THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Friday, September 01, 2006

Bonds and Griffey

In 1997

Still, Bonds doesn’t realistically believe Maris’ record will fall.

“Not unless you make it mandatory for a starting pitcher go eight innings,” he said. “Baseball has changed.”

http://www.journaliststoolbox.com/clips5.html

(Hat tip: USS Mariner)

Always fascinating to me that one of the reasons Bonds is allegedly to have said he started his drug program is to keep up with the Joneses (McGwire, Sosa).  That is, if there were no other guys who usurped Bonds’ glamour, of his rightful place as the unquestioned greatest nonpitcher of his generation, it’s possible he would not have started with his drug program.  Then again, we all have decisions to make and to take responsibility for.