When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

08.08.2008
Outfielder Reunion

11am UPDATE: ESPN.com reports that San Diego's Brian Giles will likely veto a trade to Boston, which claimed Giles on waivers. the Sox and Pads would like to work something out, but Giles's veteran status gives him veto power. By nixing the deal, he denies himself a fantastic opportunity to win a World Series. He's been to the playoffs several times but this year's Sox are his best bet to go all the way (especially if he joins the team). I guess he's more comfortable staying in his home town and dwelling in the cellar. Reminds me of the Fred McGriff situation in 2001 when he refused to go from Tampa to the Cubs.

*****

Saturday's game features the 50th anniversary outfielder reunion, and everyone's abuzz about Barry. What, Mike Kingery and Jim Howarth aren't enough?

Will or won't Bonds participate? His publicist told our local scribes that he's on vay-kay in Hawai'i, but it's all a little too cagey for me. On his regular radio spot on KNBR, Duane Kuiper said a bit tongue-in-cheekly he expects Bonds to parachute in at the last moment. If he does, it would be a great practical joke to have fake sheriff's officials waiting on the ground with a subpoena.

What do you think? Are the wounds of last year's separation too raw? Is Bonds holding out for a fat appearance fee? Do you want him to be there?
  


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[August 8, 2008 11:20 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Zo said

If the Giants are going to honor outfielders of the last 50 years on Saturday, maybe they should honor Barry Bonds every home game for the entire month of September. He's worth it. The Giants tried to be cagey by saying that Barry was one of the Giants' outfielders, so of course we want him there. Damning with faint praise is an insult to the man who carried this team and filled this stadium. His appearance would, of course, be an excuse for every columnist in the region to trot out those old, tired, bilious columns about how Bonds is public enemy number one, and for that, I almost hope he doesn't come. But if he does, anyone who doesn't stand and cheer until security makes them shut up should be gutted and quartered right then and there and thrown on the field for the seagulls. Normal ground rules apply.

[August 8, 2008 11:29 AM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

What if Bonds wanted $1 M to appear? Would you expect the Giants to pay it? I have no idea if he wants a big fee, but knowing what we know about him, it's quite possible.

[August 8, 2008 11:32 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Zo said

No. Were that true, the Giants could really bury him by saying just that. And I bet they would, too. I guess it is impossible to overestimate Bonds' ego, along with most other superstars in any field, but it would seem like a dumb move on his part to me.

[August 8, 2008 12:43 PM]  |  link  |  reply
reeky said

For better or worse, he won't show. There are just too many festering, pus-spewing wounds for that to happen. Give it a couple of years, maybe.

[August 8, 2008 1:31 PM]  |  link  |  reply
trilljester said

Meh @ Bonds. I'd think he'd want to show up for the fans as he's always said that we're the best fans in all of baseball. But the sour taste in his mouth from the front office will probably keep him away.

Any of you watching these Classic Games on Comcast Sportsnet? I watched that great game against the Astros in August of 1987 last night, when Will the Thrill hit a walkoff to win it. That 1987 team was so much fun to watch.

Guys I'd like to see on Saturday:

Candy Maldonado
Eddie Milner
Chili Davis
The Hackman
Kevin Mitchell
Jack Clark
Marquis Grissom
Brett Butler (oooh, think he'd get booed because he was with the Dodgers so many years?)

[August 8, 2008 1:46 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

I was a huge Terry Whitfield fan when I was a wee one. He hit lefty, which I could identify with, and he had an extreme reverse-toe plant in his stance that I loved to imitate.

[August 8, 2008 5:45 PM]  |  link  |  reply
trilljester replied to ELM

Good call on Whitfield. Growing up playing Little League, I imitated Will Clark's stance. Since I am left handed and played 1B, he was the first Giant that I related to.

I still do my Will Clark impression when I go to batting cages. Bad (or good) habits don't die!

[August 9, 2008 6:41 PM]  |  link  |  reply
obsessivegiantscompulsive replied to ELM

Ha! Terry Whitfield's name popped up first when I saw the list and thought of who else. I debated whether to add him or not until ELM beat me to the punch.

George Foster is the next, the Giants broke my heart by trading him...

Gary Maddux and Gary Mathews, Sr., though Sarge broke my heart (well, maybe that's too strong; I was just not very happy) when he took off via free agency. I wouldn't mind seeing Billy North.

Larry Herndon anyone? Gary Thomasson? Mike Aldrete? Ken Henderson? Mark Leonard? Jim Wohlford? Dan Gladden? Rob Deer? Dave Henderson? Derrel Thomas? Ooo, Glenallen "Spiderman" Hill?

For some reason, I really like Dave Bergman, who was more 1B but played some OF. Speaking of which, I think Darrell Evans played some OF for us, as well as corner IF.

How about Dave Kingman? Though he would have qualified at infield and outfield, he started out at 3B then moved to LF.

Randy Elliot was my first phenom that broke my heart by never making it...

Brett Butler would have a lot of nerve to show up, but whatever.

Speaking of people I wouldn't want to see, not to speak ill of the dead, but I would not have wanted to see Bobby Murcer show up, though I doubt he would, he would have loved to have those Giant days erased from his memory, from what I read.

I wouldn't care to see Willie McGee either, the Giants paid so much and got so little, I kind of blame him for the lackluster performances of the teams he was on.

I would have liked to have seen Bobby Bonds....

Kind of stream of consciousness, other than the last, which I saved for best...

[August 8, 2008 5:15 PM]  |  link  |  reply
dignan said

Bonds ain't going to show and I can't really say I blame him. The guy has been trying to get a job in the league all year at reportedly, league minimum salarly. It still is just insane to me that an AL team in contention wouldn't pick him up. At this point I don't see how the guy could not be beyond bitter and wan't nothing to do with the league period.

[August 8, 2008 6:42 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM replied to dignan

Let's wait til the end of the month. He can join a team until Aug 31 and still be eligible for post-season. Perhaps a team on the brink will figure the media shitstorm will be worth it.

[August 11, 2008 12:01 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Zo said

Remind me not to take any hot stock tips from anyone here, myself included.

[August 11, 2008 6:36 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Horacio Verde said

It was good to see both Bonds and Bugsy back in SF, but Boogie Bear Mitchell will always be my favorite Giants outfielder that doesn't have a statue erected in front of the yard. Played hard every day, had no fear, and earned every dollar they paid him. The Anti-Kingman.