Barry Lamar Bonds

[nilodnayr]

I think possibly my biggest question regarding Bonds' situation is why the MLBPA hasn't yet filed some sort of grievance against MLB. I know they've "expressed" concern, but I would have thought that the MLBPA would be moving faster on this.

 

Bonds asks for grievance from Players Association

Barry Bonds still doesn’t have a job, and apparently he’s now considering having the Players Association file a grievance on his behalf. The union has contacted the commissioner’s office seeking information on why Bonds has yet to be extended a contract. The union is looking into both general concerns as well as player-specific ones. MLB has said that they have no reason to believe that there’s any sort of collusion to keep Bonds from getting a job.

 

It’ll be interesting to see what comes of this. On the one hand, Barry Bonds does come with his perceived baggage, but the guy proved last year that he could still play. I find it hard to believe that a team down the stretch won’t try to pull him in to give their team a boost. If it doesn’t happen, then you definitely have to wonder what the deal is.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/bob-marlins-stadium-is-proceeding-barry-bonds-isnt/

[Derwood]

i wish i could file a grievance when people don't want to hire me for a job

[Jon]

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/bob-marlins-stadium-is-proceeding-barry-bonds-isnt/

Is it just me or does it seem like MLBPA would normally have pushed things a lot quicker?

[nilodnayr]

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/bob-marlins-stadium-is-proceeding-barry-bonds-isnt/

Is it just me or does it seem like MLBPA would normally have pushed things a lot quicker?

 

I can't imagine they want Barry in the game any more than the owners do.

[Jon]

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/bob-marlins-stadium-is-proceeding-barry-bonds-isnt/

Is it just me or does it seem like MLBPA would normally have pushed things a lot quicker?

 

I can't imagine they want Barry in the game any more than the owners do.

They still have a long-term interest in making sure that all veterans keeps getting a lot of money, including those accused of steroid use. And if MLBPA turns its back on what they suspect is collusion, that can be a slippery slope.

[TruffleShuffle]

it's gotta be collusion when a guy who is known to be somewhat of a diva and a clubhouse cancer doesn't get signed by a major league team. and oh yeah, he's under indictment and has been jeered by fans in every city he has played in.

[javy knows my name]

it's gotta be collusion when a guy who is known to be somewhat of a diva and a clubhouse cancer doesn't get signed by a major league team. and oh yeah, he's under indictment and has been jeered by fans in every city he has played in.

Right. This is just another reason to suspect that this is only a posturing move by the MLBPA to avoid looking negligent in the matter. I see no way this thing goes anywhere.

[nilodnayr]

it's gotta be collusion when a guy who is known to be somewhat of a diva and a clubhouse cancer doesn't get signed by a major league team. and oh yeah, he's under indictment and has been jeered by fans in every city he has played in.

 

Certainly the MLB has a defensible position.

[DivineBovine]

it's gotta be collusion when a guy who is known to be somewhat of a diva and a clubhouse cancer doesn't get signed by a major league team. and oh yeah, he's under indictment and has been jeered by fans in every city he has played in.

Right. This is just another reason to suspect that this is only a posturing move by the MLBPA to avoid looking negligent in the matter. I see no way this thing goes anywhere.

 

 

The MLBPA has every reason to look into it. Regardless of how they or anyone else feels about Bonds, if there is any sort of foul play going on that is preventing Barry from signing, it is in the best interests of the Player's association and all players they represent to figure it out and make sure it doesn't happen. This is what unions do. Maybe they turn up nothing, but of course they are going to look, and they're probably going to look pretty hard.

 

And personally, I don't understand the double standard. A lot of people used illegal substances. Barry just also happens to be a prick, but why should that prevent him from having a fair shake at a job. If nobody wants him because he's a prick who used steroids, that's Barry's problem. If nobody wants him because there is collusion occurring, then it is absolutely the MLBPA's problem, and they should address it.

[RedFlash]

I think this collusion talk is just pure horse hockey pooh. I mean, let's look at it reasonably....he can barely walk much less play an adequate LF for a NL team, more then 80 games a yr. Plus his age and his recent injury concerns, and it's likely he would take a couple of trips to the DL over the course of the season. On top of that, he's likely asking for $10 mill. No surprise no NL team wants a platoon partner for $10 mill.

 

Let's say the AL: Most teams that need a DH are the lower teams of the AL (ie Rangers/Royals/Orioles/Rays) and the teams that has a chance for a championship, already have DH's. Tigers (Sheffield and Ordonez), Red Sox (Ortiz), Yankees (Giambi), Indians (Hafner), Angels (Anderson), White Sox (Thome), A's (Thomas), Mariners (Sexson and Vidro). The teams that need a DH, don't want to spend the money on a headache that is Bonds, and the teams that are in position to win, don't need a DH, because of the distraction he would bring with him to each city.

 

In other words.....it's not collusion, it's Bonds attitude that finally drove him out of baseball. In other words....this is a waste of time for MLBPA. I understand they have to do it, to protect their players, but is a waste of time.

[CubColtPacer]

I think this collusion talk is just pure horse hockey pooh. I mean, let's look at it reasonably....he can barely walk much less play an adequate LF for a NL team, more then 80 games a yr. Plus his age and his recent injury concerns, and it's likely he would take a couple of trips to the DL over the course of the season. On top of that, he's likely asking for $10 mill. No surprise no NL team wants a platoon partner for $10 mill.

 

Let's say the AL: Most teams that need a DH are the lower teams of the AL (ie Rangers/Royals/Orioles/Rays) and the teams that has a chance for a championship, already have DH's. Tigers (Sheffield and Ordonez), Red Sox (Ortiz), Yankees (Giambi), Indians (Hafner), Angels (Anderson), White Sox (Thome), A's (Thomas), Mariners (Sexson and Vidro). The teams that need a DH, don't want to spend the money on a headache that is Bonds, and the teams that are in position to win, don't need a DH, because of the distraction he would bring with him to each city.

 

In other words.....it's not collusion, it's Bonds attitude that finally drove him out of baseball. In other words....this is a waste of time for MLBPA. I understand they have to do it, to protect their players, but is a waste of time.

 

Exactly. Remember that Bonds got absolutely no interest from anybody in the offseason of 2006, even when he had to go to the Winter meetings himself to try to drum up interest. The Giants were desperate enough to re-sign him, and now that they allowed him to break the record, they have no interest in having the circus any longer. Who's going to step up and want him now that didn't want him last year?

 

Now, if a major league team should want him is another question, and one that has some great points on both sides. It seems pretty obvious though that this lack of interest is just an extension of last year, not collusion.

[CuseCubFan69]

Isn't there still a possibility that he could go to prison as well? Hey, maybe Rog should complain about not being picked up as well.

[Tyrant]

I'm not big on the team chemistry/clubhouse unity thing that people talk about, but I firmly believe that Bonds would actually be harmful here. I'd have to think all the negative attention and distractions from having Bonds on the team (not to mention his atrocious defense) would make it not worth it.