Bonds rips Bonds
By Steve Henson, Yahoo! Sports
July 15, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO – Remember the joyful, playful Barry Bonds who welcomed one and all at the All-Star Game less than a week ago?
He's buried under an 0-for-20 slump, including a humiliating series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that included three losses and a flurry of strikeouts, double-play ground balls and pop-ups by the player San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy calls, "our go-to guy."
So Bonds ripped Bonds.
"It's an embarrassment to be wearing this (bleeping) uniform, the way I'm playing," he said after angrily telling television crews to turn off their cameras.
"There, that's it. Now, get away."
Reporters standing at his locker lingered for one more question.
So Bonds cursed Bonds.
"I said I'm embarrassed to have this (bleeping) uniform on, the way I'm playing," he repeated.
He stood up and waved his arm at the throng.
"Now, get out of here."
The reporters dispersed, and good thing. Anybody in Bonds' way might have suffered the same fate as the laundry cart that blocked his way to the trainer's room. He knocked it over, its wheels spinning in the musty air.
The Giants spun their wheels for three days against their rivals to the south, and Bonds spun on his heels, swinging and missing, swinging and nicking only the top or bottom of the ball. He remains at 751 home runs, four from catching leader Hank Aaron on the all-time list, and the way he's going it might take a while. His last homer came July 3 and his 43rd birthday looms July 24.
Bochy opined that his slugger might have been "a little pull conscious," but Bonds dismissed the suggestion to reporters, saying, "That's not it."
Bonds could contemplate his slump during a flight to Chicago. As for the Giants, nothing is expected to help their plight. Two series on the road against the resurgent Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers aren't likely to serve as a balm, although a day off might help Bonds.
"Getting swept at home shouldn't happen," Bochy said. "I don't know. Maybe (a road trip) will help us. We certainly aren't playing the type of baseball we need to play here at home."
The Giants couldn’t muster much offense against Dodgers fill-in starter Brett Tomko, and they were held scoreless by four relievers over the last four innings in the 5-3 loss.
Bonds popped up against closer Takashi Saito to end the game. He struck out with two runners on base to end the seventh. He popped up with a runner on third to end the fifth, not even bothering to run to first base. He stranded runners in the first and third innings as well.
His most solid contact was with a laundry cart. His most pointed criticism was directed at himself.
The All-Star Game was a distant memory.
Steve Henson is the MLB editor for Yahoo! Sports. Send Steve a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
By Steve Henson, Yahoo! Sports
July 15, 2007
SAN FRANCISCO – Remember the joyful, playful Barry Bonds who welcomed one and all at the All-Star Game less than a week ago?
He's buried under an 0-for-20 slump, including a humiliating series against the Los Angeles Dodgers that included three losses and a flurry of strikeouts, double-play ground balls and pop-ups by the player San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy calls, "our go-to guy."
So Bonds ripped Bonds.
"It's an embarrassment to be wearing this (bleeping) uniform, the way I'm playing," he said after angrily telling television crews to turn off their cameras.
"There, that's it. Now, get away."
Reporters standing at his locker lingered for one more question.
So Bonds cursed Bonds.
"I said I'm embarrassed to have this (bleeping) uniform on, the way I'm playing," he repeated.
He stood up and waved his arm at the throng.
"Now, get out of here."
The reporters dispersed, and good thing. Anybody in Bonds' way might have suffered the same fate as the laundry cart that blocked his way to the trainer's room. He knocked it over, its wheels spinning in the musty air.
The Giants spun their wheels for three days against their rivals to the south, and Bonds spun on his heels, swinging and missing, swinging and nicking only the top or bottom of the ball. He remains at 751 home runs, four from catching leader Hank Aaron on the all-time list, and the way he's going it might take a while. His last homer came July 3 and his 43rd birthday looms July 24.
Bochy opined that his slugger might have been "a little pull conscious," but Bonds dismissed the suggestion to reporters, saying, "That's not it."
Bonds could contemplate his slump during a flight to Chicago. As for the Giants, nothing is expected to help their plight. Two series on the road against the resurgent Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers aren't likely to serve as a balm, although a day off might help Bonds.
"Getting swept at home shouldn't happen," Bochy said. "I don't know. Maybe (a road trip) will help us. We certainly aren't playing the type of baseball we need to play here at home."
The Giants couldn’t muster much offense against Dodgers fill-in starter Brett Tomko, and they were held scoreless by four relievers over the last four innings in the 5-3 loss.
Bonds popped up against closer Takashi Saito to end the game. He struck out with two runners on base to end the seventh. He popped up with a runner on third to end the fifth, not even bothering to run to first base. He stranded runners in the first and third innings as well.
His most solid contact was with a laundry cart. His most pointed criticism was directed at himself.
The All-Star Game was a distant memory.
Steve Henson is the MLB editor for Yahoo! Sports. Send Steve a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
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