I don't know...the below 20 degree wind chills at 5AM this morning had Spring far from my mind.

Cool link to the photogallery. Considering, MLB's new media policies, news organizations may need to start lining up such artists in order to fill their online content.

yup, 14 inches of new snow up here. but spring is coming, i know it. the sun just feels different this time of year.

Here come the legs of NY! Let the gams begin!

2 whar's up thar with the 14 inches of fresh powder? Vermont? NY's Tug Hill plateau?

Even after yesterday's rain my lawn's still snow-covered, 1000 feet up in the great northwest of NJ -- but down here in Times Square, what's left of the snow is as gray as a Hell's Kitchen pigeon.

I've been thinking about the Barry Story. Those who want him for excitement + contribution (both hard to deny). Those who want nothing to do with him for the tarnished factor. My own view (subject to change) was that he wasn't what the Yankees needed, the upside was real, but the bullying image negatives were just as much so. (OYF had a great line about that, saying we hadn't given the Yankee haters nearly enough ammo lately.)

Here, today, is an extract from Heyman at si.com. I admit I did register his point about OTHER steroid-linked names out on the field. Should Barry be uniquely a no-touch-zone? He isn't even the only one linked to a perjury case (Tejada).

"Baseball scouts say Bonds has slowed considerably in the outfield. Yet one baseball person who's surprised by the lack of interest said, "Could it be that all 14 American League teams have a better DH than Barry Bonds?"

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa publicly revealed that he recommended a run at Bonds to ownership and was turned down. One American League GM told me he'd have taken Bonds, but his owner told him to stay away.

Beyond those three small brushes with employment, there appears to be nothing. Nothing for the hitter who posted a .480 on-base percentage and .565 slugging percentage last season, the hitter who hit 28 home runs in 340 at-bats.

It's not his performance. It's something else. It has to be.

There's supposedly an anti-steroid sentiment in baseball. Yet the Astros traded five prospects for Miguel Tejada, the Cardinals traded for Troy Glaus and the Cubs have been negotiating to trade for Brian Roberts. Roger Clemens is throwing BP in Astros camp, and Mark McGwire may be heading to Cardinals camp to conjure up the past.
...
One American League executive said he isn't surprised at all that Bonds has not been signed, that there are considerations of image and practicality that weight against such a move. "What happens if he's hauled away June 1?" that executive posed, referring to the indictment hanging over Bonds' head.

While that would appear to be a long shot, a more immediate concern may be clubhouse considerations. Specifically, teams fear the distraction his presence may cause. It's a common perception that Bonds will bring negative attention, a charge Borris vehemently disputed.

5 I'm not buying the "Bonds will be a cancer" argument either. Yes, he was a handful in SF, but that was an entirely different situation and was partially due to their management and his family ties to the organization. Yes, he and Jeff Kent hated each other, but they were winning and there have been many teams that consisted of bitter rivals who kept those feelings aside from the task of winning. With the right contract and the removal of "special permissions" Bonds could really help a team like the Rays (I hope they stupidly avoid him though) and theoretically turn the corner of that franchise from a "spoiler" to a legitimite player, not to mention the possibility of trading him at the deadline. The Giants didn't even offer arbitration so it won't cost a draft pick. Anybody who claims that his pending trial will hurt the team carries some weight, but you can write that into the contract easily. Could it be that teams are so scared of the PR backlash that they won't even take a flier on him?

0 Nice work by Weaver. I wish someone had collected the works of Willard Mullin, that would've been cool to see.

1 The NY Daily News has a couple of decent cartoonists in Ed Murawinski & Bill Gallo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Murawinski
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gallo

6 I doubt it, as it was mentioned before that McGwire, Clemens, Tejada, etc are doing their thing this spring... As for the PR backlash, it'll last until he blasts a few HR's. I guess this is similar to when no one took a flyer on Kingman after the 86 season, which I also found surprising.

