There are times, like when he swung the bat Friday at Livan Hernandez’s curveball, that his feats are cartoonish. Let Barry Bonds unleash on a pitch and there’s no telling where it will land or splash down.
On Sunday, Hercules became baseball’s unofficial welcoming committee. In a bit of a surprise, fans selected Bonds to start for the National League all-star team. The idea of Bonds playing host for the midsummer classic July 10 at San Francisco’s AT&T Park – that’s the current name, but it could change to iPhone Field any second – is amusing.
Bonds, however, does awkward well. So he’s not Tony Bennett. He’s not Gary Bennett, either.
By putting together a solid first half, Bonds is within an eyelash of passing Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record. But is he capable of leading a youthful National League squad to its first win since 1996?
That depressing statistic would amount to meaningless trivia if not for the fact that the result of the game provides home-field advantage in the World Series. And frankly, the NL players are growing a bit weary of playing the role of warm-up band to the AL’s Beatles.
It’s something they were repeatedly reminded of in the weeks leading up to the game, since the AL once again dominated interleague play 137-115. This, though, is one night only in a ballpark where flyballs go to die. Signs suggest an upset when dissecting the rosters.
The most glaring difference in the teams is experience in the starting lineup. The NL features pups – five first- and second- time all-stars. The AL features veterans with more wrinkles than a Shar-Pei – only Detroit Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco is a newbie.
What to like about the NL? There’s real balance, blending the power of Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and man-child Prince Fielder with the speed of Jose Reyes and David Wright (a combined 57 stolen bases). The AL is a monster mash, which would play out perfectly over a full season, but could produce plenty of strikeouts through next Tuesday’s first three innings.
Alex Rodriguez is the AL’s crown jewel, but with all due respect, nobody thinks of him as Mr. Clutch. Their best player is arguably Magglio Ordoñez.
Remember, the National League had held the AL to one run with two outs in the top of the ninth last year in Pittsburgh before Michael Young smoked an 86 mph fastball from Trevor Hoffman into the gap.
Which brings us to the pitching staff. The AL has a guy who threw a no-hitter (Justin Verlander), a modern-day Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale combo (Johan Santana and Josh Beckett) and Dan Haren, who is the best pitcher you’ve never heard of. So, of course, I think the NL is better.
Why? Six of the NL’s pitchers are relievers, and a seventh (John Smoltz) just happens to be a starter who was once one of the best closers ever. By comparison, the AL features four relievers. There’s a predictability of performance from relievers in this setting. Fans could do AL manager Jim Leyland a favor by adding Boston’s Hideki Okajima in the online, last-man ballot.
He was one of a handful of snubs, though few rise to the level of outrage. Gary Sheffield, Orlando Cabrera and Coloradan Roy Halladay were worthy. Same goes for Arizona’s Eric Byrnes, the Rockies’ Brad Hawpe and San Diego starter Chris Young.
In the end, injuries and planned family vacations will alter the roster in the coming days, making those left off even less obvious. Besides, everyone will be living in one man’s shadow.
This is Bonds’ game. It’s his team. And, as baseball’s brass watches with fake smiles, he will lead the National League to a win.
Staff writer Troy E. Renckcan be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
