Barry's Back

Even though Barry Bonds was involved in a verbal fight with my childhood hero earlier this summer, I can't help but be captivated by Bonds' return to baseball. Bonds returned to the Giants lineup last night and, for the most part, looked like he hadn't missed a beat.

The Padres pitched him tough: lots of pitches just off the outside part of the plate and strikes low and in. If Bonds was 100%, which I think it's safe to say he isn't, he'd likely turn on those balls that are low and in and crush them into McCovey Cove. Last night he clearly couldn't do that though.

But Barry still had enough in him to nearly drive one ball out of the ballpark (missing a 1st at bat home run by mere feet). Bonds probably won't catch Ruth before the end of the season (he would need to hit 11 homers in 19 games), but he's going to pull remarkably close.