The Red Sox are going to be without their designated hitter for at least a month and possibly much longer. David Ortiz's bat is so integral to the Red Sox offense that if it's the worst-case scenario, they'll need to be sure they can mimic, if not replace, his production. They have a few options in-house, including Chris Carter promoted yesterday, and they could work the trade market but you'd guess Theo Epstein would prefer not to spend good prospects for a band-aid. There's one other place they could turn, of course, and that's Barry Bonds. The speculation has begun and there's no shortage of fodder for either side. So should they sign him
On the one hand, he's a juiced up sourpuss who the game isn't missing in the least. On the other, he's an offensive monster who would keep the Sox offense from missing a beat without Papi. He is the epitome of the type of player that Epstein prizes, on the field anyway, and he'd probably come at a reasonable price. Bonds would relish the chance to go to Boston and have a chance at a ring and a small slice of redemption.
Before you could make a decision, though, you'd need to have a clearer idea about how long Ortiz was going to be out of the lineup.
Say you sign him today, give him a couple of weeks to get up to speed and then let him loose in the lineup. Say Bonds produces the way he has for his entire career and Ortiz is ready to come back on August 15. Ortiz is rusty, Bonds is cooking and you've got to choose between them? That's a problem you don't need.
If you find out two weeks from now, however, that Ortiz needs surgery, ending his season, I think the Red Sox should do it. Bonds makes too much sense based on what the team needs and whatever qualms Red Sox fans might have would disappear so long as he hit. They're going to get booed on the road anyway and it's not like bright lights and tons of cameras would be a new thing for the team.
I hope they do it either way, but only because I'd love to see Curt Schilling's reaction. He loves to laud the Red Sox organization as so smart and so professional, I'm dying to hear what he thinks when they sign a man he's bemoaned as cheating on his taxes, his wife and the game.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-04-2008 @ 10:41AM
Shelbz said...
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO, I will be the first person in Fenway with my * shirt if that were the case.
Bonds is out of baseball, let's keep it that way...it's a privilege to play in Boston and he hasn't earned it and before the Yankee fans chime in, I would say if is a privelege to wear the pinstripes too.
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6-04-2008 @ 11:12AM
murph207 said...
In 40 years of watching and cheering for the sox I have never ever booed a man wearing a Boston Uniform, if liked them or not, slump or error plagued season, not once did I ever boo. That would change if this happened. We don’t want him don’t need him and I would rather see the us finish dead last then have this cheat in a Sox uniform
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6-04-2008 @ 11:51AM
Justin said...
Oh my god, that would be incredible. I'm the exact opposite of the above posters, in that I am a huge Barry Bonds fan and that I despise the Red Sox. If they signed Bonds, it would be the first time I've ever felt anything other than disdain towards Boston. Not sure if I would be able to root for them, but I'd definitely get the jersey
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6-04-2008 @ 12:20PM
get2noah said...
Justin...why the heck do you despise the Red Sox? And how can you praise one of the biggest cheaters the game has ever seen?
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6-04-2008 @ 1:57PM
PantsB said...
No. And not just because Bonds would get his ass booed hard at Fenway.
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6-04-2008 @ 4:10PM
insomniac said...
I think it's presumptive to say that Barry would be willing to sign w/ the Sox. From 2004:
"Barry Bonds had tongues wagging in Boston when he was quoted Friday as saying he would never play for the Red Sox because "Boston is too racist for me."
Bonds admitted in the Boston Globe article he has no firsthand experience, but said he has heard enough stories to form an opinion.
"Only what guys have said," Bonds said, "but that's been going on ever since my dad (Bobby) was playing baseball. I can't play like that. That's not for me, brother."
When the Globe reporter suggested the racial climate has changed in Boston, Bonds said, "It ain't changing. It ain't changing nowhere." "
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/06/19/BONDS.TMP
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6-04-2008 @ 4:21PM
JAlper said...
Insomniac - Good point. Things change, though. This was one of the Giants remarks about the team's trip to Boston, which was well after those comments you posted.
"He genuinely enjoyed himself here. He walked around the city a lot and people were really nice to him. They weren't yelling at him, or yelling stuff at him or anything like that. People were very respectful of him. I think for a lot of us, this was kind of a test because we heard Boston would be rough on him. In the ballpark, sure there were the asterisks that people were holding up, and the "Steroids!" chants and all the things he's seen and heard before. So that part wasn't any different. The part that was different is the reception he got on the streets. And even the reception he got when he hit the home run."
Speculative on my part that he'd do it, obviously, but if he's itching to play ball, I don't know that Boston would stop him from doing it.
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6-04-2008 @ 5:13PM
Martin said...
Right now, the Yankees are considered the evil empire of baseball. If Boston were to sign Bonds, Boston would take that title from New York, which would not be a good thing for Boston. Plus, all curses would undoubtedly return to Boston.
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6-04-2008 @ 10:28PM
insomniac said...
Nice find, Josh. I'd completely forgotten about that.
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6-04-2008 @ 11:07PM
rcott1019 said...
Ortiz adds more to the team than his bat. His spirit and good vibes are as important as anything he does at the plate. Bonds is a disgruntled misanthrope and he'd destroy the chemistry of the team. Absolutely a bad idea for the team. Baseball is better off with Bonds retired. Leave it that way.
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6-05-2008 @ 4:38AM
MIke said...
Josh Alper, I am sure you are a good writer. If you have to stopp to this level to get a storey out, you should try a new profession.I think you have forgotten red sox nation is a class act and would never stand for such a signing. Theo would never even concider it even if Papi was gone for the season. Josh go back to writing childrens stories.
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6-05-2008 @ 4:43AM
MIke said...
Of all the players inplicated in the mitchel report, some former sox players were inplicated. I might add it was either before or after they played for the sox. As of right now we do not have a tainted picture. I seriously think we would even consider it now. You may or not be able to replace papi's bat,but you will never be able to replace what papi does for his teamates with his lighthearted approach.nor to what he does for the fans. Josh go find a real storey to write.
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6-05-2008 @ 4:44AM
MIke said...
what is this the ENQUIRER!
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6-07-2008 @ 1:30AM
George B Vieto said...
Nice dream scene isn't it that Barry Bonds will play for the Red Sox while David Ortiz heals from his hand injury.
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6-07-2008 @ 6:17PM
mike said...
i would except bonds as long as it does NOT! inter fer with ortiz coming back-----hell if we can let people go like clemens ,pedro,damon and all the other people i loved and have it work out fine
why not get someone i hate? epstein will make a good decision
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