could DFA Gomes/Gross (more likely Gomes), but I’m not sure it would be worth it, especially considering the money he will command.

Don’t get me wrong. I wanted them to sign him in February, and again when Floyd had surgery. I just don’t see the place for him under the current roster.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jun 7, 2008 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see your point.......

I have no doubt that Barry could passibly hit 25 HR and up to 75 walks. While those numbers are impressive, I not sold on the fact that Barry wouldn’t be a distraction to the Rays. Bonds legal woes have been extended until next year so that frees Barry’s schedule up for the rest of the year. Interesting to see if DRO would take the bait.

by TheUltimateBucFan on Jun 8, 2008 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

that’s my biggest concern, and Im not even as sure as you are that Bonds can outperform Hinske or Floyd right now. Not to mention those are good guys, who have played their way into strong roles on this team.

I dont see how we could drop Gomes. That would leave us with too many lefties. Obviously Ruggiano would be the guy who gets DFAd, but even then Im not sure how Bonds would fit in. I guess Bonds and Floyd could split the DH duties 50/50, and as long as Pena is out we could play Floyd at 1B against righties, that way we could have Hinske, Floyd and Bonds in the lineuop. But Pena ownt be out long, maybe 2 more weeks. Im not sure how it would work, because Floyd and Bonds are unable to play the field

by blazinrayz on Jun 7, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ruggiano wouldn't need to be DFA'd.

He has options left.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jun 7, 2008 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

my bad

we would send Ruggiano down to Durham

I haven’t seen anything special about Ruggiano last year or this year, and I havent really understood why so many Rays fans think so much of him but I think Im starting to come around a little bit. If you just look at his numbers in the minors he has been fairly impressive, so Im starting to think I must be missing something with this guy.

by blazinrayz on Jun 7, 2008 8:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He's probably nothing more than a No. 4 outfielder

But he has the potential to be valuable in that role. The problem is, at present the Rays are loaded with No. 4 outfielders.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jun 8, 2008 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How could you?

How could you see anything special about him if he never gets a chance to play? Hopefully he will get to start against lefties while Gomes is out.

The artist formerly known as TonyT

by acelion on Jun 9, 2008 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ive seen Ruggiano play

both last year and this year, like I said. Yo ucan gather a lot of imformation about a guy from seeing the way they play. I dont need to see a guy get a hit, to tell if I think he is a hitter or not. Like I said, I could be wrong, but it seems to me most people think he can be more than a 4th OF but I ten to disagree

Ive heard his supporters say he plays plus defense, but I see an average glove with average speed and an average arm when he plays.

His numbers are impressive in the minors, and I suppose thats what most people go off of, but I wasnt very impressed seeing him swing the bat.

Liek I said, hopefully Im wrong. If most people see him as a 4th OF at best, than I guess I agree with that. I just thought from teh soudns of things most people think he is more than that

by blazinrayz on Jun 9, 2008 9:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

In theory

Most fourth outfielders can be decent starters during their prime. I’m one of the bigger Ruggiano fans, and liked him since we got him as a PTBNL, and I’d just like to see him take Gomes’ playing time. PECOTA has Jason Bay, Jeff Baker, Bruce Aven, Marty Cordova, and Reggie Sanders as his top five comparisons, and frankly I’d rather him not follow the Aven path.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 9, 2008 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs