Sign Barry?

by LosAngel on Sep 15, 2006 11:36 PM PDT

Who thinks we should make a run at signing Bonds in the offseason? If there is one thing this team needs, it's plate discipline, and Bonds might be the best ever. Put your personal feelings aside about the guy. Not only would he provide some much needed pop and lineup protection for Vlad, or vice versa, he could potentially fill in for the hitting coach we seem to be lacking. I think that if Rivera and Vlad could approach hitting with more of a plan, they could be even better players. Just watching Barry at the dish could be enough to put the rest of the guys over the top. I think that Bonds wants to win a World Series so bad right now that he might actually file in as a team player, believe it or not. Without a doubt, if we were to sign him, he could only make the team better, and I think he could have a positive and dramatic impact on the young guys with his baseball knowledge. I say, sign Barry and as long as he stays healthy with Vlad and the current pitching staff, it'll be enough to win it all. He may be old, but his knee is finally getting healthy and he could provide a huge boost next year.

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Barry would be a great DH

in theory. In practice he would blow.

by Rev Halofan on Sep 15, 2006 11:39 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah

It would be like something out of an Indiana Jones movie: watch him swing too hard and turn into a pile of dust.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Sep 15, 2006 11:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Never happen

If they signed Bonds, Scioscia would have to bench GA on days he could not play in the field, or if he wanted Rivera in the lineup. Scioscia is physically unable to bench GA. Bonds won't sign if he is going to be a platoon player. Thus, it can't happen.

Bring back Al Wisk!!!

by Sixtyminuteman on Sep 15, 2006 11:48 PM PDT reply actions

No Bonds cause we can't play GA & Rivera?

For real? Um, if I have Bonds on my team, I'd sit either one of these guys, no problem. Besides, put Rivera in center and platoon GA and Bonds between left and DH. The extra offense will more than offset the defense. Besides, Bonds still needs the occasional day off, so it's not like Sosh couldn't continue to do his current daily lineup shuffle.

by LosAngel on Sep 16, 2006 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions

You would sit GA, I would sit GA,

but Scioscia will NEVER consistently sit GA as long as he can swing the bat. Earlier this year when he couldn't buy a hit off LHP is proof of this.

Plus, you just assume Bonds would be willing to platoon with GA. Why would he sign here to play part time when he can sign elsewhere and play everyday?

Bring back Al Wisk!!!

by Sixtyminuteman on Sep 16, 2006 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Zito not Bonds

"The last time we got in a fight, we won the Series," Lackey said. "I'll be OK with that. Let's get it rolling."

by atomburn on Sep 15, 2006 11:49 PM PDT reply actions

And trade Santana or Saunders

for Wells.

by akathelorax @ Halos Heaven on Sep 16, 2006 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions

pays the costs to be the boss

The price for Wells is likely to be staggering. We will almost certainly have to give up one of our blue chip young hitters along with a major league ready starter. If it makes sense at all, it's time for Stoneman to pull the trigger.

by elricsi on Sep 16, 2006 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions

We don't have any young blue-chip hitters

You're talking about hee Angels, right? Four runs in the past 29 innings Angels?

by Rev Halofan on Sep 16, 2006 12:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Zito

Is not worth the money he will command. If we are going to sign a starter for big money, and Zito will get HUGE dollars, I want a guy who can shutdown a top offense in the playoffs. Zito is not that guy. Look at his numbers against Boston and the Yankees this year (and the year before, and the year before....) and think again. He is great against average and mediocre lineups, but like the A's, he is not built to dominate in the playoffs.

by LosAngel on Sep 16, 2006 12:07 AM PDT up reply actions

Have you not been watching this team?

Overspending on an above-average starting pitcher is not going to happen when the team's focus MUST be on offense.

Fire Mickey Hatcher. An entire generation of Angels offense depends upon it.

by scareduck on Sep 16, 2006 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions

Above-average?

BZ: At-Best-Average...

by Rev Halofan on Sep 16, 2006 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions

former

cy young winner, just a few years ago

A bad day at the ballpark is better than the best day at work

by SoCalSoxFan @ Halos Heaven on Sep 16, 2006 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Inviting Bartolo Colon over to dinner?

by Rev Halofan on Sep 16, 2006 8:35 PM PDT up reply actions

No....

