Barry Bonds' friend, ARod, gets pasted on 60 Minutes

As reported on The Barry Bonds Trial blog many times, Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez are good (superficial) friends.

Last night, in front of a national television audience, 60 Minutes laid out the case against ARod and left little doubt that his one year suspension from Major League Baseball is completely justified.

As a result of the show and all the information about ARod: What is the difference between these two baseball stars?

The answer begins with one friend/supplier/business-associate willing to rat a player out ...........

MLB and the Steroids Era

Opinion: MLB's contention that it is attempting to rid the sport of steroids forever is a real reach (via NJ.com)

By Irwin S. Stoolmacher I’m not a huge fan of A-Rod. I have always found the Yankees’ third-baseman to be self-absorbed. However, I think Alex Rodriguez got a raw deal from Major League Baseball with regard to his proposed 211-game suspension. His…

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Bud Selig on Barry Bonds

"It is, what it is."

- MLB Commissioner, Bud Selig

Jeff Kent on the "cloud around" Barry Bonds

Did you ever suspect that Barry Bonds was using performance-enhancing drugs?


Jeff Kent: “Well I think all of us, as baseball players, even the fans, you watch a player evolve into something bigger and better and, as a player, you scratch your head and you go, ‘Wow, really? I mean can that really happen?’ So you don’t really know, but you have in your mind that something’s not right and Barry presented that cloud around himself and kind of got himself in trouble. I’ll try to stay away from that the best I can, but that’s the small soapbox I can stand on about that.”

Barry Bonds vs. Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens is his own manager, lawyer, public relations specialist, strength coach, pitching coach, and now trapeze artist.

Just look at his career. Look at the results:

Career: 354-184 (9th), 3.12 ERA, 4672 SO (3rd), P, 1986 AL MVP, 7xCy, 11xAllStar

How can you argue with the results?

Now, in his most difficult feat of all, he attempts a comeback stunt.

He dislikes being associated with Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. He dislikes when he hears Barry Bonds say "I'd going to the end of the earth for [Roger]." He dislikes that people laugh at him and will not vote him into Cooperstown.

Roger Clemens wants to end the laughter.



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Barry Bonds vs. Melky Cabrera

Melky Cabrera released the following statement (issued by the MLB Players Association):

"My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used. I accept my suspension under the Joint Drug Program and I will try to move on with my life. I am deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco Giants organization and to the fans for letting them down."

Melky Cabrera 2012 
Batting AVE .346

OBP .390

SLG .516

SUSPENDED: 50 games

"I went through the system. And that's what it is. And that's what I got. I went through the system. I'm in an appeal process right now. I was never convicted of steroids." 

-- Barry Bonds May 29, 2012

Rafael Palmeiro Supports Barry Bonds

Rafael Palmeiro says he believes Barry Bonds and Clemens belong in Hall of Fame


The Truth according to Rafael Palmeiro:

"You're talking about, in my opinion, probably the best pitcher of all-time and the greatest player of all-time. Keep them out and then the Hall of Fame has no credibility."

More Rafy:

"I know what kind of career I had. I'm good with it. I can look at myself in the mirror and feel good and proud of what I accomplished. Clemens and Bonds, 10 years before they retired they were the best players in the game. These guys dominated the game before anything was ever mentioned about anything.”

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."

Deford: Don't Insult Baseball

"To vote for Bonds and Clemens for the Hall of Fame is, above all, an insult to all the good guys who played fair." --- Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated

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Another 'No' vote against Barry Bonds

Why I won't vote for Barry Bonds 

By Lowell Cohn
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

I am writing about Barry Bonds and why, at this time, I don't plan to vote for him for the Baseball Hall of Fame. It is not the first time I've written about this and it won't be the last.


