# 69, baby! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 29, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533 "2001-09-29T22:07:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/1 "2001-09-29T22:07:01Z")
Barry hit 69! ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/2 "2001-09-29T22:13:27Z")
☹ ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/3 "2001-09-29T22:14:32Z")
For those who can’t tell, I’m a Cardinal fan. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/4 "2001-09-29T22:23:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\*For those who can’t tell, I’m a Cardinal fan. \*\* Nobody’s perfect:) If it’s any consolation, from what I can tell people still like McGwire a lot more. ---
**Author:** ![meek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@meek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meek)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/5 "2001-09-29T22:38:53Z")
I thought the OP was about something completely different… carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/6 "2001-09-29T22:44:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > \*\*If it’s any consolation, from what I can tell people still like McGwire a lot more. \*\* Actually, the consolation would be another World Series Championship. As of today, the Cards are only 2 games behind the Astros. If we can stay close, the last 3 games of the season are a Cards-Astros series at Busch Stadium. We can still take the division and in doing so, have the best record in the NL, giving the Cards home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Other consolation prizes: Bonds is a great player, better than McGwire in many aspects of the game (running, batting average) not a flash-in-the-pan having one good season. If the record is to be broken so soon, at least it’s by a solid future Hall-of-Famer. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/7 "2001-09-29T23:10:15Z")
oh, baseball… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/8 "2001-09-29T23:12:06Z")
[69]Yea, but he’s still a jerk.[/69] ---
**Author:** ![TheThill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheThill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheThill)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/9 "2001-09-29T23:37:56Z")
And Sosa’s got 59 with 8 games left to catch that class act. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/10 "2001-09-29T23:52:13Z")
As I stated back on July 17th in that thread about the two dopers going to a St. Louis game (damn, someone teach me how to make a link, I am acting like a girly girl by having to explain it all to you again) - Barry freakin’ Bonds is the real deal, like him or not. Just a matter of time, now. Weep, rejoice, contemplate, despise, whatever you do just give him the props he deserves. And props to McGwire, Sosa, Luis Gonzales, Rich Aurilia, Roger Clemens, and all others who played a good season. Only about 5 more months until pitchers and catchers report! ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/11 "2001-09-30T00:10:26Z")
Here’s [the link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=78581) **beckwall**. It was a game **Tequila Mockingbird** and myself went to. And > [@](#): > > damn, someone teach me how to make a link If you click on the “Quote” button to my post, you can see how I did the link in this post. And way over in IMHO, in this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=73771), on June 16th, I predicted Bonds would probably hit 75 this year. (Now it’s my turn to ask someone to teach me to link to a specific post.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/12 "2001-09-30T01:09:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by beckwall \* > \*\*Weep, rejoice, contemplate, despise, whatever you do just give him the props he deserves. And props to McGwire, Sosa, > Luis Gonzales, Rich Aurilia, Roger Clemens, and all others who played a good season. Only about 5 more months until pitchers and catchers report! \*\* No one here is saying he’s not. His slugging ave is 90 points higher than Hornsby’s NL record, and one point less than The Babe’s ML record. He’s having a hell of a year. I, and maybe we, are just saying…he’s not exactly a people person. You’re not a girly-girl, linking can be tricky, I screwed up the first time I tried it, haven’t tried it since. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/13 "2001-09-30T02:45:15Z")
Stop rereading that Rick Reilly article. Barry isn’t the world’s most personable guy, but he is _not_ a jerk, nor is he a bad guy. He’s giving $10,000 for each home run he hits to disaster relief. His teammates give him high fives after he hits home runs - if you see the tape of his 50th home run, check out the expression on Rich Aurilia’s face (he was on base at the time ). He looks absolutely ecstatic, like he’s happy for a friend who just accomplished something great. He loves his kids. Did anyone else see portions of his press conference a couple weeks ago? (I saw bits on SportsCenter.) His adorable little girl Aisha sat on his lap, telling him what to say. Barry had the hugest grin on his face as she said, “Daddy, say ‘I hit a home run’”. And he did it. It was media gold, the reporters were laughing. Barry is still not everyone’s best friend, but he’s an okay guy and a great player who doesn’t deserve a quarter of the bad rap he’s given. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/14 "2001-09-30T02:56:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > (Now it’s my turn to ask someone to teach me to link to a specific post.) \*\* Ask and ye [receive](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=87814). And regardless of how you feel about Mr. Bonds, you have to admire the way he has performed this season. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/15 "2001-09-30T03:09:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\*For those who can’t tell, I’m a Cardinal fan. \*\* That’s OK. The first step towards recovery is admitting you have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/16 "2001-09-30T03:17:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\*And regardless of how you feel about Mr. Bonds, you have to admire the way he has performed this season. \*\* Thanks for the linking info, **Shib**. As for how Bonds is performing this year? Let’s look at the stats: He’s got the 69 homers but on top of that he’s batting .321 with 132 RBI, 165 walks, 112 runs scored, and 92 strike outs in 461 at bats in 146 games played. And the season isn’t over yet - He’s on pave to hit 72 HRs, 138 RBI, 172 walks, 96 strike outs, 124 runs scored in 482 at bats and 153 games played. Compare this to McGwire’s season in 1998: 70 homers, while batting .299 with 147 RBI, 162 walks, 130 runs scored, and 155 strike outs in 509 at bats and 155 games played than McGwire. So Bonds is doing what he’s doing while walking more, striking out less and in less at bats and less games played. The runs scored and RBIs is impacted by the other team members performing (getting hits, getting on base) as much as the person compiling those stats. And keep in mind, I’m a _Cardinals_ fan! And as for his bad public image, Roger Maris had a bad public image when he broke the record. Hailed as a baseball hero, Ted Williams fueded with the press and fans his whole career. Not being good with the press doesn’t make one a bad person. ---
**Author:** ![aggiej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@aggiej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aggiej)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/17 "2001-09-30T03:20:27Z")
69 home runs and only 7 games left until barry goes on vacation! what will those homeruns mean when the giants miss the f’ing wildcard?! ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/18 "2001-09-30T03:20:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\*Compare this to McGwire’s season in 1998: > 70 homers, while batting .299 with 147 RBI, 162 walks, 130 runs scored, and 155 strike outs in 509 at bats and 155 games played. > > So Bonds is doing what he’s doing while walking more, striking out less and in less at bats and less games played **than McGwire**. \*\* To clarify what I was trying to say, I added the above bolded words “than McGwire” during preview. Had I previewed a second time, I would’ve noticed I put those words at the end of the wrong sentence. The way it’s written above is how it should read. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/19 "2001-09-30T03:23:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by aggiej \* > \*\*69 home runs and only 7 games left until barry goes on vacation! what will those homeruns mean when the giants miss the f’ing wildcard?! \*\* Why shoot for the wildcard? The Giants are only 2 games behind the D-backs, while they are 3 behind the Cardinals. They could still win their division without catching the Cards. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2001, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533/20 "2001-09-30T05:30:03Z")
The only hope they have is to win the division, I think the wildcard is pretty well locked up. Anyone who’s been a Giants’ fan for a few years can relate to the anguish I feel right about now every season. Hell, I remember when Bobby Bonds was the guy to watch. He had his troubles too, like all human beings. If everyone was scrutinized and kept in the limelight day in and day out, we would all appear to be a little bit tarnished. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/69-baby/84533.md?page=2)