Barry Bonds HR #756: Predict when and where!

[Happy Lendervedder]

As of right now, Barry Bonds is at home run #742, 14 away from breaking Hank Aaron's all-time home run record.

Predict what day he hits the record-breaking #756. Simple as that.

Here is the Giants 2007 schedule (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/sfo/schedule?v=cal&m=05&y=2007)

My prediction: June 22 at home vs. the Yankees

[MovieMogul]

I'll say June 25 at home vs. the Padres since I plan on going to that game. :)

[Fear the Turtle]

Friday July 13 at home vs the Dodgers

[dalej42]

I'm very much thinking the Giants and MLB would prefer he hit it at home. You don't really want the new home run recordholder to be greeted with a round of boos. I doubt the Giants would bench him if they were behind in an away game, but I could see him getting pulled if they're leading in the later innings and Bonds is close to breaking the record.

[Asimovian]

Don't care, so long as it isn't Saturday, July 14th at home vs. the Dodgers. I just bought my tickets, and since they aren't in the bleachers where I could actually catch the homerun ball (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=418915), I'd really just prefer it wasn't done against the Dodgers. I'm not sure I'd make it out of the stadium alive.

As to the OP, I'm going to predict that he has some kind of minor injury that slows him down a bit, and he doesn't get the record until Sunday, August 12 in Pittsburgh. I suppose that would be bittersweet for him.

[August West]

I predict he is walked at every at bat for the rest of his career.


A fella can dream.....

[MovieMogul]

Don't care, so long as it isn't Saturday, July 14th at home vs. the Dodgers. I just bought my tickets, and since they aren't in the bleachers where I could actually catch the homerun ball (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=418915), I'd really just prefer it wasn't done against the Dodgers. Once is enough, eh? (IIRC, Aaron got his record-breaker against the Dodgers).

[Asimovian]

Once is enough, eh? (IIRC, Aaron got his record-breaker against the Dodgers).Exactly. And I had the dubious "pleasure" of watching on TV live when Fernando Tatis became part of history (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batters_with_two_grand_slams_in_the_same_baseball_game) against the Dodgers as well.

But I have respect for Aaron and Tatis, and not so much for Bonds. I think I'll probably be physically ill if I have to watch replays of #756 being hit against a Dodger pitcher until the end of my days.

[vetbridge]

I predict he is walked at every at bat for the rest of his career.


A fella can dream.....
Well, if dreaming is allowed, I'll go with November 14, 2007 playing for the Folsom Prison team. :D

[Justin_Bailey]

So am I the first to say never?

Bonds will go down with an injury sometime in June or July and that will be the end of his chase for 756.

[Troy McClure SF]

Well, I hope I'm there to see it against the Yankees, but if not, I hope it's against the Dodgers.

Like #500.

And #71.

And #72.

And #73.

Hrm. S'been a while. Yeah, it'll be the Dodgers.

[TV time]

What does it matter other than adding an exclamation point to the old Dow Chemicals motto.

"Better living through chemicals."

[Asimovian]

Well, I hope I'm there to see it against the Yankees, but if not, I hope it's against the Dodgers.

Like #500.

And #71.

And #72.

And #73.

Hrm. S'been a while. Yeah, it'll be the Dodgers.May he suffer a flesh wound and have all his limbs fall off.

[lexan]

I'm going to predict that he has some kind of minor injury that slows him down a bit, and he doesn't get the record until Sunday, August 12 in Pittsburgh.

Good God, that would spark a riot. He'd be lucky to leave PNC Park alive.

[Asimovian]

Welp...seems about time to revive this thread given the topic. Bonds is only three away now after today's effort against the Cubs (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap;_ylt=AnUyBi8tI0jGgCmdDXVvKXERvLYF?gid=270719116&prov=ap). Could be any day now. The Dodgers have nearly two weeks to go before they have to see him again, so here's hoping he gets it done quickly!

Not that there were many guesses offered up in this thread, but Fear the Turtle and I seem to be closest.

[rhythmonly]

What I find funny is that this morning on KNBR (the Giant's flagship station), the on-air personalities were yammering full time about Barry's 2 jacks from yesterday.

I had to wait until I got to work and go online, to find out that the Giants lost 9 to 8.

[Happy Lendervedder]

My prediction: June 22 at home vs. the Yankees

Wow, was I off.

[Happy Lendervedder]

And if anyone would like to add a prediction, or update their old one, here's the schedule Link (http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=sf).

Round one predictions do seem to be between Asimovian & Fear the Turtle


My new prediction: Monday, July 23 @ the Brewers. Could be sooner, but I don't think Bonds will leave Milwaukee without seeing the recod broken. Unless, they hold him out of games this weekend, just so there'll be a chance he can do it at home during the seven-game home stretch. I think he's finally got out of his funk, and it's only a matter of at bats now.

[DKW]

753. 3 to go. Mmm...

The thing is, he's been hot and cold all season, and even when he's hot, he's just as likely to bang out line drive singles and to-the-wall doubles as home runs. More pitchers are willing to pitch to him, but only because it's easier to get him out; he struck out a number of times this season, IIRC.

I'd give at least a 20% chance of it happening in Milwaukee, but I'm sure as hell not putting money on it. I give a slight edge to one of the Atlanta games. If he reaches 755 in Milwaukee, it's almost a sure thing.

If it happens in Milwaukee, though, that's fine. I really don't understand why Bonds should give a damn about Bud Selig for the same reason that I dont understand why anyone gives a damn about Bud Selig. He's a friggin' joke.

[Troy McClure SF]

Hopefully Tuesday, when I'm in the club seats, but my roommate's a Braves fan, so maybe I'll just go with him to all the Braves games.

