The Mets should sign Barry Bonds
 

They cant depend on the current lineup producing enough runs especially considering that Delgado (who looked really old last year) and Alou are already hurting. Plug Bonds in for 110-120 games in left, Alou can play the other 40-50 in left, platoon some with Church in right (Beltran may have to cover the entire outfield in these games) and possibly even fill in for Delgado at 1st. In the games Bonds doesnt start, he gives them a huge threat off the bench in late inning situations. This gives him and Alou enough time off both should stay relatively fresh, protects Church from lefties, and gives them a huge run producer in a lineup behind Reyes, Beltran and in front of Wright. Endy Chavez can be used as a late inning defensive replacement for both Alou and Bonds and pinch run for both in the late innings also. Bonds could also be used as the Mets DH in interleague games against the AL teams and/or World Series road games.

Reyes
Castillo
Beltran
Bonds
Wright
Delgado
Church/Alou
Schneider

is a pretty imposing NL lineup. Bonds would probably sign a 1 year 12 to 15 million deal which is not that much considering Juan Pierre makes 11 million a year. It will also take some of the pressure off of the team when the collapse talk comes up when they lose 2 games in a row. Barry can just say something crazy and everybody will forget the choke for awhile. If they win the WS and Barry doesnt freak out he gets his ring and the NY media would cozy up to him. Not to mention that it would totally freak Hank Steinbrenner out if he hit a couple of game winning shots that took the Yankees off the back page, especially if they are off to a slow start. It is a logical move, therefore it wont happen.

I think it is funny that Sports Illustrated wrote up a story on how happy the Giants clubhouse is without Bonds this year. Lets see how happy they are when they are 30 out at the All Star break. Not that he could have prevented that but that is as pitiful a lineup as seemingly possible. They have a couple of really live young pitchers in Linecum and Cain but they have an old, declining bunch with nothing coming behind them. How would you like to be a season ticket holder and watch Rich Aurillia hit cleanup?

The thought has crossed my mind a few times, even before the Alou injury. Bonds has dealt with media pressure before so I don't think that will be an issue. The Mets have enough stars too that Bonds can probably just go off and do his own thing without ruffling as many feathers as he did in San Fran where he was the man. Worst case, if he's a disaster you just pay him the rest of the contract and send him home. If it gets that bad then the team might actually rally once he's gone.

It really makes a lot of sense in many ways. This is really the only place Bonds could fit in. I didnt count teams that have no shot at the playoffs because what would be the point? There is no reason to think that he could not play the same amount of games that he did last year in left. his defense has slipped but they play Mioses freakin Alou there and he is an adventure when healthy. Plus Beltran has superior range and can cover Bonds back a little. Even the games he plays can be limited to 7 innings as Chavez can be his defensive/pinch running sub which is a good role for him. His presense in the lineup can only help Beltran with him hitting behind him and Wright who has a guy who has a .450 OBP hitting in front of him.

And they can sign Clemens if Pedro gets hurt.....you can't be serious, just what the Mets need.....a distraction.

Clemens wasn't very good last year and has never played with the scrutiny he would face if he came back. Bonds has faced that pressure and done just fine with it. Distractions are overrated in baseball. And actually a distraction may be what they need as it would take media pressure off of Reyes, Beltran, and Santana.

They got Santana and are the best team in the NL...hands down. Already everybody is hitting the panic button and the season hasn't even started! The last thing the Mets need is a "head" ache like Bonds. Wish he and Clemens would just go away!

There will be plenty of distractions if Ruben Gotay and Angel Pagan are regulars. It will be from people hurling themselves from the upper deck of Shea.

Santana has not proven that he can play a corner outfield position on days that he doesnt take the mound. Why pass up the best hitting left fielder of all time if all it takes is money? The last thing the Mets need is to start slow because they are playing triple A guys in left field and 1st base, 2 positions where you need offensive production.

Of course Petitte is ok because he said he was sorry?

Well he is a blankie... all is forgiven ?

The last two years they hadn't started slow, why should they this year? There are plenty of other "good" players out there, Bonds isn't worth the baggage and he'll become the center of attention with the N.Y media. As far as Petitte, at least he admitted what he done....those other two are ego manics that never will. The Mets will be ok, they'll do better than thier Bronx counterparts this year......YES, I admit that!