...just no. The obvious: he'd be too much of a distraction on a team that never tolerates dsitractions. See Jose Guillen, Casey Kotchman (remember him?) to a lesser extent this year and various others (Edgardo Alfonzo, Scott Schoenweis, Jarrod Washburn). Signing Bonds would be a 180 degree reversal of everything this team has built its foundation upon. And they wouldn't be signing a Bonds in his prime, either. You'd get a Bonds at 43 or however old he is who has to take many days off for ailments he won't let anyone but his own people look at. He's all about himself, and there is absolutely nothing in his history that would even remotely suggest he'd be any sort of a hitting coach or a "team player". His left elbow, not his knee, is the major concern. He has said within the last couple of days that if he returns to the Giants, he'll likely have surgey to have loose chips removed. If he goes to the A.L. to DH, likely no surgery. So, no thank you very little.

by beercub @ Halos Heaven on Sep 16, 2006 9:35 AM PDT reply actions

And the only less obvious...

...if the Giants, after all the two entities have been through, are letting their private thoughts about not automatically re-upping Bonds go public, don't want him, there's more here yet to come. Right or wrong, Bonds' legal problems could very well preclude him from playing anywhere in 2007.

by beercub @ Halos Heaven on Sep 16, 2006 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions

Bonds = Distraction?

Um, yea, no. So much of a distraction that the Giants are ALWAYS in playoff contention, year after year, as long as Bonds is healthy.

I'd take that kind of distraction any day. It's all about winning, and Barry's team's win.

Actually, the last couple of years, Barry has been taking more of a leadership role, helping the youngsters out, you just don't hear it much outside of the steriod talk.

by LosAngel on Sep 17, 2006 1:31 AM PDT up reply actions

My Goodness

I'm sorry, but there's no way on God's green earth you're ever going to sell me on the idea that Barry Bonds is a team player. None, zero, zip. Nada. We'll just have to disagree. Vehemently.

As for the post season thing, yep, Bonds' team are a collective 2-7 in post-season series. Outside of 2002, which is when his team won two series only to lose to the Angels, every other time his team was out after the first round. Three were with Pittsburgh, and none with the Giants since 2003.

After watching how Stoneman and Scioscia deal with players, no matter who they are, that cause distractions, do you seriously really think they would take on someone like Bonds and all his baggage? How could they ever look another player in the eye when talking about their rigid philosphy towards the game and retain any credibility?

by beercub @ Halos Heaven on Sep 17, 2006 7:51 AM PDT up reply actions

Like kids in a candy store

Mom, look at that colorful lollipop!

All this Michael Young, Barry Bonds, Alfonso Soriano talk.... Ever look at the roster composition for a second?

There are three positions the team has holes at, and there are four positions the team's way over booked:

Holes -- 3B, CF, 1B
Overbooked -- LF, RF, DH, SS

Any "solution" to our offensive problems that brings in yet another LF/RF/DH/SS is both foolish and unrealistic.

Also, we have two good prospects who play 1B.

Repeate after me -- Aramis Ramirez, Vernon Wells, Miguel Tejada (for 3B). Or at least dream up a scenario that actually solves problems more than "he hit ball far!!"

by mattwelch on Sep 16, 2006 10:39 AM PDT reply actions

Ramirez, yes but no to Wells/Tejada

We already offered the world for Tejada and their idiot owner turned it down. He doesn't want to play 3rd either. Give up on that one.

As for Wells, he's too expensive for a guy who can be had after next season without giving up prospects. If we trade a Wood and Santana and he signs with Texas or Houston after 2007, we'd look pretty stupid.

You're right that our holes are CF, 3B and 1B. I also agree that we can leave 1B for the winner of the Kotchman/Morales derby or platoon D-Mac and Q if Dallas is ever healthy.

Why can't you see Alfonso playing Center? He's a gifted athlete with speed to spare. Just look at him and tell me he can't play CF with an entire spring to adjust to the reads.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Sep 16, 2006 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Panther!

Bring back Al Wisk!!!

by Sixtyminuteman on Sep 16, 2006 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions

As for Soriano....

...he'd have to WANT to play CF. He went kicking and screaming to LF of course, but according to some sources, he still fancies himself a second baseman. Yet another change might not go over so well, no matter how much money is thrown his way.

by beercub @ Halos Heaven on Sep 16, 2006 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions

His issue with playing 2nd...

...was as a concern for his market value as a pending free agent. That isn't going to be an issue anymore. He'll go wherever the most $ is, period. If Stoneman fancies him a CF, he'll be upfront about it. If we offer the most money and he gets to play with Vlad on the team with the most Dominicans in MLB, plus having a Spanish speaking manager and owner, great weather, and a non-intrusive media, I say we've got a great shot.

