Royals Whitlock: Royals need to sign Bonds - Page 2

**DeezNutz** · 04-28-2009, 11:17 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...y/1168353.html

It’s time the Royals invested in Bonds

This column is in no way an attempt to divert attention away from Zack Greinke’s bid for history tonight at Kauffman Stadium. It’s a plea to get Greinke and the Royals some help.

Barry Bonds should be wearing a Royals uniform this season. The game’s greatest hitter has yet to retire or be convicted of a crime. He’s been railroaded by the commissioner, a publicity-seeking federal prosecutor and the hypocritically self-righteous segment of the baseball media.

While virtually every other steroid cheater continues to play the game without incident or much backlash, America’s home-run king is being treated like a heavyweight champion with the audacity to conscientiously object to the Vietnam War.

Barry is serving the second year of what his critics hope is a lifetime banishment from the game that milked his home-run power when it made good business sense and discarded him when it needed a poster child for steroid abuse.

I wish the Royals had the courage to reinstate Bonds. He could help their anemic offense and potentially lift the Royals into the playoffs. Tuesday afternoon I milled around the Royals clubhouse asking players what they thought of Bonds and whether they’d have a problem playing with the all-time great.

Surprisingly, I couldn’t find a Bonds critic inside the clubhouse.

“I’d feel honored to play with him,” Royals catcher John Buck said. “You can’t take away what he’s done in the game.”

Billy Butler added: “I wouldn’t have a problem at all. I’d work with him. If he’d help our team win, I think it would be good for our team. Whatever is good for Kansas City.”

“I have no problem playing with anybody,” said outfielder José Guillen, who was briefly in trouble for suspected steroid use. “What is the problem with playing with Barry Bonds?”

Great question.

“It’s unfortunate he’s not playing,” Mike Jacobs said. “You hope it’s not some sort of collusion (by the owners). He’s no different from the other guys who were suspected of taking whatever. Obviously there’s something fishy with him not playing.”

I suspect the Royals aren’t the only major leaguers who think it’s ridiculous Bonds has been blackballed from the game. Greinke, Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies and Mark Teahen all told me they wouldn’t have an issue playing alongside the man who has been portrayed by the media as the worst teammate in professional sports.

“I’ve never experienced anything with him,” said Greinke, who will attempt tonight to complete his sixth straight start without surrendering an earned run. “I don’t know what he’s like. But as long as he’s not disruptive to the team, I probably wouldn’t have a problem.”

“I admired the way (Bonds) played the game,” Bannister said.

In 2007, Barry played in 126 games for the San Francisco Giants. He swatted 28 home runs, hit .276, recorded a league-leading .480 on-base percentage and 132 walks. Bonds was barry, barry good for a 42-year-old left fielder. He’s 44 now and will be 45 in July. He’s still in marvelous condition. He should be playing baseball.

“I bet you this,” Guillen told me. “Barry puts on a uniform and gets in the batter’s box, he will still make the pitcher scared.”

Teahen said: “He’s the best hitter in the game. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say he could take a year off and still hit.”

“Look at him,” Buck said. “He still looks like a beast. I’m sure he still has an at-bat or two in him.”

Bannister added: “He always had the hand-eye coordination. He still has it.”

Even Royals Hall of Famer Frank White thinks Barry could still be a difference-maker.

“He’s worth three victories,” White said. “He’d certainly give your lineup credibility.”

Early during Tuesday’s game I chatted with Royals general manager Dayton Moore about Bonds, KC’s players reaction to Bonds and whether the Royals would consider signing Bonds.

“Where we are and what we’re trying to accomplish with this team,” Moore said, “we’re comfortable with the makeup of our team.”

Jacobs and Butler DH and play first base for the Royals. They’re young and under contract. The Royals already have a defensive liability in their outfield, José Guillen. Working Bonds into the lineup would be difficult and maybe even a little painful.

It would be worth it. Greinke is bidding for a nice piece of history tonight and the new K will be half full. That would not be the case with Bonds in uniform.

I asked Moore if Bonds’ baggage would prevent the Royals from signing the slugger.

“No,” he said. “Not for me.”

Can Bonds still be a productive player?

“I don’t know,” Moore said. “I can’t answer that.”

Moore did add that utility infielder Julio Franco played until age 48.

I could only find one man adamantly against my plan to bring Bonds to Kansas City.

“I don’t think you can sit out that long and still play,” former Royal Brian McRae told me. “He’s 45. His body is worn. He’s had the hip and elbow injuries. He popped his quad and hasn’t been working out much. I just don’t think he can still be effective.

“The Royals need to be a playoff team with the players they have.”

McRae is wrong. The Royals need to make a playoff push by any means necessary. And Barry Bonds needs to fail at least once before I believe he can’t play any more.

**alnorth** · 04-28-2009, 11:38 PM

I'm not really convinced Bonds wants to play baseball anymore. If he did, he would have kept himself in better shape this year.

If he was actually serious though, I'd sign him to a minor league contract and see if he can kill AAA pitchers. If he has a few great weeks to prove that he can actually play, bring him up.

Dante84 · 04-28-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

I can teach you. Is the image in your computer, or on the web?

Both honestly, so what ever is easier.... what do I need to do?

and thanks by the way!

**DeezNutz** · 04-28-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

wtf is the point of this article, bonds is retired and no way he'll get on a team

Whitlock doesn't know a ****ing thing about baseball. This is reported fact from when he had a radio show, and I'm sure he'd still admit as much to this day.

That said, these are the kinds of desperate articles that are generated from watching a still punch-less lineup. In that respect, I can't blame him.

For the record, I find the "anger" over Bonds to be hilarious.

KC_Connection · 04-28-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

Whitlock writing a controversial article to get attention? Say it ain't so.

I'd rather ride with the team we have than add a known cheater to our lineup. Why not just hand steroids out instead? The guy cheated, and he's been rewarded with unemployment. Let's not change that.

Jose Guillen did the same thing Bonds did, and your GM gave him a massive contract. Let's not be all high and mighty here, they all used steroids.

kcxiv · 04-28-2009, 11:42 PM

Bonds never retired. He said at the beg of the year, that he's in shape and if a team wnats him, he will think about it. Problem is/was no one really interested in paying him money if he was going to jail.

He was at the Dodgers/Giants game lastnight and they were saying he's in really good shape. Who knows.

**DeezNutz** · 04-28-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

I'm not really convinced Bonds wants to play baseball anymore. If he did, he would have kept himself in better shape this year.

If he was actually serious though, I'd sign him to a minor league contract and see if he can kill AAA pitchers. If he has a few great weeks to prove that he can actually play, bring him up.

For Bonds in all his juiced up glory, this could have been literally true.

Sick what supplemental drugs/whatever can do to an already uber-talented player.

**DeezNutz** · 04-28-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Jose Guillen did the same thing Bonds did, and your GM gave him a massive contract. Let's not be all high and mighty here, they all used steroids.

Bonds is the easy target for all the angst and vitriol.

Whatever makes people feel better, I suppose.

You know what makes me feel better? Wins. And talented players. I don't give a **** if they're nice guys, and if everyone is cheating, I want my guys to have access to the best pharmacies.

It's entertainment.

**DaneMcCloud** · 04-28-2009, 11:45 PM

I won't read this J-Whit shit because he's a ****ing idiot.

Signing Bonds would be the biggest mistake of the Glass era (and there have been MANY).

They're building a young team and just don't need him around. It would be a major distraction and besides that, he's not one for mentoring.

I like Bonds but he's just not right for KC.

And Whitlock must be taking over for Teicher because his latest columns are amateurish at best.

**alnorth** · 04-28-2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

For Bonds in all his juiced up glory, this could have been literally true.

Sick what supplemental drugs/whatever can do to an already uber-talented player.

if he can take out a few top-tier prospects from other teams on the way, then he's worth something

**DeezNutz** · 04-28-2009, 11:46 PM

This is a filler article, of course.

Bonds' baseball career is over, and everyone knows this to be the case.

**DeezNutz** · 04-28-2009, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alnorth

if he can take out a few top-tier prospects from other teams on the way, then he's worth something

Always the optimist.

WoodDraw · 04-28-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Jose Guillen did the same thing Bonds did, and your GM gave him a massive contract. Let's not be all high and mighty here, they all used steroids.

I hated that deal too though.

**alnorth** · 04-28-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I won't read this J-Whit shit because he's a ****ing idiot.

Signing Bonds would be the biggest mistake of the Glass era (and there have been MANY).

They're building a young team and just don't need him around. It would be a major distraction and besides that, he's not one for mentoring.

I like Bonds but he's just not right for KC.

And Whitlock must be taking over for Teicher because his latest columns are amateurish at best.

I do not want to sign Bonds to an MLB contract for the kind of money he would likely want to play in KC, simply because I dont think he has it anymore, with his age, injuries, and lack of magic pills.

However, hypothetically speaking, if he was anything like the hitter he was a few years ago, I would sign him in a heartbeat. Our players arent fragile eggs that can crack in the wrong environment, and winning can do a lot to quiet any outcry.

ClevelandBronco · 04-28-2009, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante84

Both honestly, so what ever is easier.... what do I need to do?

and thanks by the way!

If the image is on the web:

Keep clicking on the image until you get nothing but the image in your browser window. Then copy the url (the final web address you come to). Next, post this:

[img]insert.the.url.you.just.copied.here[/img]

That's the easiest way. Try it and see if it works. If not, I'll walk you through the way to get it from your hard drive.

And you're welcome, by the way. Not all Bronco followers are complete assholes. (Though I can certainly take pride in being one at times.)

KC_Connection · 04-28-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Bonds is the easy target for all the angst and vitriol.

Whatever makes people feel better, I suppose.

You know what makes me feel better? Wins. And talented players. I don't give a **** if they're nice guys, and if everyone is cheating, I want my guys to have access to the best pharmacies.

It's entertainment.

Agreed. With all of this.

It became quite obvious that Selig black balled him last year, though, so this is really kind of a useless article by Whitlock.

