Baaaarrrryyyy (Bonds)

Barry Bonds is an excellent hitter. No doubt about that. But as a ballplayer, he leaves much to be desired. Last night he creamed a fastball into the seats in right-center - no doubt off the bat. Out in left field, however, he appears to dog it and when he fields a grounder into the outfield, he takes his time throwing the ball back into the infield, sometimes holding it while watching the runner take an extra base (other than making a catch, I've never seen an outfielder make an out while holding the ball in the outfield - get the ball back into the infield!....). On a blooper into left field down the line, Bonds was jogging after it and it dropped in front of him. Later, he hit a grounder that rolled a good 60 feet into right field where the 2nd baseman fielded it and threw him out at first! The guy just doesn't seem to hustle anymore - very disappointing. So kids, watch Barry Bonds. Watch how he hits the ball - that's the way to do it. Watch the way he runs the bases and plays the field - that's not the way to do it.

Jim.