6 7 I'm honestly not sure. I can certainly see a clubhouse/focus/mood issue when a teammate gets booed every time he comes to the plate on the road (and maybe by many at home, including some Banterers who have weighed in). Yes, Alex got that and maybe Yankees are used to it, but less so other teams, and even in NY it is undeniably a distraction. In other words, HE might be a good clubhouse citizen (or good enough anyhow) but circumstances have gotten way out of control for Barry.

I do agree that any contract could be structured to cover a lot of variables, including court time and jail time.

6 All the more reason for the Yankees to sign Bonds. They don't have to worry about a backlash from an economic standpoint because the Stadium will be sold out this year and for at least the next two or three.

I also don't think Bonds would be that much of a distraction. After all, wouldn't he draw attention away from everyone else? I am sure Arod would love that.

Signing Barry Bonds makes all the sense in the world for the Yankees. Could you imagine having to face a lineup with Arod and Bonds hitting back to back? Sure, the Yankees already have Giambi and Matsui clogging up the DH role, but I am sure they could work Bonds into a rotation, especially if you try to give Damon (andeven Abreu) more rest for their aching bodies. Heck, with Bonds bat, the Yankees could even afford to give Jeter a few extra days off without worrying about giving away offense.

Unfortunately, it seems as if Cashman would rather avoid the criticism that pull the trigger. Still, if Bonds beats the Yankees in a few games against Tampa, I think he could regret that decision. At least the Red Sox hands are tied with Papi and Manny though. They already have two DHs as their two best hitters, so adding a third might be too much.

I wouldn't go so far as to say it would make all the sense in the world, given that Giambi, Matsui and Damon are all on the roster right now.

But like I said in an earlier discussion here, there should be a way to work out a trade of one of the three (Matsui, probably, though to me he's the most useful of the three) while signing Bonds. Keep Bonds as a DH and you don't hurt the defense, and you do wonderful things for the offense, as so:

(vs RHP)
Damon
Jeter
Abreu
ARod
Bonds
Posada
Cano
Giambi/Betemit (1B)
Melky

(vs LHP)

Damon
Jeter
Bonds
ARod
Posada
Ensberg/Giambi (1B)
Cano
Duncan (RF)
Melky

Nasty. Evil, even. :)

6 I think the Ms and the Twins could both use Bonds's bat, but are (foolishly) worried about a PR backlash.

9 I agree, still, take this FWIW:

PECOTA-projected playing time and VORP:
Damon, 526 PAs (431 in LF, 95 in CF) - 16.6
Matsui, 601 PAs (353 in LF, 248 at DH) - 24.6
Giambi, 480 PAs (284 at DH, 196 at 1B) - 17.1

That leaves ~150 PAs at DH and ~400 at 1B, so about 550 PAs total. PECOTA is as down on Bonds as it is on Giambi, but (for Bonds) that has to be because no one has ever hit like he has at his age. His last two seasons, Bonds had VORPs of 46.6 and 55.2 - in less than 500 PAs.

I think Giambi will beat that VORP projection soundly - though probably in 480 PAs as projected - but I think Matsui's is close and Damon's is right on. It would take some mixing and matching on Girardi's part to get those 500 PAs to Bonds (Matsui/Damon at 1B sometimes?), but a 2-3-4-5-6 of

Jeter
Abreu
A-Rod
Bonds
Posada/Giambi*

*only over Cano/Matsui because of their better OBPs

would destroy starters, if only by making them throw so many pitches to try to get those guys out.

If the Yanks' strategy is (to a degree) to bludgeon teams to death - and it might have to be, because the pitching staff is a huge ? - why not employ one of the greatest offensive players of all-time?

Hmm...

25 man roster w/Bonds and w/o trading away any of the DH-rotation trio:

12 pitchers +
Posada, Molina
ARod, Jeter, Cano, Giambi, Betemit
Damon, Melky, Abreu, Matsui, Bonds
+
either Ensberg or Duncan.

