TDA Bullpen - Our Writers' Blog

Tuesday, May 18, 2004

The Joy of Televised Baseball and Bringing Bonds Out of the Bay

To begin, I'd like to thank Ted Turner for bringing his beloved Atlanta Braves to the masses. Go ahead, scratch your heads. But through Turner's TBS Superstation, I was able to watch Randy Johnson's 9th inning of his first career perfect game at the young age of 40. Kudos, Big Unit.

However, at the same moments, I watched the Mets' most dramatic ninth inning of the year. Just as Cliff Floyd stepped up to the plate with men on first and third and two outs, I couldn't help but stay on Johnson's bashful "aw shucks" grin as his teammates mobbed him. And wouldn't you know it? I flip back to MSG to find the Mets mobbing Cliffy. Just missed it...but wouldn't you rather see a perfect game? Obviously, yes.

This moment of sheer joy at being able to watch the perfect game actually happened reminded me of the divine power of cable gods a few years back, as Mark McGwire chased history. When Big Mac broke Roger Maris' record in St. Louis against the Chicago Cubs, I suddenly remembered that my cable provider gave us WGN. One flip later, and there it is - Mark McGwire rounding the bases (missing first in the process) and the celebration beginning. To be able to say that I was actually watching all these amazing moments is pretty amazing.

Now, I've been thinking about The Crank's proposal to send Barry Bonds to Anaheim. Not a bad idea. However, I don't think the Angels have the money to spend on Barry's expensive contract (would the Giants pay it?) and I think the Halos' offense is still plenty potent. So here's where I'd like him to go (this one's a shocker): the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yes, this breaks quite a few rules of thumb in the front office world of Major League Baseball. You don't trade your best player to another team in the division, ESPECIALLY your most hated rival. But look at it this way: Bonds stays on the West Coast. From a marketing point of view, he still visits Pac Bell often, putting butts in seats.

Why the Dodgers? Paul DePodesta is Moneyball Junior after his days with Billy Beane. What better way to employ that strategy than to add a guy with an OBP over .600? The Dodgers offense has surprised all of us this year, but as the Crank pointed out, putting him in between two other batters makes the three and five hitter a lot more valuable. Plus, like the Jeff DaVanon upgrade, we're looking at Bonds coming in for...Jason Grabowski. Ugh. All of a sudden, a reborn Adrian Beltre gets even better. Shawn Green becomes solid in the three spot. Milton Bradley? I suspect his numbers might improve too.

The point of this whole discussion is obviously that Bonds will directly effect the players around him. But if the Giants do decide to fold it for this year and see Bonds as their most tradeable asset, then he'll have the control over the dealing as a "10 and 5" guy. I think he'll want to stay on the West Coast.

Or The Boss will throw a lifetime contract at him so that Jeter can get out of his slump.

posted by Charles Curtis 6:53 PM