1. As of this writing, 56% of y’all have been fans for a quarter century or more. You’re old, like me.
2. A full 92% have been fans for 11 years or more. (I probably should have broken down the groups a little better; maybe we’ll run another poll someday after folks have had a chance to forget about this one.)
3. I invited people to share stories of their first game at a big-league ballpark, and got some cool stuff coming back my way.

Because stories are what keep me hooked on baseball, I’d like to follow up on that last point. When was your first big-league game? Is there anything in particular you remember about it (either something that happened on the field, or maybe just the experience)? Can you find the box score at Baseball-Reference?

If you’ve already shared in the previous thread, thank you. If not, go nuts. I’m guessing that among us, we’ve seen some good stuff at our first game…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

San Francisco is now 39-54 on the season and has slipped “ahead” of the Astros and Nationals in the battle for worst team in the league. The Giants’ lineup is ancient and, with the exception of Bonds and Ryan Klesko, they’re playing like it. The bullpen has been shaky, and the rotation hasn’t been much better (with the weakest link being $126 Million Man Barry Zito).

Bonds now has 753 home runs in his career. He needs two to tie and three to pass Aaron. The worst part? Nobody outside of San Francisco seems to care.

Joe Posnanski covers the Bonds dilemma beautifully at The Soul of Baseball:

My own thoughts constantly contradict each other. I tend to believe that steroid use is worse than using amphetamines (or the more law-friendly cheating like corking bats or scuffing baseballs) but I couldn’t tell you exactly why. I think that Hank Aaron is more worthy of the home run record though I believe Barry Bonds was the better player (even before steroid suspicions). I think Barry Bonds was, in most ways, just playing the rules and boundaries of his time, and yet I also think he was fully aware of the lines he was crossing.

It’s a complex issue, to be sure. Personally, I have very little use for Bonds or any records he may break (and this comes from someone who routinely defended him when he was merely a prickly personality playing for the enemy of my team). As a baseball fan, I find it sad that there is little cause to celebrate the coming of what should be a glorious achievement.

Post from: Knuckle Curve