Will Barry Bonds reach the 756 home run mark and eclipse
Hammerin' Hank Aaron? The controversial Barry Bonds
certainly is a baseball legend in his own mind, but does he
have enough star quality and MLB cache to keep him in the
baseball limelight? Is he a has been or someone who
should be a has been? The question many people are
asking is simply this one— is Barry Bonds washed up?
Many people believe it is time for Bonds to hang up his
cleats. He has been injury plagued the last couple of
seasons and has also been involved in Major League
Baseball's steroid controversy. In the past the slugger has
admitted that he's used steroids and contends that the drugs
were administered unwittingly. Despite his use of
performance enhancing drugs, there is no question that he
has been one of the game's most productive players.
Barry Bonds is chasing perhaps the greatest mark of them
all-- the all-time Major League Baseball home run record.
Currently Hank Aaron, who has 755, is the one that fans
admire. Bonds also trails Babe Ruth, who accumulated 715
dingers.
He will start this season at 708 and will need either one
outstanding year or two extremely productive ones to break
the record. Many experts believe with the injuries he's
sustained over the past few seasons it will be hard for him to
reach the plateau set by Aaron. Another problem with Bonds
setting a new lifetime home run mark is that people believe it
will not be a true record because the slugger used steroids.
If he does become the most prolific long ball hitter to ever
stand at home plate, there will be some contending that he
cheated in order to do so. Critics will claim that during some
of his most productive seasons he was on steroids and could
not have hit that many home runs without "the juice." It's not
that Bonds didn't have any ability; he was and still is a gifted
athlete. The question is because he whacked at least some
of his homers while on steroids will people respect the record
the same way they have for Ruth and Aaron. That is the big
question.
Bonds will definitely be in the spotlight regardless of what he
does this season. As long as he continues to play, the story of
him chasing Ruth and then Aaron's record will be a hot
baseball topic this season and possibly next.
The fact that he plays half of his games in San Francisco's
hitter friendly AT&T Park certainly favors Bonds
accomplishing this goal. But he also has things working
against him. Most pitchers will try to throw around him, not
giving Bonds very much at which to swing. As the season
wears on, this will affect him both physically and mentally.
Bonds has complained in the past about how many walks he
receives and how they take a toll on his legs. Another
problem that may prevent Bonds from breaking the home run
record is that he's in the National League and is required to
play the field. He has indicated he would like to stay with the
San Francisco Giants and will refuse a trade to an American
League (AL) team. If he were to go to an AL team, it could
prolong his career because he would be able to be a
designated hitter and would not be required to play the field.
He has said that San Francisco is his home and he will retire
before he's traded to another team. There is no question that
this season he'll be under scrutiny, and if he doesn't produce
the media will be all over him. Reporters may ask if he is over
the hill, unable to go long without steroids, or if he can
possibly stay healthy enough to finish his quest for the record.
The fact remains that Barry Bonds is going for the record and
baseball fans will certainly be watching to see if he can do it.
If he closes in on the mark, there will probably be sellout
crowds in stadiums across the United States hoping to catch
a home run ball from the remarkable Bonds. He will have
many obstacles to overcome if he is going to accomplish this
great feat.
One thing is certain it will be interesting to see if he has the stamina to
hold on long enough to break the record. If he fails there will be
people saying he should have retired at the top of his game and not
have come back to try to break the record. Fans of home run fever
will be tuning in the watch the saga of Barry Bonds.
Hammerin' Hank Aaron? The controversial Barry Bonds
certainly is a baseball legend in his own mind, but does he
have enough star quality and MLB cache to keep him in the
baseball limelight? Is he a has been or someone who
should be a has been? The question many people are
asking is simply this one— is Barry Bonds washed up?
Many people believe it is time for Bonds to hang up his
cleats. He has been injury plagued the last couple of
seasons and has also been involved in Major League
Baseball's steroid controversy. In the past the slugger has
admitted that he's used steroids and contends that the drugs
were administered unwittingly. Despite his use of
performance enhancing drugs, there is no question that he
has been one of the game's most productive players.
Barry Bonds is chasing perhaps the greatest mark of them
all-- the all-time Major League Baseball home run record.
Currently Hank Aaron, who has 755, is the one that fans
admire. Bonds also trails Babe Ruth, who accumulated 715
dingers.
He will start this season at 708 and will need either one
outstanding year or two extremely productive ones to break
the record. Many experts believe with the injuries he's
sustained over the past few seasons it will be hard for him to
reach the plateau set by Aaron. Another problem with Bonds
setting a new lifetime home run mark is that people believe it
will not be a true record because the slugger used steroids.
If he does become the most prolific long ball hitter to ever
stand at home plate, there will be some contending that he
cheated in order to do so. Critics will claim that during some
of his most productive seasons he was on steroids and could
not have hit that many home runs without "the juice." It's not
that Bonds didn't have any ability; he was and still is a gifted
athlete. The question is because he whacked at least some
of his homers while on steroids will people respect the record
the same way they have for Ruth and Aaron. That is the big
question.
Bonds will definitely be in the spotlight regardless of what he
does this season. As long as he continues to play, the story of
him chasing Ruth and then Aaron's record will be a hot
baseball topic this season and possibly next.
The fact that he plays half of his games in San Francisco's
hitter friendly AT&T Park certainly favors Bonds
accomplishing this goal. But he also has things working
against him. Most pitchers will try to throw around him, not
giving Bonds very much at which to swing. As the season
wears on, this will affect him both physically and mentally.
Bonds has complained in the past about how many walks he
receives and how they take a toll on his legs. Another
problem that may prevent Bonds from breaking the home run
record is that he's in the National League and is required to
play the field. He has indicated he would like to stay with the
San Francisco Giants and will refuse a trade to an American
League (AL) team. If he were to go to an AL team, it could
prolong his career because he would be able to be a
designated hitter and would not be required to play the field.
He has said that San Francisco is his home and he will retire
before he's traded to another team. There is no question that
this season he'll be under scrutiny, and if he doesn't produce
the media will be all over him. Reporters may ask if he is over
the hill, unable to go long without steroids, or if he can
possibly stay healthy enough to finish his quest for the record.
The fact remains that Barry Bonds is going for the record and
baseball fans will certainly be watching to see if he can do it.
If he closes in on the mark, there will probably be sellout
crowds in stadiums across the United States hoping to catch
a home run ball from the remarkable Bonds. He will have
many obstacles to overcome if he is going to accomplish this
great feat.
One thing is certain it will be interesting to see if he has the stamina to
hold on long enough to break the record. If he fails there will be
people saying he should have retired at the top of his game and not
have come back to try to break the record. Fans of home run fever
will be tuning in the watch the saga of Barry Bonds.
Leslie_Sinclair
.
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