Electrifying battle of legends
Posted: Monday, June 25, 2007 4:16 PM
No one expected to see the two aging greats face each other. But Barry Bonds started all three games of last weekend's Yankees-Giants series in San Francisco. Roger Clemens, not scheduled to start in San Francisco, made the trip, and volunteered to relieve in a 13-inning game Saturday although he was not called upon by manager Joe Torre.
But on Sunday afternoon Clemens bailed out an exhausted bullpen and, in his one relief inning, faced Bonds. If anyone wonders why the Giants need to keep Bonds this season, the question was answered when he batted with the bases loaded in Saturday’s seventh inning. Everyone in the ballpark stood. There was electricity present at no other time. When Bonds faced Clemens Sunday, the same atmosphere swept the ballpark. Clemens threw carefully-placed fastballs, tempting but not challenging Bonds, who never swung and wound up with a walk on five pitches.
Here’s what we took away from the moments:
For all the talk of Clemens operating by his personal schedule, he was with the Yankees and scored huge points with his volunteer relief status.
For Bonds supporters, there was irony in the presence of Clemens. Defenders of Bonds often accuse the media of issuing Clemens a free pass, not questioning another player defying age with extraordinary performance.
Clemens’ fastball in the Bonds at-bat topped out at 88 mph. Is that enough to carry him through a summer against AL lineups? And is it realistic to expect heavy innings, something the Yanks desperately need from their starters, from a 44-year-old against those lineups?
Will the Yankees' bullpen be standing in September? A crushing early workload, eased a bit by the return of Chien-Ming Wang and Clemens, could take a huge toll through the heat of summer.
Bonds may be playing himself into an enviable position. Once he hits home run 756 and the All-Star Game in San Francisco passes, will there be any other reason to watch the Giants? Could a 43-year-old make himself indispensable?
Talk of a Bonds trade is absurd. A 10-and -5 player, Bonds would never waive those rights and accept a trade without compensation (read: a 2008 contract.) What are the odds of any team offering him a deal for next season?
