Sunday, August 10, 2003
Whispers are starting to get louder about Barry Bonds and the possibility of him breaking Hank Aaron's career HR record of 755. Bonds is 107 HR away from the record, and considering that he's hit his "prime" in terms of his power in the last three years, it's not out of the question by any means. Barring any kind of injury in the next two years, he could do it. He has 35 this year, and my guess is that he'll end up somewhere close to 50. That puts him about 92 away, meaning two years of 46 dingers. That's definitely in reach for a 39-year-old who has hit 49, 73, 46 HRs in the last three seasons, plus whatever he hits this year, which is already 35 and counting.
So the question must be asked: will it happen? I'd like to see if my colleagues agree, but I believe that Bonds can do it...except for one factor. He's not getting as many pitches to hit with everyone pitching around him (a mind-boggling 198 BB last year), and you can bet no one wants to give up 756. Even though he was walked 198 times last year, he still hit 46 homers. So I wonder if pitchers will start walking him even more (if that's humanly possible). But at the rate Bonds is going now, I think it's within his reach
posted by Charles Curtis 8:56 AM