The important question is.... Are the Mets a Now Team ? If so, then the older player injuries maybe a problem .

Nice to have a RED SOX fan weigh in.....what's next, the "estreetposse" ganging up on the Ol' Hick! :D

Who else in the NL is???:confused:

Did the phillies get any weaker.? [ except that the closer is out for the start of the season ] ...and im sure the braves might be tougher this year. The mets will not have a cake walk thru there division..and your old manger is in Dodger Blue now....right ?

Sorry to take this position, but does any part of you want to see his miserable as$ disappear or are you just playing GM?

Im just trying to keep you honest...:D :p

Yes, Joe is gone and it will be quite different in the Bronx.....but the Mets supposed to be the best the NL has to offer.....I have faith in them.

Free agent LFs:
Barry Bonds
Terrence Long - hasn't played in MLB since 2006 when he hit .167
Eli Marrero - hasn't played in MLB since 2006 when he hit .204
Orlando Palmeiro - hit .233 with 0 HRs and a .262 SLG last year
Rondell White - hit .174 last year after hitting .246 in 2006
Preston Wilson - hit .219 last year and had season ending knee surgery

So where are all these other good players out there?

Has it gotta be a free agent??? Like to hear from some of the Met fans here and see if they think it is dire straits with thier situation.

Why give up a prospect when you can sign Bonds without losing anything? Making a trade for an established OF would be very difficult at this point in the year. I'm a Mets fan and really think signing Bonds makes a ton of sense. We'll be fine without him but we'll be better than fine with him.

Who?

I think it would be too much trouble given his situation, the Mets will be ok.....162 games is a long season.

As long as Barry can play under the circumstances which he's been able to do in the past I don't see why it would trouble. He'll keep to himself and take some of the media pressure off his teammates.

It is cause it is such a long season that I don't want to take any chances early. The bigger a cushion the Mets can build early the more they can space out Pedro and El Duque's starts to keep them fresh for the playoffs.

Where else would they get a player at this point? They traded pretty much all of their tradeable assets, except Martinez and there is no way they trade him. Plus like him or not Bonds is still a tremendously productive player and would make the Mets a much better team on the field. we all know he is not a saint or a good guy but he can hit and pitchers still fear him but they have to pick their poison with Beltran, Bonds and Wright hitting in consecutive spots.

Do you really want that jagoff in your clubhouse? You guys are already stepping on eggshells because of last years collapse. A good start this year and everything is fine, but if you tank the first month or two, Delgado might be calling on JOE BOO

The Mets may be ok or not. They have a chance to win now and would be crazy not to do whatever they could to do it. They have serious issues at 2 prime positions. They have very little depth.

I think the Yankees got more to worry about than thier crosstown rivals.

They have no left fielder and the best one of all time sitting at home. I not only want him in my clubhouse, I build him his own section. The year they won the Series they had multiple guys snorting coke, racial tension and fights between teammates. They have other strong personalities like Pedro plus most of the guys on the team speak English as a second language anyway. Just to see Hank squirm, it would be worth it.

Yankees do have their issues...

Ok, I'll agree with this very thing. This guy likes to really say alot of hilarious stuff. QUOTE MACHINE

Santana pitches a 2 hitter and Bonds wins the game with a HR. The next day, Brian Cashman is hanging from the flagpole in center and Hank is naming himself GM, signs Mike Piazza and Ed Whitson.

Are you going to make me look up who Ed Whitson is or just going to tell me?

Had to look, broke Martin's arm in a bar fight. REAL hilarious.

He was a major free agent bust

Remember Ken Clay or Andy Hawkins, some real gems

at least Clay was a farm system bust as opposed to FA Hawkins

What about the year George decided to go with speed and signed Dave Collins?

The clubhouse stuff is so overrated in baseball. It is mostly individual efforts rather than teamwork that determines how teams do. Bonds can play and I don't think it will ruin the team chemistry if he won't lay down a bunt or communicates with the team as much as some guy who only speaks Japanese does. This isn't the NFL where bad character guys really can bring down a team.

They had some usual teams from 1982 thru 1992.....in the mid to late 80's a lot of end-of-career Hall of Famers

COLORADO last year is a perfect example. That team was all about a good clubhouse atmosphere with slighty above average talent