James Speaks. Should We Listen?

Hey All,

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Between a paucity of news and a tussle with the flu I haven't really had the inclination to write here over the past week or so. However since I've recovered and the Winter Meetings are in full swing there will be some reading material in the next few days.

In the meantime, Bill James has a tongue-in-cheek essay over at The Hardball Times basically chiding the media for declaring Barry Bonds Season officially open.

On one hand, he's correct in pointing out that all the evidence we have to go on in this whole steriod brouhaha is leaked testimony in a couple newspaper articles and that no real conclusions will be able to be drawn until the actual BALCO trial is over.

On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with speculation either. And if said speculation leads to more drug testing, harsher penalties, and cleaning up the sport I think the media should keep this topic burning bright throughout the cold, cold winter. After all, if Barry's truly innocent, then the BALCO trial will vindicate him and he can hit his 756th home run in 2006 with all the platitudes he deserves.

But part of me can't help but think of what happened to the other persecuted baseball star that James vehemently defended over several pages in his Baseball Abstract and the revelations that have come forth since then. Looking back at those pages now, they seem like a sorry last-ditch attempt to save a great baseball player and hero to many from the shame he brought upon himself.

And I can't help but wonder if we'll look back at this Bonds essay a couple years from now in the same sorry manner.