it's all bonds, all the time

[west coast orange and black]

no need for a reality show for the talk to be about bonds.

here are some recent articles:

giants counting on bonds for turnaround by josh dubow, ap sports writer, tuesday, 14 february 2006

bonds is hot topic as giants report to spring training by the sf chronicle, wednesday, 15 feb 2006

more bonds all of the time by henry schulman, sf chronicle, thursday, 16 february 2006

bonds looms large as camp opens by rich draper, mlb.com

[sschirmer]

I'll give you one more, and well written, I might add.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=2336702

[west coast orange and black]

bonds: this is my final season...

Barry Bonds says he plans to retire after this season, even if he doesn't break Hank Aaron's home run record.

"I'm not playing baseball anymore after this. The game (isn't) fun anymore."
-associated press, sunday, 19 february 2006

the ap story

[west coast orange and black]

...maybe

Barry Bonds might retire after this season. Or, maybe not.

"If my knee holds up, I'll keep on going," he said. "I'm playing psychological games with myself right now. I don't want to set myself up for disappointment if things don't work out this season. So I go back and forth. Back and forth every day. These are the things that are going through my mind. This is what I'm struggling with."

Bonds can be moody and sometimes changes his mind. In May 2004, he told reporters in New York that, "Half the stuff I say, I don't believe."
-Bonds Backs Off Retirement Talk After Earlier Report
the associated press, sunday, 19 february 2006

the ap story

[west coast orange and black]

"Sunday's goofiness began mid-afternoon when USA Today posted a lengthy article on its Web site, written by Bob Nightengale, featuring extensive quotes from Bonds suggesting he is fed up with baseball and plans to high-tail it out of the game as soon as his five-year, $90 million contract expires in October.

"In a second article, written by MLB.com reporter Barry Bloom, Bonds said he thought his conversation with Nightengale was personal and merely reflected his state of mind that day.

"If I can play (in 2007), I'm going to play; if I can't, I won't. If my knee holds up, I'll keep on going."
-henry schulman, sf chronicle staff writer, monday, 20 february 2006

schulman's take on bonds' differing positions

[west coast orange and black]

He was, in his words, trying to share what he was going through on a daily basis. He was, as near as anyone can tell, remarkably candid about his issues.

It was, as near as anyone can tell with him, a look inside his conflicted mind.

Then he re-conflicted himself hours later, as is his custom.

This is the danger of taking Bonds at his word. His word is good for as long as it lasts, but that often is only hours.
-ray ratto, sf chronicle sports writer, monday, 20 february 2006

ratto's take on what's going on

[west coast orange and black]

this road looks familiar, and with good reason. with bonds, it's none of what you hear, half of what you see...
unless you are seeing him on a baseball field.

[west coast orange and black]

bonds reports for duty, right on schedule

Bonds took part in a nearly complete workout, stretching with his teammates, throwing, shagging flies and hitting in the batting cage before taking three rounds of batting practice off Jason Schmidt and Noah Lowry.

With a bulky brace on his injured right knee, Bonds took his first 11 pitches and hit only one ball hard — a home run to right field against Schmidt.

In all, he took 17 pitches, had two swings and misses, two grounders, four balls hit into the netting of the batting cage and the one home run.
-josh dubow, ap sports writer, wednesday, 22 february 2006

the article

[The Commissioner]

I actually have stopped following and/or caring about what trasnpires with Bonds off the field. I can't wait to watch him play again, but I couldn't care less if I never read another interview with him or saw another press conference by him again.

[Ravenlord]

I actually have stopped following and/or caring about what trasnpires with Bonds off the field. I can't wait to watch him play again, but I couldn't care less if I never read another interview with him or saw another press conference by him again.

you have just stated my sentaments perfectly.

[west coast orange and black]

bonds goes deep for first spring hr

Bonds saw a pitch he liked in the fourth inning and reminded everyone that he's still the most fearsome power hitter in the game.

"Just to see the good swings he took, the big smile on his face," said Mark Sweeney. "It's so important to get him out there on the field. There's no doubt he's the key to everything that goes on here.

"There's nobody who influences a game quite like Barry, the way his presence affects the way other guys are pitched. As a visiting player that's all you talk about."
-bruce jenkins, sf chronicle staff writer, monday, 13 march 2006

here is the entire story