Carlos Lee’s 2008 season is over, courtesy of a Death Wish pitch that broke the Houston left-fielder’s left pinky last night. Though the 4th place Astros are beating up on the Reds this afternoon, they entered play a whopping 8 1/2 games out of the Wild Card spot. So what’s up with the Houston Chronicle’s Richard Justice campaigning so enthusiastically for the Astros to sign Barry Bonds? “What’s wrong with a little buzz? Why should the Dallas Cowboys have all the fun?” asks Justice, who presumably wouldn’t advocate a similar pursuit of Carl Everett (link courtesy Repoz and Baseball Think Factory).
Trust me when I tell you Barry is vastly overrated as a bad guy in the clubhouse. He’s a little prickly at times, a little standoffish, but who among us isn’t? Jeff Kent didn’t always whistle when he walked in the clubhouse, and he has turned out to be one of the all-time best guys to have on a baseball team.
Besides, Barry would be absolutely thrilled to get another shot. He thinks he has been black-balled. Maybe he has.
That’s beside the point. Even if the commissioner doesn’t want him in the game, it’s Drayton’s job to do what’s best for his club.
Go for it, Drayton. Since Barry got big, there’s almost no argument about his being the best offensive player ever. He changes games unlike any other. Opposing pitchers begin preparing for him an inning before he’s scheduled to hit. If Cecil Cooper batted Barry third, Lance Berkman suddenly would be leading the world in RBI opportunities.
I hope this move isn’t decided because Drayton is worried about his franchise’s reputation.
That’s a funny one.
I hate to be the one to tell you this, but the Astros have no reputation. No one outside of Houston cares.
Frankly, the Astros have a reputation for wanting guys that look and sound alike. Barry isn’t like any of the other Astros. Nothing wrong with that. Do it!