Good article in the USS Mariner about Bonds; http://tinyurl.com/38fe4r

13 Interesting piece with some nonsense. Blue Jays are a dreadful choice as a prime candidate for BB, with the Hurt immobile at DH and they just brought in (for no good reason) Shannon 'Blast from the Past' Stewart to take some at-bats in a crowded outfield.

He's also wrong to talk about a ton of other steroid guys on the Mariners maybe 'looking at jail time' ... NO one is looking at jail time for steroid or hgh use in MLB. Jail is only at-issue for perjury. Bonds. Tejada. Maybe Clemens by week's end.

Having disagreed with these, it is certainly true the Mariners have room (and need) for a good DH. Jose Vidro is not much of a roadblock!

I wonder if Barry could start a lawsuit against Selig and MLB owners with union support (!) for interference and collusion.

Also, will anyone be asking Pettitte about HGH with Bonds on the team :)?

Hear, hear, Alex!

I felt the same thing this morning here in New Haven, but had to remind myself not to jump the gun, that it is, in fact, still February.

And yet, one way or another, whatever the weather, we're only--what--less than five weeks from Opening Day?

14 I don't see anywhere in the article that the Jays were a prime choice for Bonds, just that they were a fit based on his percieved salary demands.

Agreed on the jail part, which was also covered in the comments section (#50).

I wondered about the collusion part as well. He may actually have a case.

cnn is reporting that congress will ask the doj to investigate if roger made false statements at the hearing

Possible fits for Bonds... nearly every AL team.

Boston. No.
Rays. Yes, if the quest for .500 is deemed a worthy goal.
Baltimore. Ok, no. They suck so bad not even he can help.
Yankees. Yes, as discussed.
Toronto. Yes. This team played Matt Stairs in the OF last year. It would be a roster logjam as bad or worse than the Yankees, though, and Bonds on turf could be bad.

Detroit. Yes, actually. They'd have to play him or Sheff in the field, but my oh my. Their lineup presently has two holes (LF, C). It's already impressive. With Bonds it would be an unholy terror.
Indians. Who is their LFer again?
White Sox... yes, but like Baltimore they're probably too awful to really gain anything.
Royals... see White Sox.
Twins... yes. Their offense would be decent if they added Bonds. They have some young pitching. It would take pressure off of those pitchers, dontcha think?

Imagine, for a moment, a world in which they kept Johan and signed Bonds and went for it. That woulda been ballsy.

Angels. Yeah, if they're willing to play Vlad in the field.
Seattle. Clearly.
A's. Why not? But the "they will suck anyway" argument probably applies.
Rangers. Hey, they gave Sammy Sosa how many ABs last year?

On the sportswriters front, sad news today as both Myron Cope and WC Heinz have passed away. I'll have a post on both of them in the morning...damn.

and they'll be overshadowed in the papers tomorrow because Buckley died too. Jeez.

21 I wonder if they would have been feautred prominently to begin with. Even Buckley's death wont get the same attention, considering his declining public profile and marginalization among the Conservative media.

19 I would count the A's out as they are in pure rebuilding-for-the-future mode and watching their pennies. A sign, then deadline trade would be right up their alley, but due to lack of interest in BB right now, probably not much of a market. Other than that, fine list.

18 Yes, it is everywhere by now. And it is bipartisan and limited to Roger - not McNamee, in other words. Rusty Hardin is quoted glibly as saying they expected it as soon as Roger testified before Congress.

If so, it urgently raises the professional question: why would you put a client in that position? It is clear that Congress was ready NOT to have that public testimony. (I know his deposition is also under oath.)

Like, did Hardin know there was or might be a Canseco party photo (or the tacky tacky story now out about the two wives comparing breast augmentation - which corroborates McNamee). And what about the nanny - Hardin put his client in a position to be hammered over that Sunday visit? (Or was the alternative worse - no prepping her? She hurts him ANYHOW!)

