May 5, 200719 yr Author Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente are the only NL players to win more(12) and only 1 AL player has won more and that's Ken Griffey Jr (10) and those were all with Seattle. Actually Al Kaline won ten gold gloves as well, all with the Detroit Tigers. I would put Barry in the top 15 for sure but I cannot put him ahead of Mays, Ruth, Aaron and Mantle for sure. Funny thing is that Bonds was a more complete player before the roids; he could steal bases, was a much better base runner, covered more ground in the outfield as well. His attitude hurts himself with people but even someone that cannot stand him, such as myself, has to put him in the top 15 somewhere. I'll agree 100%, until he's proven guilty I am not gonna say he did it. But that beeing said, before all this came out he was probably the most complete player, maybe aside from Griffey in his seattle years.
May 5, 200719 yr I made my comment about the fielding knowing full well how many Gold Gloves Barry has been awarded. Iam with the other poster who has said that you have to watch him play. He doesn't make errors because he rarely goes after the ball. He lets balls drop in front of him, get past him in the gap, and he is notorious for not hustling after balls when they get past him. He has a weak arm, which is why he has always played left field instead of right or center, and you almost never see Barry on the "Plays of the Week," making the diving catch or the over the wall play. When he was playing for the Pirates, a routine end-of-game move by Chuck Tanner was to substitute for Barry in the late innings when they had a lead and he was not coming to the plate. He just isn't a very good defensive outfielder.
May 5, 200719 yr Barry is an all around great player, but just not a good guy. He is our generation of Ty Cobb...
May 5, 200719 yr Author I made my comment about the fielding knowing full well how many Gold Gloves Barry has been awarded. Iam with the other poster who has said that you have to watch him play. He doesn't make errors because he rarely goes after the ball. He lets balls drop in front of him, get past him in the gap, and he is notorious for not hustling after balls when they get past him. He has a weak arm, which is why he has always played left field instead of right or center, and you almost never see Barry on the "Plays of the Week," making the diving catch or the over the wall play. When he was playing for the Pirates, a routine end-of-game move by Chuck Tanner was to substitute for Barry in the late innings when they had a lead and he was not coming to the plate. He just isn't a very good defensive outfielder. I have watched him play, many times actually. I'm not disagreeing with you on his effort or his arm strength and all that stuff. I'm just saying statistically speaking, he is as good as anyone that has played, the numbers prove it. If I had to pick a team based on defense he woulnd't be on mine based on my opinion of who's better or worse. Based on stats alone he is as good as the best and if you picked a team based on stats he would be there. When his numbers are posted in HOF 6 years from now, his fielding percentage will rank him among the best OF ever. He's not gonna have an * by his name saying he had a weak arm, or he played left field or he never made plays of the week. He might however have one for steroid use, only time will tell.
May 5, 200719 yr Barry is an all around great player, but just not a good guy. He is our generation of Ty Cobb... I am not so sure about that, I don't think that Bonds is a "dirty" player on the field as Cobb was reported to be.
May 5, 200719 yr That just made my stomach turn!!!!!! Bonds should be no where around the talks of these guys, these are the best fielders ever and IMO Bonds is not even into the parking lot with these guys. Before he bulked up he was a very good OFer.
May 6, 200719 yr He might possibly be he best ever, statistically he's as good as anyone. When he wins 20 games in a season I'll put him right beside of Babe Ruth, but until that day comes, he'll have to settle for at least second.
May 6, 200719 yr I have watched him play, many times actually. I'm not disagreeing with you on his effort or his arm strength and all that stuff. I'm just saying statistically speaking, he is as good as anyone that has played, the numbers prove it. If I had to pick a team based on defense he woulnd't be on mine based on my opinion of who's better or worse. Based on stats alone he is as good as the best and if you picked a team based on stats he would be there. When his numbers are posted in HOF 6 years from now, his fielding percentage will rank him among the best OF ever. He's not gonna have an * by his name saying he had a weak arm, or he played left field or he never made plays of the week. He might however have one for steroid use, only time will tell. Statistically speaking only, I agree with you. Along with Mays, one of all-time greats.
May 6, 200719 yr When he wins 20 games in a season I'll put him right beside of Babe Ruth, but until that day comes, he'll have to settle for at least second. You are right about that. With a record of 94-46 lifetime, Babe Ruth was more than on his way to the HOF as a pitcher. Lifetime ERA of a little above 2.20 is unreal. Like I said, I cannot stand Bonds but must admit that he is one of the greats but at least the last several years have been chemically enhanced which is a huge difference in what was the latter years of Ruth, Aaron and Mays compared to Bonds'.
May 6, 200719 yr You need to consider the times. Bonds plays in an era when the statistics of everyday players are inflated. Most anyone who plays everyday hits 10 to 20 homeruns and many 25 plus. Also, check out the number of .280 plus hitters. The truth is that, although we do so, you cannot legitimately compare statistics from era to era. You can compare how a player stacks up with his contemporaries but that is it. Using that measuring stick, I wouldn't put Bonds in the top ten outfielders. I'll take Ruth, Cobb, Williams, DiMaggio, Mantle, Mays, Aaron, Clemente, Speaker, and F. Robinson. You can have Bonds.
May 6, 200719 yr Where does Barry Bonds rank... As far as pompous, ego inflated bums? THE TOP of THE LIST!
May 6, 200719 yr Like him or not, Bonds is one of the greatest players ever to play the game. Definetly top 15. Former Cub Ernie Banks stated the same in an interview on Baseball Tonight. To see Bonds break the most heralded record in baseball and possibly be the only player to be in the 800 HR club, puts him as one of the greatest players ever.
May 7, 200719 yr Early in his career, one of the best and fastest OF's, in the game. Is he currently either....No. Over his career....One of the best of all-time.
May 7, 200719 yr Where does Barry Bonds rank... As far as pompous, ego inflated bums? THE TOP of THE LIST! As far as a baseball player?? One of the best EVER.
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