Collusion

[sbmnky]

Re: Collusion

there are hundreds of "terrible teammates" out there and they still get signed, not opening talking to everyone is not a terrible teammate. baseball has ****ed him over enough



Jeff Kent comes to mind

Bonds has done this to himself - baseball has been more than generous to Bonds. Unless there are written records stating collusion, I don't see how you'd ever be able to prove it.

As far as Jeff Kent is concerned, I'm not sure what you're referring to when you call him a "terrible teammate." He is clearly a guy who puts on the uniform everyday to win - he's never been an "I" guy. I can't think of a worse teammate than somebody who only thinks of himself and his stats before the team.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Collusion

ya he can probably still hit but he's regarded as a terrible team mate and someone that can ruin a team's chemistry

PROBABLY still hit? Have you seen his OPS from last year?

[NYJets]

Re: Collusion

Ha, I know what you mean. I am not implicating Gwynn, just saying that he was a player during this era, and because of that, he should receive the same critical eye that everyone else does because we don't know with any certainty which players "used".

But we do know that Bonds used.

Everything in this era can be questioned, but I'm not going to assume players used steroids when there's no evidence, and I'm not going to ignore the evidence for the players who have.

[bullpen]

Re: Collusion

I might be wrong, but I always thought that Bonds was not a member of the MLBPA.

If it's the case, I don't think they're gonna do anything for him.

[RandyMoss84]

Re: Collusion

I might be wrong, but I always thought that Bonds was not a member of the MLBPA.

If it's the case, I don't think they're gonna do anything for him.

hes just not part of the licensing agreement

[Hootiefish]

Re: Collusion

Jayson Stark has a decent little article on espn.com about Bonds still being a F.A.

My question, and the question that the article raises is this: right now, what team needs him?

The N.L. is out due to his inability to field the position, which leaves 14 A.L. teams. Here is a quick review of the 14 teams and their respective DH status.

Baltimore – Rebuilding (finally)
Boston – Big Papi
Chicago – Jim Thome
Cleveland – Pronk
Detroit – Sheff
K.C. – Youth movement. Although it will be interesting to see if they consider Bonds if they stay in contention (which I doubt they will)
L.A. – Sarge Jr. and a glut of corner outfielders/DH's
Minn. – Rebuilding
N.Y. – Never outside the realm of possibility, but it would mean that Damon would have to shift back into centerfield
Oakland – Rebuilding
Seattle – A decent fit, and one that may come up if Vidro replaces Lopez in the field.
Tampa – They publicly considered the move, but it would be nothing more than a seat filler as they have zero chance of winning this year.
Texas – While Bonds would be a decent fit, they don't need him. They need pitching.
Toronto – Big Hurt

So, out of 14 teams, five are in rebuilding/youth movements, six have either a better option or more money tied into the DH position, two have have an opening but Bonds isn't really a necessity, and one team is a smart fit.

Until injuries start to hit teams, no team other than Seattle is a smart fit.

Doesn't sound like collusion to me.

[CMH]

Re: Collusion

Tell Barry to lower his contract demands and he'll get an offer.

[bkrich83]

Re: Collusion

Why would a team want to sign an outfielder who can't play the field, is probably facing a trial in the very near future, and has a set of baggage that comes with him that has no comparison in the baseball world.

I suspect he'll get signed as we get further in to the pennant race. A team like Seattle could use him as a DH. Or if another AL team suffers an injury to a big bat and could use him as a DH.

But the notion of collusion is hilarious. Teams simply don't want to deal with all that comes along with signing Bonds, especially since his effectiveness is pretty limited.

[sbmnky]

Re: Collusion

Why would a team want to sign an outfielder who can't play the field, is probably facing a trial in the very near future, and has a set of baggage that comes with him that has no comparison in the baseball world.

I suspect he'll get signed as we get further in to the pennant race. A team like Seattle could use him as a DH. Or if another AL team suffers an injury to a big bat and could use him as a DH.

But the notion of collusion is hilarious. Teams simply don't want to deal with all that comes along with signing Bonds, especially since his effectiveness is pretty limited.

I see a Bochy/Bonds reunion! :wink:

[bkfount]

Re: Collusion

So, out of 14 teams, five are in rebuilding/youth movements, six have either a better option or more money tied into the DH position, two have have an opening but Bonds isn't really a necessity, and one team is a smart fit.

Until injuries start to hit teams, no team other than Seattle is a smart fit.

Doesn't sound like collusion to me.

that's why the whole collusion argument is laughable. All one would have to do is look at each team to see why he's on the outside. People only hear his name and assume he's entitled to a spot somehow.

Clemens and Sosa also dont have teams. Collusion!!!

[Blzer]

Re: Collusion

that's why the whole collusion argument is laughable. All one would have to do is look at each team to see why he's on the outside. People only hear his name and assume he's entitled to a spot somehow.

Clemens and Sosa also dont have teams. Collusion!!!

When Sosa was signed by Baltimore, I did nothing but continually said that Sosa is no better than a bench player.

That year he hit about .210 with like 10 home runs and 140 strikeouts.

Barry Bonds is no Sammy Sosa.


As for Clemens? I don't know how good/bad he is right now, but he is especially more expensive, and has many more wants. Remember how he didn't have to travel with the team when he didn't pitch? That's a lot worse than an extra locker.

[RandyMoss84]

Re: Collusion

early May rolls around

Free agents Bonds, Lofton key parts of MLBPA investigation

Free agents Bonds, Lofton key parts of MLBPA investigation

By Buster Olney
ESPN The Magazine
(Archive)

Updated: May 6, 2008, 6:25 PM ET

* Comment
* Email
* Print

The MLB players' association has opened an investigation into the free-agent market. The MLBPA has been investigating for several weeks what has taken place in free agency, in relation to Barry Bonds, Kenny Lofton and other players who have gone unsigned. It is something they have done in the past.

MLBPA general counsel Michael Weiner, when asked if they were near a resolution, said, "I really don't know. We're still waiting for some information."

If the MLBPA determines that there is something untoward, then they could file a grievance on the issue of collusion at the end of the investigation.

Jeff Borris, the agent for Bonds, said, "No team has made me an offer for any amount at any time since Barry became a free agent."

Borris added that "Barry continues to work out" but when asked about his client's prospects for this season, he said, "I'm not optimistic that he will be in a major league uniform in 2008."

Recently, the Mariners and the Tigers have developed what would seem to be a classic situation for Bonds -- the need for a left-handed hitter and an opening at designated hitter -- and still no offers have come in.

Buster Olney is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: Collusion

Why is this even an issue? Maybe teams don't want to pay a crapload of money for someone at the end of their career.

[Psyblast]

Re: Collusion

[PVarck31]

Re: Collusion

early May rolls around

Free agents Bonds, Lofton key parts of MLBPA investigation

You have got to be kidding me. Why must everything be a conspiracy? They are both over 40. They both command a ton of money. No one wants to pay for them. Its simple.