Barry's looking better by the day.

Meanwhile BP's Pecota has the Rays improving 22 games for this year. Lots of offense, pitching uptick, and a major D upgrade at ss and 2b.

24 Yes, once he testified, and the way the hearing went I expected it too.
I am beyond liberal, but the bipartisan nature of the whole thing (not to mention most issues) is riduculous.

I think Roger's lawyers have not done a good job of representing him and giving him good advice.

And yes, BB is looking better by the day.
The DEVIL Rays can't be slept on. They seem to be finally putting together a baseball team instead of just a 4x100 team. Someone, it might have been Olney, suggested back when SF said they would not re-sign BB that he would be a great fit in Tampa and the young hitters could learn some plate discipline from him. And it seems things are getting more serious.
Anyway, I know the Rays don't have the resources the Red Sox or Yanks do, but I don't think they can be slept on.

Nice and sunny here in San Francisco :-) (after what seemed like a month of rain).

Anyway, you guys don't want Bonds, trust me. Even if it's true that he'd be less of a distraction in NY than in most other places, he's suck a negative, life-sucking presence in the clubhouse. Reports from the Giants this year seem to make it sound like, even though they'll be even worse offensively than they were last year, without Bonds, they are all much happier and looser without him around. I really don't think the Yankees need Bonds.

such a negative, that should read... Hah, a bit of a Freudian slip.

26 It isn't so much the Yanks need them, it's the idea of adding another weapon to the arsenal. I guess something along the lines of the 1998 Yankees adding Clemens, who was coming off back to back pitchers triple crowns.

They really don't lose much of anything signing him.

I think Bonds makes an appearance sometime during the summer for a team that desires a LH power bat.

A few point about Bonds, who I would LOVE to get. Some are facts, some are opinions and some are conjecture.

First, I believe Bonds would LOVE to play for the Yankees. ARod likes him and his odds of winning a WS, which is his BIGGEST DESIRE, might be best achieved here.

Second, between the lack of demand and the fact that Bonds knows we are NOT SF, I believe he would be willing to give up all his 'percs', and it should be a condition of signing him. He is an old guy, so I don't mind the recliner, but he would have to agree that he is 'not' special, and like ARod, Jeter, Mo, Giambi and the rest, that he would just be one of the boys on the team.
I think Cashman would make this deal ONLY if Bonds understands the attitude he must have in order to wear Pinstripes.

Third, even with all the bad PR, I would have to think Melky, Cano and all the kids would be THRILLED to be around him. Who knows, maybe he might even mentor some of the kids. This is a great baseball player who has been 'in the game' since he is a small child. He knows a LOT. He could be a valuable teammate, as opposed to a cancer.

Forth, I believe he would be beholden to the Yanks. Playing for the Yankees is probably the absolute best he could do, especially since at this movement, he is looking at not playing at all.

I believe rotating players to give everyone appropriate ABs is not rocket science. Girardi will have to be creative, but it is not that big a task. And if we do have an injury or 2, this will have been a very important move.

Fifth, it's a one year contract. We lived through Pavano and RJ. How bad could this really be.

Sixth, for the first time in a long time, we may actually sign a vet who is UNDERvalued, He will actually be a GREAT financial move. My guess is he can be had for $10m or maybe less with incentives. What does $10m buy you these days? DJ and Mats make $13m

And saving the best for last...
THINK OF THE RED SOX MESSAGE BOARDS!
Imagine when Bonds hits a game winner at Fenway! Red Sox Nation will be pissing and moaning like never before. It will be non-stop. We will not only own the 'back page' in NY, but in Boston too. Larry and Theo will make statements about how 'unfair' it is. They have 'healed' from not signing ARod. This is make their wound raw again!

And we will beat Boston. Hopefully Detroit and Cleveland will keep Boston out of the PS completely.

Remember when we were worried about:
Yankees vs Boston + Santana
Instead it can be
Boston vs Yankees + Bonds.

