Monday BP: Beat LA(naheim)

The weekend series against the Oakland Athletics sucked about as bad as three games can suck, and was so bad that it had beat writers starting to pen oblique thoughts about whether manager Gabe Kapler had “lost the locker room,” inasmuch as that phrase actually means anything in 2020, or if it ever did.

The hitters are struggling, the defense is abysmal, and the bullpen makes “abysmal” look like a compliment. So naturally, this is the perfect time to kick off a split series against Joe Maddon’s superteam of perennial underachievers. Let’s just sit back and allow chaos to reign.

This will be the Giants’ first 2020 visit to the always slightly disconcerting Angel Stadium, which might actually seem less weird if it was called like Viacom Park or something similarly generic.

Did Barry Bonds hit a home run today?

He did. One of the home runs of his that I remember the very most, in fact.

August 17, 2002: Bonds went a measly 1 for 2 at the plate against the Marlins in this game (along with three walks) in a 7-3 loss, but that one hit was one of the craziest-ass dingers that he ever dinged.

In the top of the first inning, Josh Beckett sawed Bonds off with two outs. The only problem was, Bonds’ broken-bat half-swing actually left the park. One of the freakiest things I’ve ever seen happen in baseball, and absolutely no one in the stadium or watching at home could believe it.

Enjoy it below, in all its glory.

Old, random MCC article for you to read

The 10 best Barry Bonds home runs, in honor of the 10th anniversary of 756 (August 7, 2017) — Grant Brisbee

Ah, no Bay Bridge Series. That’s reason enough to enjoy the baseball.