FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Cardsox said 07/05, 04:33 PM
Barry Bonds would be interesting to see in the Home Run Derby, and so would David Eckstein. But we don't go by who would be fun to see. Barry is going to be 44 within 3 weeks and he is so banged up that he doesn't have the stamina to go out there and crank out home run after home run on his off day.

In fact, not only would it be too much for the 44 year old with bad knees, but even Big Papi is bowing out as well as a result of how hard it is.

"It just wears me out," Ortiz said. "The problem is, if you start and when you have to stop for all the guys that go and hit, I swing [hard] all the time, so when I had to shut things down and then start over again almost an hour later, I don't have it. I don't do well."

In short, the Home Run Derby is not a walk in the park as some would think it is. To swing for the fences takes a lot of power and energy, and to do it 40-50 so times in a row in one short period of time will take a lot out of you, especially for someone who frequently has to take days off to rest.

Cardsox said 07/05, 04:50 PM
So what if he's about to break Aaron's record? To quote my good buddy on FanNation, the All-Star Game is not the lifetime achievement award. Neither is the Home Run Derby. Your past career's accomplishments should not affect your chances to be in the Derby. If it did, Ryan Howard and David Wright, last years 1-2 finishers, wouldn't even be in the Derby. It's a display of power by people who can put up a show for the fans by hitting the most home runs.

Bonds has the pure strength to hit it out, but he doesn't have the stamina to go past the first round, if he could even make it that far. You can't force Bonds to play in the Home Run Derby just because it's located in San Francisco this year. He needs (and wants) his rest so he can come back after the break and break the inevitable almighty record.

Cardsox said 07/05, 05:23 PM
He'd be exciting to the San Francisco fans who are rooting for him to break the record, but everyone else would root against him and go to lengths just short of praying to hope for him to lose.

Anyway, there's no way that Bonds in his right mind would accept the invite to the Home Run Derby. He's already shown that he's not concerned about fans around the country and doesn't need to please them, but instead only himself. Health also plays a factor. He doesn't want to tire out or risk injury any more than he already has by participating.