Here's a vote for an asterisk

by lunaticfringe1 on Aug 5, 2007 10:18 AM PDT Comment 9 comments

Please put an asterisk for Barry Lamar Bonds' home run record, no matter what number he ends up at. The record book should state:

"Barry Lamar Bonds hit [insert number here] home runs under a cloud of controversy. No other man in the history of baseball has been given fewer opportunities to hit due to the Intentional Walk. In an era of baseball where there are more home runs per at bat than during any other time, Bonds averaged one home run for every [insert statistic here] at bat. For all the controversies regarding negro pitchers, height of pitching mounds, juiced balls and steroids, the intentional walk is greatest competitive disadvantage in baseball for a slugging great."

Let's say that Bonds does go to Japan to go after this season to try to break Sadaharu Oh's professional record of 868 home runs. I think without the gross amount of intentional walks, he would have broken it two years ago.

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Re: Here's a vote for an asterisk

See, I never mind the intentional walks because they make Bonds even better. Bonds isn't the best home run hitter of all time - he has the largest total to be sure, but adjusted for era that isn't the case. He is, however, the best hitter of all time and the intentional walks are a big part of that. I think "best hitter ever" is a better legacy than having just accumulated the most home runs.

Barry Zito: Mike Hampton with a guitar

by JakeS on Aug 5, 2007 10:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Here's a vote for an asterisk

Well put. I couldn't agree more. No player has made managers and pitchers more chicken shit than BLB.

Vote for Pedro...to be DFA'd!

by W8ingForATitle on Aug 5, 2007 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Here's a vote for an asterisk

What's funny is that I've been seeing a BUNCH of people mention Sadaharu Oh's record in the articles I've been looking at this morning. Not surprisingly, people are still pissed at Bonds, so now one of the ways they're trying to undermine his achievement is by saying "well, he'll never have the REAL professional homerun record." Pretty sad.

by ololo3 on Aug 5, 2007 11:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Here's a vote for an asterisk

This is what I find so ridiculous about the vast amount of angst and ink spilled over this record. Every baseball fan knows that every record like this one comes with asterisks. Get rid of designated hitters, nearly two years in the military and today's ballparks and I wouldn't be surprised if Willie Mays is the greatest homerun hitter of all time. Don't forget the years Babe Ruth pitched...and so on. Who care? They all define baseball greatness and none of them, not even Saint Hank, can hold a candle in terms of social value to millions of folks who teach our kids, fight our fires, nurse the sick and so on. It's entertainment.

by NearestNorwich on Aug 5, 2007 12:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Here's a vote for an asterisk

Damn skippy.

I say give Bonds an asterisk because he has neither brought someone back from the brink of death, nor taken a group of unruly inner city high schoolers and made them realize their inner genius.

"When Jackson Williams thinks of how many times Madison Bumgarner has tried to kill Tyler Walker..."

by multiphasic on Aug 5, 2007 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Here's a vote for an asterisk

Whn it comes to baseball, though, Bonds does nothing if he doesn't Stand and Deliver.

Coming to you by proxy (I adopted: Dave Righetti!)

by howtheyscored on Aug 5, 2007 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Here's a vote for an asterisk

Or if not Willie, then Ted Williams. That guy did two stints in the war, and he was flying planes!

by achiappanza on Aug 6, 2007 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Here's a vote for an asterisk

The whole Oh vs. Bonds controversy is moot. Josh Gibson hit 960~ home runs in his Negro League career, and is therefore the winner.

Giants Cove: You'll be a better person for reading

by Chulk on Aug 5, 2007 2:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Here's a vote for an asterisk

another asterisk. how long ago would bonds have broken this record if he didnt miss time due to the labor dispute in 1994? dont remember exactly how much of the season was lost, something like 2 months? theres 15-20 jacks right there. ASTERISK!! ASTERISK!!

by projectmayhem713 on Aug 6, 2007 9:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs