Giants GM: Rays should sign Bonds

Giants GM Brian Sabean has an idea for Rays counterpart Andrew Friedman - sign Barry Bonds.

Speaking on XM radio Tuesday, Sabean said "it would be smart" for the Rays to sign the controversial slugger who has been sitting out the whole season.

An excerpt of Sabean's comments, posted on the XM website:

“In a lot of ways taking this time off physically, probably in his head, made him think he could still keep on playing and I don’t doubt that from what we saw from the bat standpoint at the end of last year…I certainly think if he DH’d for somebody, even at this late juncture in the season…it doesn’t take much for him to get ready, we all saw that in spring training, after 10 at-bats he’d get bored…I think it would be smart for Tampa Bay because they are in a very unique position...as history goes with baseball with a chance to win that division against those two counterparts is pretty amazing…”

Comments

[Bandwagon Greg W.]

Hey guys, I am enjoying the ride right now and I still maintain a closet phull of phillies stuph, but it's nice to have a new team (in phirst place I might add) to phall back on too

[Greg W.]

If it ain't broke don't fix it! Please don't fall into that "Trade for a name" game. Signing Bonds would be like the BUCS signing Favre--only interested in furthering their own agendas. Let the king of 'roids stew in his own cancer-laden juices. he'd disrupt more than he would contribute. Have faith in the team you DO have, not what's not here!

[Greg W.]

As a lifetime PHILLIES fan, it was hard to give my fan allegiance to another team. However, the RAYS made it very easy. In this day of "Me first!", this team displays every day how the game is supposed to be. It seems that Joe Maddon and his staff, along with players are truly playing a "TEAM" sport. I can't wait each game to see who will step up and shine. This is not a team of millionaire cry babies like the YANKEES, but play with such a comraderie that is refreshing to see. GO RAYS! We're behind you all the way! Oh, one more thing. B.J., you need to get your head of your butt some times! GO RAYS!!!

[David S]

I wanted bonds 2 months ago when it was apparent that Longoria is our only clutch hitter & Johnny Gomes ain't the answer at DH !

[Doug]

You all have been watching too much ESPN and listening to their "talking heads" too much. SF fans never saw an arrogant Bonds. It was only the press who thought Bonds was arrogant because he wouldn't give them easy quotes and do their jobs for them. Bonds wasn't a bad guy, he just got bad press in the same way Teddy Ballgame got bad press from jealous, lazy, know-nothing jerks in the media.

Besides, chemistry is overrated. Look at Manny and LA, who have just climbed into a tie for first place. Look at the A's of the 70s, or the Bronx Zoo Yankees of the late 70s, who would have a fight in the locker room, then go out on the field and win games. The only thing that matters is winning games. As BP put it, you can put up with a lot of circus if you know there is going to be a parade at the end of the season.

It is those same ESPN talking heads who crow about chemistry all the time, but the only things that win baseball are Creating Runs, Not Making Outs, and Getting Outs on the Field. Bonds is a defensive liability, but you don't need him to play defense. If TB signed Bonds, they would have the best player in baseball at Creating Runs and Not Making Outs.

Bonds is the best hitter in the history of the game. He can also teach some of his hitting skills to the youngsters on the Rays so they could carry on and defend their title next year. Some say it was steroids, but Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's Steroids Guvinator, couldn't hit a homer to save his life. Steroids won't give you a .500 OBP and won't let you see what pitch it is the moment it comes out of a pitchers' hand. Those are mental skills, not physical.

Having Bonds in the lineup is like letting two players bat in the same lineup spot using the same potential out. Signing Bonds would give the Rays what they need to get past the Angels and get to the World Series.

[Idiot Alert]

attn: dumb_as_fuq
it's not that simple dipspit

read up on the waiver process before you post again

[raw_as_fuq]

Andrew Friedman needs to sign Raul Ibanez! The Rays need a guy that can hit against LHP and with RISP. Raul is hitting .303 with RISP and hitting .323 against LHP! He is a perfect fit.

[Andy]

For the Rays to sign the controversial slugger in Barry Bonds would send a message to all American league teams that Tampa is serious about winning the AL East and more.

Not only could Bonds be a threat for the rest of the regular season, in the playoffs most teams still fear Barry Bonds as a hitter and will be pitched away from and or walked...which leaves Longoria and Pena and other batters to see better pitches overall.

Yes Bonds is controversial as they get and every sports writer belives it would totally ruin the Rays fairy tale season.

But it wouldn't.

With a player like Bonds joining the Rays lineup..Tampa gives themselves a chance at history. Not the kind that will shatter their postseason dreams, but of one to have a shot postseason glory. I am not talking about a World Series coming to Tampa...I am talking about bringing one of the most feared hitters(and controversial) to Tampa Bay and giving it a shot.