04-28-2009, 11:17 PM
DeezNutz PermaBanned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Jouissance Casino cash: $10011570	Whitlock: Royals need to sign Bonds http://www.kansascity.com/sports/col...y/1168353.html It’s time the Royals invested in Bonds This column is in no way an attempt to divert attention away from Zack Greinke’s bid for history tonight at Kauffman Stadium. It’s a plea to get Greinke and the Royals some help. Barry Bonds should be wearing a Royals uniform this season. The game’s greatest hitter has yet to retire or be convicted of a crime. He’s been railroaded by the commissioner, a publicity-seeking federal prosecutor and the hypocritically self-righteous segment of the baseball media. While virtually every other steroid cheater continues to play the game without incident or much backlash, America’s home-run king is being treated like a heavyweight champion with the audacity to conscientiously object to the Vietnam War. Barry is serving the second year of what his critics hope is a lifetime banishment from the game that milked his home-run power when it made good business sense and discarded him when it needed a poster child for steroid abuse. I wish the Royals had the courage to reinstate Bonds. He could help their anemic offense and potentially lift the Royals into the playoffs. Tuesday afternoon I milled around the Royals clubhouse asking players what they thought of Bonds and whether they’d have a problem playing with the all-time great. Surprisingly, I couldn’t find a Bonds critic inside the clubhouse. “I’d feel honored to play with him,” Royals catcher John Buck said. “You can’t take away what he’s done in the game.” Billy Butler added: “I wouldn’t have a problem at all. I’d work with him. If he’d help our team win, I think it would be good for our team. Whatever is good for Kansas City.” “I have no problem playing with anybody,” said outfielder José Guillen, who was briefly in trouble for suspected steroid use. “What is the problem with playing with Barry Bonds?” Great question. “It’s unfortunate he’s not playing,” Mike Jacobs said. “You hope it’s not some sort of collusion (by the owners). He’s no different from the other guys who were suspected of taking whatever. Obviously there’s something fishy with him not playing.” I suspect the Royals aren’t the only major leaguers who think it’s ridiculous Bonds has been blackballed from the game. Greinke, Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies and Mark Teahen all told me they wouldn’t have an issue playing alongside the man who has been portrayed by the media as the worst teammate in professional sports. “I’ve never experienced anything with him,” said Greinke, who will attempt tonight to complete his sixth straight start without surrendering an earned run. “I don’t know what he’s like. But as long as he’s not disruptive to the team, I probably wouldn’t have a problem.” “I admired the way (Bonds) played the game,” Bannister said. In 2007, Barry played in 126 games for the San Francisco Giants. He swatted 28 home runs, hit .276, recorded a league-leading .480 on-base percentage and 132 walks. Bonds was barry, barry good for a 42-year-old left fielder. He’s 44 now and will be 45 in July. He’s still in marvelous condition. He should be playing baseball. “I bet you this,” Guillen told me. “Barry puts on a uniform and gets in the batter’s box, he will still make the pitcher scared.” Teahen said: “He’s the best hitter in the game. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say he could take a year off and still hit.” “Look at him,” Buck said. “He still looks like a beast. I’m sure he still has an at-bat or two in him.” Bannister added: “He always had the hand-eye coordination. He still has it.” Even Royals Hall of Famer Frank White thinks Barry could still be a difference-maker. “He’s worth three victories,” White said. “He’d certainly give your lineup credibility.” Early during Tuesday’s game I chatted with Royals general manager Dayton Moore about Bonds, KC’s players reaction to Bonds and whether the Royals would consider signing Bonds. “Where we are and what we’re trying to accomplish with this team,” Moore said, “we’re comfortable with the makeup of our team.” Jacobs and Butler DH and play first base for the Royals. They’re young and under contract. The Royals already have a defensive liability in their outfield, José Guillen. Working Bonds into the lineup would be difficult and maybe even a little painful. It would be worth it. Greinke is bidding for a nice piece of history tonight and the new K will be half full. That would not be the case with Bonds in uniform. I asked Moore if Bonds’ baggage would prevent the Royals from signing the slugger. “No,” he said. “Not for me.” Can Bonds still be a productive player? “I don’t know,” Moore said. “I can’t answer that.” Moore did add that utility infielder Julio Franco played until age 48. I could only find one man adamantly against my plan to bring Bonds to Kansas City. “I don’t think you can sit out that long and still play,” former Royal Brian McRae told me. “He’s 45. His body is worn. He’s had the hip and elbow injuries. He popped his quad and hasn’t been working out much. I just don’t think he can still be effective. “The Royals need to be a playoff team with the players they have.” McRae is wrong. The Royals need to make a playoff push by any means necessary. And Barry Bonds needs to fail at least once before I believe he can’t play any more.
Posts: 47,521

04-28-2009, 11:38 PM	#16
alnorth . Join Date: Dec 2002 Casino cash: $57176239	I'm not really convinced Bonds wants to play baseball anymore. If he did, he would have kept himself in better shape this year. If he was actually serious though, I'd sign him to a minor league contract and see if he can kill AAA pitchers. If he has a few great weeks to prove that he can actually play, bring him up. __________________ how many emo kids does it take to change a lightbulb? HOW MANY?! none they just sit in the dark and cry
Posts: 36,130

04-28-2009, 11:42 PM	#20
kcxiv In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Valley, Cali Casino cash: $8807996	Bonds never retired. He said at the beg of the year, that he's in shape and if a team wnats him, he will think about it. Problem is/was no one really interested in paying him money if he was going to jail. He was at the Dodgers/Giants game lastnight and they were saying he's in really good shape. Who knows.
Posts: 29,110

04-28-2009, 11:45 PM	#23
DaneMcCloud Supporter Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hollywood, CA Casino cash: $10053648	I won't read this J-Whit shit because he's a ****ing idiot. Signing Bonds would be the biggest mistake of the Glass era (and there have been MANY). They're building a young team and just don't need him around. It would be a major distraction and besides that, he's not one for mentoring. I like Bonds but he's just not right for KC. And Whitlock must be taking over for Teicher because his latest columns are amateurish at best.
Posts: 88,960