Bonds: Congratulations, and Damn You!

So there's been something that's been bothering me throughout this historic home run chase of Barry Bonds...Bonds has stated on numerous occasions, and we all know, that the gap on his resume revolves around his lack of a World Series ring. We're over halfway done with the season, but even 12 games back, in the NL West, that's a gap that can be made up.

However, instead of playing all 9 innings to win ballgames, especially when he might bat in the 9th or 10th, Bochy is pulling Bonds in the 6th or 7th inning of games. Then we're losing in the 8th or 9th and don't have our 16 million dollar slugger at the plate to try to pull us back into it.

Last night is a perfect example. I couldn't be more pleased with Barry for hitting 756 and ending a 20 year chase of one of the most historic sports records out there. It had to be one of the more difficult things to do, and it had to be a relief when he crushed that ball into the right field bleachers at the deepest part of the yard.

And then, in the next inning, they give him a curtain call, pull him from the game and send him to the locker room. I get that this was big for him, but what about the team and what's left of a playoff chase? The guy is 3/3 with a single, double and home run. He's hitting hot and we need runs to win games. We give up 4 in the 8th inning and lose 8-6. Where's Bonds? Could he have hit another home run? A game winning single? We'll never know cause he was on the bench.

I guess what I'm saying is that I understand his age, and the chase, but the man makes 16 million...the least he can do is play a full 8 or 9 innings of a close ballgame, especially when he's hitting hot.