And with giving Bonds a chance how does it differ so much from swinging for the fences?

With going for the Bonds signing the Rays either strikeout badly or can make one of the best moves in history and win a race for something they want so much in Tampa.

A division crown

[David]

I'm also a long time Bonds and Giants fan and continued to watch the Giants as I became a Rays fan. When the Rays can't hit with runners in scoring position, can't muster more runs against the A's, I long for a guy like Bonds in the lineup. I was amazed at how teams would put the shift on, pitch him so carefully he might only see a pitch or two to hit a game, and he delivered so many times. With Bonds at the plate and the game on the line, you expect him to succeed because he has so many times. Sure he isn't likely to be as good as he was, but there isn't likely to be a more disciplined batter and a more feared hitter in the Rays lineup than there would be with Bonds. It's only two months; deal with it, win the division and hit the playoffs strong.

[Mike]

I don't think the teams below us in the standings would allow Ibanez to make it as far as the Rays through waivers.

[Ray F]

I heard that Ibanez was on waivers too. I'll take Raul any day.

Imagine what kind of damage an Ibanez/Longo/Pena triple threat would look like!!!

Sign Raul!!!

[dave]

I'm one of the few people I know that has supported Barry throughout his career -- I don't care if he's a jerk, he can play, and as a fan that's all I expect from a player. If someone like Mantle or Ruth were playing today, they might have the same attitude towards the media, so Barry's probably not the evil person snubbed reporters make him out to be.

Having said that, I don't want to see the Rays sign him. 1. It's pitching, pitching, pitching that win the playoffs (see various Yankee teams that scored 1000+ runs in the season and exited the first round). 2. Rust is rust, even on Bonds, and I think it would be foolish to think he could step up to the plate today and be the same player he was last year. 3. Even if he plays well, there is no way to void the fact that he is the poster boy for *, and there is no way to avoid the inevitable distraction he would bring.

Stand pat, believe in the team, and revel in the fact we're going to be playing in October...

[Carl]

Did anyone read what Sabean was quoted as saying, "it doesn’t take much for him to get ready, we all saw that in spring training, after 10 at-bats he’d get bored". I don't think we need a "bored" baseball player with all the hop and excitement this team has. Bonds is an energy vampire. He sucks all the fun out of playing the game. Stay the course. Ride it out. There is no need to fiddle with the chemistry. Go Rays!

[RB]

Barry 8:14 - you are welcome to join Tampa, I'm sure the Yankees class A farm team would like to have you.

But, please don't find your way to St. Pete where the Rays play, we don't want you.

[rob]

I'd say get Sheff and Bonds to replace Longo and CC. Different types of players but we'll sure scare the opposition.

[Barry Bonds]

I would love to join Tampa for the remainder of the season. Do the clubhouse lockers have individual medicine cabinets?

[Fuber]

Bonds came out in the 7th innings because the manager would pull him. Also note that he was playing outfield. With the Rays, it'd be DH and he has a proven record of getting on base alot. As long as the roids investigation doesn't heat up, I think it'd be fine to bring him in. He's kind of a loner but it's hard to say how much chemistry he could breakup since I'm not in the clubhouse, just in the cheap seats.

[ms]

sounds like the disney movie of the week. Tired, old and humbled. the once arrogant slugger finally gets his chance to win a world series ring on a team full of rookies that have a history of being one of the worst in baseball. game 7... bottom of the ninth... bases loaded... barry comes up to bat... only one way that movie could end.

its win-win; i heard bonds say that he would use his league minimum salary to buy tickets for kids.

[Demetrios]

I really want to see Bonds in uniform. There is nothing like a well-developed set of buttocks in baseball pants to get me VERY excited!
If we can sign Bonds I yell "OPA" and buy all young boys big shots of Ouzo!!!

[Demetrios]

I just saw an article by Rosenthall that Ibanez from Seattle was claimed from the waiver wire by an AL team. He says the Rays were very interested in him. Of course, any AL team except the Angels could claim him ahead of us to block the acquisition. I'll take him and his .280 avg!

[Mark]

Demetrios ..excellent points.. Adding Bonds to the lineup if anything scares opposing pitchers. Ask Jeff Kent when he was in SF what its like to bat behind or in front of the HR king, very easy. Longo is the only player in our lineup(was in our lineup) that scared anyone. Now, Joe plays small ball, Pena bunts in the 4 hole, will he ask Barry to do something like that, who knows. But adding Bonds will increase attendance down the stretch, increase the hitting confidence of our other hitters in the lineup, and most importantly provide stability to atleast one position in our batting order.