[Airblairxxx]

I'm going to the game either next Thursday or Friday (7/26-27), I'm not sure which.




So I predict he'll do it on Wednesday, 7/25.

[silenus]

If there is a merciful God, never. He'll get hit by a meteorite before it happens.

If it does happen at Dodger Stadium, here's hoping whoever catches it has the balls to throw it back onto the field as a show of contempt for Bonds.

[storyteller0910]

If there is a merciful God, never. He'll get hit by a meteorite before it happens.

If it does happen at Dodger Stadium, here's hoping whoever catches it has the balls to throw it back onto the field as a show of contempt for Bonds.

Unfortunately, I think it's pretty much time to stop asking Him for a meteorite and start petitioning for the continued health and welfare of the current and future former Yankee third baseman.

[silenus]

Good point.

"Dear Buddha, please bing me a pony, and a plastic rocket, and Alex Rodriguez playing for the Dodgers."

[Asimovian]

If there is a merciful God, never. He'll get hit by a meteorite before it happens.

If it does happen at Dodger Stadium, here's hoping whoever catches it has the balls to throw it back onto the field as a show of contempt for Bonds.You have to keep in mind that anybody in a position to catch a Bonds homer in Dodger Stadium is going to be in the All-You-Can-Eat section. Cheap seats and no alcohol, so they're going to be focused on making money rather than showing Dodger pride. :D

In all seriousness, though, I think that if there is ANY stadium in the majors where Bonds' 756 would get thrown back on the field, it would be in Dodger Stadium.

[MovieMogul]

Wow, was I off.ME too. :o

Maybe I'll catch a game next week (though I wonder if there'll be a run on tickets or not).

[Asimovian]

Oh for God's sake. My worst nightmare looks to be coming true. Two to go for the record, and a three-game series at Dodger Stadium when the Dodgers' pitching is at it's season's low point. Are there rules against intentionally walking a batter for the entire series? :D

I will be at Tuesday's and Thursday's games, incidentally, but not seated in an area where I could potentially catch (and throw) a homerun ball.

If there is a baseball god, please let Barry break his hand while trying to punch a reporter during a press session today. Please?

[RickJay]

Oh for God's sake. My worst nightmare looks to be coming true. Two to go for the record, and a three-game series at Dodger Stadium when the Dodgers' pitching is at it's season's low point. Are there rules against intentionally walking a batter for the entire series? :D

I will be at Tuesday's and Thursday's games, incidentally, but not seated in an area where I could potentially catch (and throw) a homerun ball.

If there is a baseball god, please let Barry break his hand while trying to punch a reporter during a press session today. Please?
You're looking at this all wrong. You should be thrilled about the idea of Bonds breaking the record in a place where he'll be booed off the field, where any honor or presentation will be drowned out be booing and screams of "Cheat! Cheat! Cheat!"

If Bonds breaks the record in San Francisco, the fans there will give you the impression that he's NOT a despised jerk whose run at the record is tainted in the yes of most fans. At Chavez Ravine, the truth will be clear.

[Asimovian]

You're looking at this all wrong. You should be thrilled about the idea of Bonds breaking the record in a place where he'll be booed off the field, where any honor or presentation will be drowned out be booing and screams of "Cheat! Cheat! Cheat!"

If Bonds breaks the record in San Francisco, the fans there will give you the impression that he's NOT a despised jerk whose run at the record is tainted in the yes of most fans. At Chavez Ravine, the truth will be clear.True, but as I think someone pointed out earlier, the replays of that day as time goes on will probably not include the fan noise. There will be flowery, magical music played in the background over the video of him making contact, and all you'll see in the background is everyone in the stadium standing, yelling and waving their arms. Future generations won't know the noises those fans were making.

But you're right about what happens if he does it at home. When I went up to watch them play a couple of weeks ago in SF, I was flabbergasted by just how much the fans up there adore him, and I mean that genuinely. I didn't realize just how much support he had up there. How people were giving him a standing ovation every time he finished a turn in BATTING PRACTICE, for God's sake. It's pretty pathetic.

But I'd still prefer him to do it at home than in my house.

[Trunk]

Good points, RJ.

FWIW, before the season started I had a bet with a co-worker. I set the date, and he gets to pick over/under.

Knowing he was a Barry hater and would go "over" on anything reasonable, I set a late date: August 3rd. He went under. I figured I was dead.

It looks like it's coming down to the wire.

[Trunk]

True, but as I think someone pointed out earlier, the replays of that day as time goes on will probably not include the fan noise. There will be flowery, magical music played in the background over the video of him making contact, and all you'll see in the background is everyone in the stadium standing, yelling and waving their arms. Future generations won't know the noises those fans were making. :dubious:

Really?

How many times have you seen the clip of Aaron doing it? Fans are going crazy. Two guys run out on the field to run the bases with him. I think the feeling of the fans will be nicely conveyed for posterity.

[Asimovian]

:dubious:

Really?

How many times have you seen the clip of Aaron doing it? Fans are going crazy. Two guys run out on the field to run the bases with him. I think the feeling of the fans will be nicely conveyed for posterity.I wasn't basing my prediction on history. I just think historians might be squeamish about portraying the moment in such a negative light unless baseball ultimately decides that Bonds was bad for the game.

Not to mention the fact that if this does, indeed, happen at Dodger Stadium, there is going to be more than just loud booing going on. I suspect Bonds will need to be removed from the game afterward for his own safety, and Giants fans in attendance would do best to sit in the alcohol-free section. It will not be pretty.

[Asimovian]

Missed it by five days -- what do I win?