Giants Release Bonds

Found by DMtShooter, Five Tool Tool

(Roiders) SAN FRANCISCO - One day after breaking the all-time home run record, the San Francisco Giants have released left fielder Barry Bonds.

"While we supported Barry's run to the record, especially given the strong attendance benefit and years of service, it's plain that he's not going to be a part of this team going forward," said general manager Brian Sabean. "Yesterday, we were a last-place team with a 44-year-old centerpiece, mired by distractions about steroid allegations and followed by hundreds of media members. Today, we're a team that's committed to actually winning baseball games, and we can play the people who are going to matter to us in the future. I can't tell you how great it is to finally turn the page."

There was no comment at this time from Bonds, his agent, or his children.

Fan reaction was swift and surprising. "Great move," said 35-year-old season ticket holder and lifelong Giants fan Mike Ponce. "It's about time the team finally started to develop young talent. Besides, with no chance of a big payday from catching a record-breaking home run, having Bonds around is just an embarrassment with no payoff."

Another Giants fan, 19-year-old Renee Neal, was less understanding. "How am I supposed to go to Giants games anymore without Barry? He was, like, the only time I even watched the stupid game. Baseball is so boring, I'm totally giving up my tickets. I spent most of the game talking on my cell phone anyway."

Sabean was asked by reporters why, given the team's new focus on youth, that veterans such as Dave Roberts and Omar Vizquel continued to stay in the lineup. "Roberts is in his first year here, and he's an effective leadoff hitter and good clubhouse presence. He's also a World Series champion, so he brings playoff experience and leadership to the young guys. Omar is a no-doubt, no controversy Hall of Famer who has always played the game the right way. He's also still a plus defensive player. Both of them have also hit well in the second half. There's no comparison."

Speculation now arises as to where Bonds will go next, if he even continues to play. While still a potent offensive force, his part-time status, defensive and baserunning liabilities, enormous contract demands and negative clubhouse presence make his continued baseball career questionable. Last and most important is Bonds' own mental standpoint -- now that he's broken the record, and no meaningful contender is likely to pick him up for the stretch run, there is doubt that he'll want to continue.

"I'll put 7-to-5 that he doesn't come back," said baseball's all-time hit king, Pete Rose, when asked for a comment. "Barry doesn't have the advantage that I did when I piled up more hits after breaking Ty Cobb's record -- which is to say, he isn't his own manager. Take a look at my last year, where I was a .240 hitting singles hitter at first base, and took at bats away from good young players like Kal Daniels and Nick Essasky, permanently stunting their growth as professionals. If Barry was going to get to 800, he'd need complete control over the lineup, and as this release shows, he just doesn't have it."

When reached by reporters for a comment, former home run king Hank Aaron smiled, but had no comment. Commissioner Bud Selig waved away reporters with the following quote. "Don't you people have anything better to do? There are lots of other teams and players and pennant races, you know. Why not go cover them, instead of continually bothering me?"