Philly pitchers hope Bonds circus ends soon; but not on their hanging curve

Here from Phillyburbs.com comes a story interviewing Philadelphia Philly pitchers about the Barry Bonds steroid-infused chase for the record.  Although presented as 'pitchers defend Bonds' the interviews really tell a tale of ambiguous thoughts surrounding the Giant player's chase for history.

Witness Philly pitcher Jamie Moyer.  This is hardly support for Bonds:

“Most people have an opinion on it,” Moyer said. “People are saying, "Yeah, he has.' Well I don't think it's fair, and I'm not trying to stick up for Bonds. I would say that about anybody. At this point, he's innocent. I feel sorry for him, but then other times I say, "You know what? He's made his own bed.'

Moyer admits Bonds hits differently these days (perhaps due to juice like testosterone, HGH, and insulin):

Bonds was a skinny 22-year-old rookie playing for Pittsburgh the first time he went deep on Moyer, who was 24 and pitching for the Chicago Cubs. Bonds' homer on Aug. 11, 1986, at Wrigley Field was the 11th of his career. Moyer later served up four more to Bonds, Nos. 28, 65, 120 and 121, all of them coming from 1986-91 — before Bonds left Pittsburgh for San Francisco.

While Moyer is one of 12 pitchers to allow five or more homers to Bonds, he's won most of their battles. In 35 career at-bats against Moyer, Bonds is a .220 hitter.

“Early into our careers, [Bonds] was a completely different player,” Moyer recalled. “He was a little mobile, and I was learning how to pitch at that time. I felt like he had the advantage. Now I don't have a problem facing him. For me, it's a challenge, and I look forward to that challenge.”

Tomorrow's Philly starting pitcher, savors the challenge of facing Bonds:

...young lefty Cole Hamels, who will start Sunday night's ESPN game. He's never faced Bonds, but he eagerly awaits a first meeting.

“I'd like to pitch against him just to see what it's all about, especially when he's going for the home run record,” Hamels said. “I'd hope it would be a battle for him, as it would for me.”

Moyer sums up the issue well, the record goes down at some point, but Lord not on my pitch:

“He's going to break the record at some point,” Moyer said. “I've already contributed to that, but I'd rather not contribute any more.”

Comments

[gene upshaw]

I think (and I hope) that Bonds breaks his own walk record before this season is over. Wouldn't it be great if pitchers just gave him nothing to hit as he closes in on the record?

one can dream.

The Nation responds: Pitchers are starting to walk Bonds again. We wonder what he is taking now to remain this good this long.

[gene upshaw]

I'm curious about this too. It almost wants to make you throw your hands up is despair.

The drugs will just always be ahead of the testing. Do you believe this is true? Sure seems this way to me.

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