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May 19, 2006 

Please Don't Hit #714 In Oakland

GIANTS' FANS NEED AMMO TO FIGHT TAUNTS OF 4 A'S TITLES

It would just be the Athletics' Nation's luck that Baroid Bonds ties Babe Ruth for second on the all-time homerun list.

The scene of seeing #714 majestically arching over the Coliseum's right field stands will be one of the very few facts that Giants' fans would be able to throw at their more successful East Bay brethren.

The Giants have always had the short end of proverbial stick when it comes to the business of actually winning anything. They earn more dollars, gain more media attention and have a "prettier" ballpark, but when it comes to the act of actually calling themselves champs, the debate becomes decidedly one-sided.

The likelihood that Bonds connects sometimes during this weekend's Bay Bridge series is good, if not, eerily predestined.

For one, he's due. Bonds has not hit a homer since the mammoth blast May 7 in Philadelphia. Second, Friday's starter for the A's, Danny Haren, has had a propensity for allowing a few bombs this season with 11. The aching steroid slugger will also be able to play all three games as the designated hitter while playing in an American League park.

Bonds has also ripped the A's since interleague play began. He's hit 16 homers in 123 at-bats against Oakland. Check out the stats:

BONDS VS OAKLAND
AB 123, AVG. 325, 16 HR, 27 RBI, 17 IBB

A's manager Ken Macha and Art Howe before him have been like the rest of the league--hesistant to pitch to Bonds--with 17 intentional walks as proof. Let's hope that strategy stays in place.

I wouldn't advocate hitting Bonds like Houston's Russ Springer did last Tuesday, at least, not so obviously. A curveball in the middle of the back would be fulfilling. But, by any means possible, do not give up #713 in Oakland. Haren, Joe Blanton, Brad Halsey DO NOT give Giants' fans any ammunition, even when it's akin to BB's.

BLASPHEMY!
Here's what Barry Zito told the USA Today:

"If he were here, that'd be unbelievable," Zito said. "That'd be so cool."

Yeah, that would really be cool. So cool, in fact, that a general boycott of the A's should be called to quell the inherent coolness.

Of course, what should Zito say? The truth. No Hal Bodley, I think the A's clubhouse would suffer with a cranky and sometimes hostile specter lounging in the clubhouse.

Such a transaction would never happen. While the A's loosey-goosey clubhouse generally absorbs malcontents like Jay Payton, Frank Thomas and Milton Bradley and welcomes such players, the personality of Bonds is unprecedented. Besides, I remember the final season of Reggie Jackson in Oakland and it wasn't pretty.