[Demetrios]

As much as I don't like Bonds, I think the benefits outweigh the risks if we sign him. I've been saying this since they couldn't pull the trigger on a trade before the deadline. No one can argue that he would not be an upgrade at DH. I think his attitude would be a little better in that he has been humbled by the lack of interest in his services. He also would have a huge chip on his shoulder to produce at the plate. As far as Sheffield is concerned, he wants to play in the OF and that is where he may bring a bad attitude with him. Bonds most likely will be content to DH.

Chances are that he will be able to find his swing quickly. Tell me what pitcher would not p..s in his pants having to face him with men in scoring position. With all due respect to Floyd and Hinske, they don't measure up to Bonds.

Lola is looking hotter and hotter everyday!

[Greg Vaughn]

Hey, I'm available. "Hit Show". Sing it.

[Drew]

Kenny Lofton is out there!

[Wily Aybar]

Razzle,

Rays fans don't even need to look back on old teams to find disgraceful players. Remember why I was late to Spring Training?

[SC]

So, bye bye Young and Dukes and the Rays go up in the standings. Lesson learned: get rid of the bad tudes.

Now, entertaining bringing in Bonds, who would leave games in the 7th inning last year while in San Fran, and all around bad attitude all the time? Rays would go down in standings. Ya gotta be kidding me.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Stacy-Cole-Show Come listen Monday-Friday 8:30-9:30 PM www.stacycoleshow.com www.myspace.com/stacycoleshow

[JeffC]

No way the Rays sign him. Period.

[Razzlegator]

Don't forget; we once employed Jose Canseco.

[Not the Marlboro Man]

I'd rather loose the rest of the season than to sign that arrogant narcissistic lying bad guy, and the same goes for Roger Clemans. I don't want the Rays to be tied to Baseball History along side any scandalous fraudulent creeps like those two.

[Razzlegator]

It's called: "Damned Yankees". Rent it.
What ever Lola wants, Lola gets. Sell,Sell,Sell.

[sal]

So you will sell your soul to the devil just to reach the postseason?

My god, you've all turned into a bunch of Bucs fans!!!!!!

[james jones]

Barry! Barry! Barry! Barry! Barry!
Barry! Barry! Barry! Barry! Barry!

I don't care if Bin Laden is out there just get us to the postseason.

[Christopher Walken]

You go Will.
More Cowbell.

[Will Ferrell]

Will Barry Bonds wear a cowbell around his neck if we get him? That's what we need, MORE COWBELL!!!

[Dolla]

Sheff is owed 14 million dollars next year. Bonds would play for the minimum...nuff said

[jor]

What about Pete Rose?

[Jeff]

Bonds would be a much better decision than Sheffield and his rapidly decreasing production. But if Andrew was going to do it, I would hope he wouldn't listen to the general manager who signed Barry Zito over himself, who has had a great run.

[Razzlegator]

At this point we have nothing to lose. Somebody has to go. That would be Cliff Floyd. Doesn't seem comfortable though. Last time we listened to a Mets GM we got Kid K. It might work.

[Caleb]

Sheffield is garbage now. Bonds is the hottest bat of this generation and all you want to pump up your pride...well swallow it, now.

If pride/chemistry mattered, the Yanks and Redsox wouldn't have won so many championships. You play to win the game, and guess what...the Rays aren't playing to win. Oh, and before someone goes off spewing the "hey, look at our record idiot" garbage, news flash, look at the run production all year; if you think that's going to be nifty enough to win in the playoffs, you don't know baseball(see Rangers vs Sox last night as example). Yes, I am a Rays fan, however I'm not riding the high horse Freidman seems to be riding all the time.

[dick]

What an endorsement--what more do you need. He comes cheap and CAN'T HURT this team for at least the remainder of the season. Attendance would spike, opponents would follow history and walk him (more men on base) frequently. His arrogance, isolation and ego will not hurt this tgeam of YOUNGSTERS and you can bet your bottom $$ that Bonds would play his heart out just to show his critics that he can still do it. What baggage is there to be concerned about. so what if he probably can't play the field---he can hit lefties as well as righties, doesn't strike out all that much and I have no doubt he would be an asset to this team for the remainder of the season. compared to Sheffield, no comparison and from where I'm looking, weighing the pros and cons--where are the cons???? DO IT !!!

[Chris]

Yea I think Sheffield would be a much better fit. He could be the big right handed bat we need right now and has the playoff expierence. Besides he's from Tampa anyways!

Sheffield was just placed on waivers!

[Caleb]

Do it Andrew, do it!