It gives me a hardon just thinking about it.

For those who missed it, I took my shot at figuring where Bonds would fit about a month ago for SI.com:

http://tinyurl.com/3xqabl

"he's suck a negative, life-sucking presence in the clubhouse."
---------------------------------------------
This was said about Nomar his last year with the Sox. They were near desparate to move him. And they were happier and better without him.

The question is, was Nomar the same in LA? Or was Nomar partially a situation of circumstance?

Barry was with the Giants, and WAS the Giants, for years. No doubt he had a sense of entitlement.

Would he be the same with a ONE year contract for the Yankees?

Yeah, I'm a bleeding heart liberal. But even Barry is human. Maybe it's silly to think he might actually be a positive force for us.

26 While being happier and looser is a nice thing, I don't think either matters much if you don't win. If Bonds is healthy and can perform, I'd like to think major league players can deal with the distraction.

Also, let's make things clear. Barry Bonds (or Roger Clemens) are not villains. Sure, at worst, they may have taken PEDs and lied about it (and been surly to the media), but it's not like they are rapists and murderers. As much as many have tried to demonize those accused of taking PEDs, it really doesn't raise my moral ire. It's pretty ironic what some are willing to abide in terms of social behavior.

I have a question or 2. Do people think the Sox will win the division? If so, with strong Cleveland and Detroit teams, are we possibly looking at missing the PS?

We are all hoping/assuming that we will have the 2nd half JD/Matsui/Melky/Cano. But the first half of 2007 did show us we can be vulnerable.

I myself am NOT sure that we DON'T need Bonds. Have we ever entered a season recently feeling that we would not win the division?

33 Well stick a fork in me Willaim, I agree 100%. EVERY team has players that did steroids. Lots of players. They just might not be GREAT players.

A nice little article about Dan McCutchen by Pete on Lohud.

34 I think the Yankees and Red Sox are a toss up for the division and think both are a notch better than Detroit and Cleveland. The only thing that could prevent the Yanks/Sox from taking the WC, in my opinion, is a tougher schedule (interleague rivals and stronger division).

33 I personally rate drunk drivers far over PED users - but apparently MLB, and Congress, don't feel the same way. Hmm, I wonder which activity resulted in more deaths among young people during the so-called "Steroids Era", drunk driving or PED use? How about we throw cigarette use into the mix?

/rant off

Could this really be our old friend? From today's Goldman chat over at BP:

"Rob Gee (Philly): When and where do the Yanks move Jeter? 2009 to 1B? 2010 to LF?

Steven Goldman: First, he needs to be pressed by someone who is going to field better (anyone) and give them at least something like above-average production there (not anyone). The more interesting question will be whether his bat still supports a move by the time they get around to it."

30 I like your line about Hank "filling his father's blue blazer with bluster," and I think you're right that the Yanks should not be counted out of the Bonds market (until he signs elsewhere). However, I don't think Hank has the nuts, or the guts to bring Barry and his baggage to the Bronx.
For all Hank's bluster, I think the Steinbrenners were embarrassed, and humbled by the Clemens-Pettitte-Mitchell fiasco and do not want to advance the Yankees/roids-r-us meme. Mark my words: Bonds will not be signed by the Yanks.

I have nothing against Bonds as a PED user, or as a clubhouse cancer. I still think that he addresses a need that doesn't exist. That roster listed above is probably the least flexible roster I've ever seen in my life - it's exactly what I don't want the team to look like.

25 "The DEVIL Rays can't be slept on. They seem to be finally putting together a baseball team instead of just a 4x100 team."

Great line. They add Barry and it is CLEAR they are out of the track and field biz! I suppose if one notes that the Rays are seen as a lot better and the Blue Jays almost have to be healthier and better this year, the AL East is a beast again. (As an answer/agreement with 34 .)

33 37 I doubt any sane person puts athletes using PEDs (in a culture where some unknown but large percentage did) as worse than