Barry Bonds without-a-doubt belongs in the Hall

"Oh, without a doubt. There's no doubt in my mind," Barry Bonds responded when asked if he feels he belongs in baseball's Hall of Fame.

More about philosophy, voting and opinions from Barry Bonds to MLB.com:

"You have to vote on baseball the way baseball needs to be voted on. If you vote on your assumptions or what you believe or what you think might have been going on there, that's your problem. You're at fault. It has nothing to do with what your opinion is. Period. If that's the case, you better go way, way back and start thinking about your opinions. If that's how you feel life should be run, I would say then you run your Hall of Fame the way you want to run your Hall of Fame. That's what I think. That's my personal opinion. If you want to do the Hall of Fame the way the Hall of Fame is supposed to be done, then you make the right decision on that. If you don't, that's on you. To stamp something on your assumptions, it doesn't work for me."

Prosecutors continue to prosecute Barry Bonds

Before a three-judge panel of a federal appeals court this week, United States prosecutors urged the judges to uphold Barry Bonds’ obstruction of justice conviction.

U.S. prosecutors also said that U.S. District Judge Susan Illston properly instructed the jury, despite Bonds’ lawyers arguments.

Additionally:

“Contrary to Bonds’s attempts to interpret it as such, Count Five did not charge him with the act of obstructing justice through particular statements he made to the grand jury, but through intentionally evasive, false, and misleading testimony,” prosecutor Merry Jean Chan wrote.

Barry Bonds to Judge: Toss out the whole conviction!

Barry Bonds files appeal

Barry Lamar Bonds' legal team has decided upon a Greek Dodge Ball legal strategy.

His lawyers have asked a federal appeals court to completely (fast) toss out his felony obstruction conviction, saying it was based upon a lot of rambling and more rambling; and in the end not that big of a deal.

Andy Pettitte is not warming up in the bullpen.

Barry Bonds Walks

Yes, Barry Bonds walks. Walks. Does he ever!

Walks, not to first base, this time (as usual). But (effectively) walks back to his Beverly Hills home for the holidays and for the next several months to craft his legal strategy for the appeal.

After all these years, all this money, all this time in court, all this discussion, all this lawyering, all this lying, all these women, all these drugs. Barry Bonds walks. He does, in fact, walk.

And, if you didn't know by now, that is the reason for the subheading on The Barry Bonds Trial blog:

Barry Bonds, the all-time MLB leader with 2,558 walks

This was the prediction, the bet, the forecast and the result that was baked into the process all along. Truth.

When Barry Bonds entered the courtroom today, he gave a loving wink to his mother as he headed to the defense table. Barry, his mom, his lawyers, and many others knew this would be a good day at the plate.

Barry Bonds walks.

Legal analysts expected Judge Illston to follow the probation department’s suggestions and impose a sentence less harsh than the federal guidelines calling for 15 months to 21 months in prison.

And was Judge Illston ever, so nice. Ever. It pays to have San Francisco Giants fans in the courtroom. What a home team victory. San Francisco Justice for the world to see and hear! Tony Bennett sings.

The judge sentenced Bonds to two years probation and 30 days home confinement and 250 hours of community service. Barry Lamar Bonds declined to address the judge.

Happy holidays, Barry Bonds!

The judge agreed to stay her sentence while Bonds appeals his conviction. The prosecutors object.

The U.S. Government lawyers were grandstanding all along with calls of 15 months in prison.

Prosecutor Parrella has called the probation recommendation "inadequate and almost a slap on the wrist." Home confinent in a 15,000 square foot mansion and meager fine is "laughable" for someone in Bonds' position. "I urge the court to send a message here." The court did not send a message. Instead, it sent Barry Bonds home for the holidays, a gift for Bud Selig and a message to U.S. Government lawyers.

Bottom line for Barry Bonds?

The MLB home run record.

The MLB walk record.

No prison time.

Next up for Barry Bonds?

A new reality show: "Gardening, at home (for 30 days at the most), with Barry Bonds." Yet, first, more lawyering and more courtroom.

And, the Hall of Fame vote.

Barry Bonds and Question number 37

The Roger Clemens perjury trial began jury selection on Wednesday in Washington DC.

Prospective jurors faced numerous questions related to baseball, sports and performance enhancing drugs.

Question number 37 of the day asked jurors if they had heard of Barry Bonds' perjury trial earlier this year.

A Primer on Perjury

Wilder Musings on Life, Litter, and the Law: Perjury:

"Perjury is ' the crime of intentionally lying after being duly sworn.' I am in the midst of a jury trial and sometimes voir dire , the p..."

Nyiesha: the lone holdout in the second count of perjury against Barry Bonds

The vote was 11-1 in favor of perjury - against Barry Bonds.


Juror Nyiesha (unknown last name) said after the verdict, she was the lone holdout in the second count of perjury against slugger Barry Bonds.


Nyiesha said: "Kathy (Hoskins) was very consistent a lot of times. However, she had a lot of relations with Stevie because that's her brother. So you could go with her, you could not go with her, just based on the fact she had a bond with her brother."