Bonds to Skip World Baseball Classic

[bmbmd]

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/5273462

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Barry Bonds pulled out of the World Baseball Classic on Monday, saying he didn't want to risk an injury that could jeopardize what might be his final season with the San Francisco Giants.

The star slugger had three operations on his troublesome right knee last year and missed most of the 2005 season before returning Sept. 12 and playing in 14 games. He announced in late November that he planned to play for the United States and was included on the preliminary U.S. roster for the inaugural 16-nation tournament, scheduled for March 3-20.

You don't have to pee in a cup, do ya?

[nickgutierrez]

1. I was surprised he wanted to play in the first place

As the story mentioned, he had three operations on that knee, and that's not even counting the work done on the other one. Those injuries kept him out for most of last year, so his initial decision to play in the classic caught me by surprise.

[erpowers]

2. Blood Tests

Some people are pointing out that Bonds just happened to drop out of the WBC when it was announced that the WBC would begin testing the blood of the athletes that will participated in the series. Erik Casilas pointed out that all the players who signed up for the classic knew their would be blood testing. So I am not sure it can be concluded that Bonds dropped out of the classic due to steroid use.

[terryg11]

3. Man, my feelings about Barry are a mixed bag

This is a guy who was one of the all aaround great baseball players before bulking up on roids or whatever. Had to admire his talent but now I can't shake the feeling he's sticking around just to break Aaron's record which would be a travesty.

[Feenicks]

4. Of course he is!

I can't shake the feeling he's sticking around just to break Aaron's record which would be a travesty

The whole 'roids thing is waaay overblown IMO. I don't care how freakin' bulked up you are, that doesn't help you in the least when trying to hit a friggin' 90+ mph slider:o The guy just has it in that respect, whether he's juiced or not. Actually, the juice helps more for muscle recuperation than anything else. It isn't some magical potion that turns mediocre athletes into superstars.

No, my mixed feelings about him stem from his personality; it has always appeared as if he were only concerned with one thing-- ol' number one. I just wish that he was a more likable person.

[terryg11]

6. I've used that same argument for years

about roids not helping you hit major league pitching, you've gotta be good hitter to do that. They don't turn mediocre athletes into superstars but they can help lengthen careers AND TURN ROUTINE FLY BALLS AND LINE DRIVES into just clearing the fence homeruns. Saw plenty of them the years Big Mac and Sosa and Bonds were breaking Ruth's mark.

No sport is going to be untouched by medical and science advances, that is true. As alrealdy mentionned roids won't make anyone a better player, it will give them more power, speed and recuperative abilities than those who don't use them. That's why if a player such as McGuire or Bonds does break one of the greatest sports records of all time thre should probably be an asterisk or something, just like Maris recieved.

[davidinalameda]

5. I can't stand him

he's the reason I'm not a Giants fan

[HuckleB]

7. Hooray!!!

But what a pussy.