Batter Up August 12th, 2007

Baseball has a mystical side for me. I’ve long felt that the spirit of former players is transferred to the players currently playing the game. It’s the way baseball connects from generation to generation.

Here are some players whose careers are linked together; Rod Carew and Ichiro; Ty Cobb and Pete Rose; Lefty Grove and Randy Johnson; Stan Musial and George Brett; Josh Gibson and Roy Campanella; Jimmie Foxx and Harmon Killebrew; and Duke Snider and Reggie Jackson.

The next coupling hit me this week as I watched all the hoopla surrounding Barry Bonds. Click Below for More!

Richard Nixon and Bonds. The former president steadfastly denied any wrongdoing during the Watergate investigation. He was no crook. It wasn’t until a close associate testified (John Dean) and the smoking gun was found (the tapes) that Nixon had to face the truth. He was a liar.

Bonds faces substantial direct and indirect evidence linking him to steroid use. Sudden increase in body mass, larger cap size, sudden spike in home run power, plus his personal trainer, Greg Anderson, is doing time for not authenticating written records before the Grand Jury which appear to outline Bonds’ drug cycles.

Bonds is the best power hitter I’ve ever seen on the diamond. I just don’t want to see him interviewed, discuss his personal life, or see him hug his teammates on the field after a home run.

Bonds has no credibility. It’s embarrassing to see Willie Mays stand next to him on the field. Bud Selig (hands in pockets) and Hank Aaron (peacefully asleep 3000 miles away) did everything possible to let the public know indirectly how they feel about this record.

Baseball historians will determine Bonds’ place in history once all the dust settles.

Now every time I see Bonds interviewed I substitute the face of Richard Nixon in my mind. Barry Bonds is Richard Nixon.

The smoking gun in this case is in jail in Dublin remaining silent. Nixon was not so lucky.

Now back to baseball.

Amazing that the Minnesota Twins are still in the race for a playoff spot yet make no player moves for the stretch drive. The Twins have been desperate for a legitimate hitter all season. Young pitchers Matt Garza and Scott Baker are throwing well. Johan Santana is an ace. The Indians and Tigers have played sub .500 ball over the last few weeks. The team is getting a new ballpark, the fans come out, why not trade some prospects and go for a player who can make a difference?

Eric Byrnes deserves every penny of the 30 million dollar contract he signed this week. The former Athletic excites the home crowd with each swing he takes, each throw he uncorks, and each time he runs the bases.

The MVP of the Diamondbacks is second baseman Orlando Hudson. Hudson has no peer in the game defensively at second base.

The Padres have one of the best pitcher’s parks in the game today. Yet David Wells couldn’t win there and has been designated for assignment. Wells will pitch again for a contender this season, but his new team shouldn’t expect any different results than the Padres received.

Normally the seasoned pros take over in September. This year young players might make the difference. Keep your eyes on Boston’s Dustin Pedroia, Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki, LA’s James Loney, LAA’s Reggie Willits, Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun, NYY’s Philip Hughes and Joba Chamberlin, and Arizona’s Chris Young and Justin Upton down the stretch.

Until the Braves figure out how to close a game successfully they won’t catch the Mets in the East.

Powerful White Sox rookie third baseman Josh Fields looks like the real deal. Joe Crede will have a new home next season.