At 30 years old, this will be his last monster contract, trust me, he'll follow the money.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Sep 16, 2006 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions

We'll see......

by beercub @ Halos Heaven on Sep 16, 2006 5:59 PM PDT up reply actions

amen

put Soriano in center, don't give up prospects, and watch us win the next 5 AL Wests.

by thewebb on Sep 16, 2006 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions

CF's hard to play

That's my biggest problem. Soriano's not a good defender, is over 30, and has never played center. People don't tend to begin their CF careers after age 30, especially coming from easier positions, like LF. We'll have a crappy defensive outfield for the next couple of years, so it's crucial that the CF is as good as possible, and not some square-peg-in-round-hole jobbie.

by mattwelch on Sep 16, 2006 11:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Mark these words

Soriano is playing for a big contract. He will never again come even close to these numbers. Maybe he will have a decent first year, but he will be a total bust beyond that. Here's hoping we don't sign the guy.

by LosAngel on Sep 17, 2006 1:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Fair enough

Outfield D would definitely not be a strength is this scenario, but perhaps for only 1 season. We could sign Wells after the 2007 season if he's not locked up by then, and put G>.A. on the bench (where he'll belong) sorta like the Yanks did with Bernie.

We could play Wells in Center, Vlad in Right and Soriano in Left with Rivera as DH (or Soriano).

The right play to ensure "perennial contender" status is to hang on the prospects and shore up the offensive weaknesses thru free agency. Soriano or Lee (and/or A. Ramirez) simply have to be on the table this winter.

The trade route will be costly for any impact bat. My concern is the net benefit of any moves. If we pick up Wells but lose Santana and Wood, I say we're weaker long term and only moderately better short term.

DarkAngel hath spoken....

by darkangel01 on Sep 17, 2006 1:34 AM PDT up reply actions

agree in a way

although I would argue that left field may be just as tough if not tougher than CF thanks to the high amount of righties and scorched balls that go to left, and don't go there on a straight line.

You are correct that most players don't start their CF careers at 30, but most 30 year olds don't steal 40+ bases either. This guy is not typical.

Would he be Willie Mays, Wells, or Andruw Jones? Heck no, but I'd take his total package over any of our current options without question and probably over 'light hitting and lost a step' Torri Hunter.

The great point you do make is that our corner outfielders should be brutal (for sure in RF, Rivera could be above average in LF I think), so we need a stud CF. It all depends on what we do with 3rd and 1B. We can't have light hitting corner guys, SS, and even power wise at 2nd and then have some speedy light hitting CF.

We just can't count on a trade for Wells. I'd love him on this team, but don't think you can count on that so I'm looking at feasible options.

Thoughts on Hunter? I may be able to be talked in to him getting him off the turf, but he's nowhere near the hitter Soriano is. Better defender no question.

by thewebb on Sep 18, 2006 11:12 AM PDT up reply actions

Barry would never

sign with the Disneyland Angels.

He is coming to Oakland to hit behind Frank.

low payroll, high performance. Go A's!

by SoCalAsFan on Sep 16, 2006 11:02 AM PDT reply actions

WooHoo Word Jumbles by Yoda

He is coming to Oakland to hit behind Frank.

Coming to Oakland he, is hit Frank behind to.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, eats ketchup on a hot dog. ~Dirty Harry

by eyespy on Sep 16, 2006 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions

lol

john RIP samo

by angels4adam on Sep 16, 2006 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Fuck'em

"Fuck the bondsman. I will do the time." -Madame Rev

by cupie on Sep 16, 2006 11:49 AM PDT reply actions

Lets do this:

Let's sign the anabolic steroid, and use him as our DH.

We will trade Lackey and Rivera to Toronto for Vernon Wells, and, I don't know, Ted Lilly? Hopefully he won't punch out our manager.

And then we'll move Figgy (he just hit for the cycle, his value is high! Yay!), and some throw-in to the White Sox for Crede.

That would give us a decent lineup, but don't ask me who would lead off, it's 3 AM, and I'm beat.

by bc56274 on Sep 17, 2006 2:49 AM PDT reply actions

YES

we have to sign barry. he was basically on the 2002 angels. he won a world series with us. he should go into the angel's hall of fame. and he should go into the baseball hall of fame as an angel. he gives life to the angels, and i love him for that.

john RIP samo

by angels4adam on Sep 18, 2006 12:18 PM PDT reply actions