Bonds exposed: Shadows details superstar slugger's steroid use

Sports Illustrated ^ | March 7, 2006 | SI

[beyond the sea]

The best thing for baseball would be for Bonds to go through a long drawn out injury filled season in which he struggles to stay over .200 BA and hits only a handful of HR.

You wish.

I hope he hits .350 and cranks about 50 out of the park.

Not crazy about the drugs, but more players than you know have enhanced their playing since back in the late 40's.

[Petronski]

I hope he hits .350 and cranks about 50 out of the park.

Prepare for disappointment.

[beyond the sea]

If Barry had not touched the roids he would have finished his career as a multi-MVP, 500 HR, 3000 H, lifetime .300 BA, and would have gone down as one of the top 10-20 ballplayers of all time. Instead, he will go down as one of the most despised players of all time.

I agree with most of that..... but I will never despise Barry Bonds in any way. I know the guy.

He's not what some of you folks think from a distance and from the perspective of what you read from the reporters!

Do you think the economy sucks because the media tells you so??? Do you think G.W. is stupid because the media tells you so??? Do you think 80% of Americans think there is going to be a civil war in Iraq because the media tells you so???

Most of you know little about B.B. except through the lens of the media.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

one of the most despised players of all time

Dang, being lumped into the same group as Ty Cobb already? I kind of like it. :o)

[Wolfie]

Barry's career has been consistent in one area. He's a dick, with or without steroids, insulin, and growth hormone.

[frankjr]

"Dang. sounds like every orifice was being packed with 'roids."

Unfortunately, I have an orifice packed with a few roids as well.

[beyond the sea]

a guy who K's 15 times out of every 20 and then hits the ball 500 ft.

WHO does that genius?

Bons strikes out seldom for a great power hitter. You must be a little girl.

[Howlin]

You don't go from looking spike duddly to triple H in 6-12 months in your 30s.

Can you translate that for us laywomen/men?

[celejrm313]

haha hits 350 with a ton of home runs?

His body is going to break down like an Amtrak in the Rocky Mountains. Nobody's body can take that kind of abuse.

[Neville72]

Roger Maris' record needs to be reinstated. The three that eclipsed it were all Roidheads.

[thinkthenpost]

I know this won't be popular, but here goes.
My opinion, not only does does Barry Bonds belong in the Hall of Fame he would have been a first ballot, now who knows, but I am rooting for him to break Hank Aaron's record. I know he is a jerk, but to me he is the modern day Ted Williams, everyone outside of his hometown hates him Barry got his MVPs how many were stolen from Mr. Williams. I view his probable steroid use this way, if he was using a substance or substances not banned by the MLB more power to him, maybe baseball should have been out in front a bit more, I think they rode the homerun hitting to the bank and ran scared when the questions started.
Finally Sammy and Mark didn't bring me back to baseball Barry did, and if he is run off early I'll leave again also. A prediction, if Barry isn't injured he plays 2 more seasons (06, 07) passes Aaron and retires with ~770 dingers.

[DennisR]

"No, really, I was not on steriods!"

[commish]

There is no way in hell Bonds will even come close to sniffing .350 or 50 dingers.

He is physically incapable of it. His body does not have 350 At bats in it, much less a full season. Bonds will be lucky to be able to start 80-100 games, he will have to miss at least 20-30 completely and will only be a PH in the other 30-50 games, depending on how many he starts and what injuries creep up.

Additionally, there is no way he sustains his performance through the entire season -- he may come out of the gate and have a very good April/May, but as the season gets into June he will start breaking down.

AT best he will hit .280 with maybe 25-30 dingers, and I think that is being overly optimistic.

If I have to break it down I see it this way :
April/May .290-.300 10-15HR.
June/July .270-.280 5-10HR.
Aug/Sept .230-.250 5HR.

Season - .260 23HR.

[beyond the sea]

Bonds was actually a clone of Aaron throughout the first half of his career. He never put up ungodly HR numbers (most of Aaron's season were in the 30's) and very seldom hit the ball a long way, but he was always on base and getting the key hit.

Completely wrong................. on many fronts.... Bonds seldom got a meaningful hit as a young man here in Pittsburgh. You do not know what you are talking about. Check out his abysmal performances in all his playoff games here in my city! He was quite poor............. drove us nuts.

[Howlin]

the man's skull was growing.

Huh?? At his age?

[del4hope]

If Bonds is ever allowed to break Aaron's record, I am finished with baseball.

[beyond the sea]

Who is that ...... Gladys Knight?

Where are the Pips?

[beyond the sea]

I agree with that.

[MikefromOhio]

Jim Rome ping
FReepmail me to get on or off this Jim Rome pinglist....

"Have a take, don't suck or you'll get run......."

[Mike Darancette]

enhanced their playing since back in the late 40's.

The chemicals in all the hot dogs the Babe ate probably gave him an edge.