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Barry Bonds and the medical profession

Barry Bonds: 10 years ago sharing his deep concerns for doctors, the medical profession and his hopes for a cure for cancer

"Doctors ought to quit worrying about what ballplayers are taking. What players take doesn't matter. It's nobody else's business. The doctors should spend their time looking for cures for cancer. It takes more than muscles to hit homers. If all those guys were using stuff, how come they're not all hitting homers?" -- Barry Bonds, May 21, 2002, Associated Press

Clay Hensley: who yielded No. 755 to Barry Bonds is a Giant

Right-handed reliever Clay Hensley, who yielded the Barry Bonds home run that tied Henry Aaron, has agreed to a one-year, $750,000 contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Hensley is well-known and well liked by both GM Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy. Why wouldn't Sabean and Bochy not like Hensley. They both witnessed #755 sail out of AT&T Park. The next day, Hensley was optioned to the minor leagues.

In 2005, Clay was suspended 15 games for testing positive for steroids while pitching in the minor leagues.

It is once again great to be a part of the Clay Hensley project!

The HOF meaning of Barry Larkin for Barry Bonds

Barry Larkin, shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds, got the call on Monday. It was a beautiful call and the call that he was hoping for after playing a round of golf in the morning.

"I'm just incredibly, incredibly moved by this whole experience and so humbled by the experience and so excited about being the newest member of the Hall of Fame," Larkin said.


Barry Larkin will be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame this summer.

Congratulations, Barry Larkin!


The former Reds shortstop was selected on 495 of 573 ballots (86 percent) in voting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Above the 75 percent vote necessary for induction. This was the third year Barry Larkin was on the ballot.


What is the meaning of Barry Larkin's Hall of Fame vote for the MLB all-time home run leader, Barry Bonds?


Well, we could do an apples and oranges comparison between the two Barry's: one is an infielder, one is an outfielder; one is a hitter for average, one is a slugger, etc., etc.

But that would grow tiresome quickly.


All we know is that the Baseball Writers' Association of America is being very selective these days with its votes. Very selective. Except for the ballot stuffing efforts of Jason Stark, of course.

In fact, for some players, it is not about being selective, it is about being completely ignored.

Mark McGwire, 10th on the home run list, received 19.5% of the vote this year. Rafael Palmeiro, also a 500 home run club member, received 12.6% of the vote. Ignored. Well below 75 percent.

What will this mean for Barry Bonds and his friends Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza and Sammy Sosa? Will they be ignored like Mark and Rafael? Bets are on the Ignore side for round 1 next year.


Bud Selig, enjoy the Hall of Fame induction of Barry Larkin this summer.

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.

Welcome to Club PED, Ryan Braun

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun, the National League’s MVP in 2011, faces a 50-game suspension after reportedly testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone during the playoffs, according to Mark Fainaru-Wada and T.J. Quinn of ESPN.

Braun, of course, will be disputing the result through arbitration. However, no baseball player in world history has ever had this matter overturned.

Ryan Braun also plays left field. He played college baseball at the University of Miami, currently embroiled in a major ongoing NCAA football scandal.

As much as we don't want to say this (we must): flip the MVP to Matt Kemp of the Dodgers.

Will Dr. Ting be visiting an Ear, Nose, & Throat Physician soon?

Steven Hoskins testified that he spoke to Dr. Ting (a Hayward, California, orthopedic surgeon who has treated Bonds since 1998) at least 50 times about performance-enhancing substances and said the good doctor told him to tell Barry Bonds to stop using them.

Well ..... Dr. Ting???

Barry Bonds Trial Quote of the Day

"Barry was like, 'Let's do it right here. ... This is Kathy. That's my girl. She ain't going to say nothing to nobody.' ... So Greg shot him in the belly button."

Personal Assistant: Trainer Injected Barry Bonds in Stomach

Kathy Hoskins, Barry Bonds' personal assistant (and who has known Bonds since his childhood) testified Thursday that she saw Bonds' personal trainer (Greg Anderson) inject him in the stomach with an unknown substance. This took place in Barry Bonds' bedroom in 2002.

Randy Velarde testified Barry Bonds’ personal trainer supplied HGH

Former New York Yankee Randy Velarde (who last played for the Oakland As) testified that he purchased a performance-enhancing drug (HGH) from Greg Anderson, Barry Bonds’ personal trainer, throughout the 2002 major league season.

Barry Bonds defense: Hey, I didn't know they were steroids

http://www.sfexaminer.com/sports/teams/giants/2011/03/opening-statements-set-tuesday-bonds-trial