FanHouse KarlRavech

Earlier in the year, I was asked in a radio interview what I thought about Steve Phillips' proposal that the Giants sit Barry Bonds out for road games so he can break the home run record at home. I thought Phillips' suggestion was idiotic; the owners were growing tired of losing, while GM Brian Sabean's job was in question. To me, there was no way the Giants would choose to sit their best player for several games and increase their chances of losing, risking fan alienation, and people's jobs.

Well, Barry Bonds will have seven games at AT&T Park in San Francisco to hit three home runs and surpass Hank Aaron's all-time home run record. If Barry doesn't, the team will be back on the road for another six games. Which brings me to Phillips, who once again on Baseball Tonight, suggested that the Giants sit Bonds on the road if he doesn't hit three home runs in the next seven games:

This has to happen at home...he better get the three home runs at home, and if he doesn't, I think the Giants have to sit him on the road against both the Dodgers and the Padres. You think about everything that's going on -- this is about history right now. This is bigger than the game. This is bigger than this pennant race so far this year. It ultimately comes back to what are the clips, what are the sound clips, what are the video clips, you want for history's sake to look back on this. If you look at the worst-case scenario, if Barry Bonds has to break this on the road in Los Angeles against their biggest rivals, what will that be? That will be booing, that will be people throwing things on the field, that will be people possibly coming on the field. The worst-case scenario could be very very ugly here. I think ultimately, the fact here is they're playing the Dodgers and Padres, so it's not going to impact the integrity of the schedule for that division race. And I know the knee-jerk reaction for everyone to say you're crazy, you can't do it, but for baseball's sake, this is exactly what has to happened.

He was then challenged by John Kruk who was shocked that Phillips could just discount the Rockies and Diamondbacks from the race, making it less fair from them. Phillips continued:

About a month ago, I told you that Barry Bonds' attorney, Michael Rains, tore into the government's steroids probe of Bonds. I also just noted that there was a New York Daily News report suggesting the grand jury was close to indicting Bonds. Recently, Rains has even called the investigation a "witch hunt." Now, Rains has taken that a step further, suggesting President Bush is behind the push for indictment:

"This investigation is based on the political considerations of this (presidential) administration," Rains told the Mercury News on Friday. "The Balco case is a legacy of Bush, and it is a catastrophic failure - legally and from a public-relations standpoint."

Rains said he believed the ultimate call to indict would be made by no less than the president, who directed a massive shake-up of the Justice Department earlier this year under embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez.

"Barry and I have talked about it, and he can't believe it," Rains said. "I think it's possible, I really do. The case has been so political.

"The question is how they can throw in the towel without losing an immense amount of face after all they have done."

Wow, that is quite the charge by Rains. But that shouldn't be a huge surprise, after all, his job is to defend Barry. Earlier in the week I wrote about President Bush's interview with Karl Ravech on ESPN. When asked what how he would treat the Barry Bonds situation if he were Bud Selig, Bush was non-committal:

During a recent interview with ESPN's Karl Ravech, President George Bush talked about baseball. During that interview he was asked for his thoughts on the World Series, and the President said he believed in the Tigers, and even mentioned Joel Zumaya by name, sort of.

This pleased Zumaya.

"I guess he likes guys who throw hard," Zumaya said before the Tigers' 1-0 victory over the Twins on Tuesday night. "That's pretty cool the president knows who I am. Hopefully, I'll get to meet him, but I can't be focusing on that. I have to focus on getting back. "

Not so fast, Joel. Yes, he was kind enough to refer to you as a flamethrower, but he actually didn't single you out by name at first. In fact, he called you Joel Zumala.

THE PRESIDENT: I think Detroit will be in the World Series. I think they'll nose out Boston. I know that may be counterintuitive, but their young pitching is great, and they've got the flamethrower Zumala back.

KR: [Joel] Zumaya.

THE PRESIDENT: Zumaya ... Zumala, Zumaya. I think they'll be pretty tough.

Of course the only things Tigers fans or Zumaya care about is when he'll be pitching for the Tigers again. At this point in his rehab, Zumaya isn't having any trouble with his finger, but is just working on building his arm strength back. He's still on pace to be back by mid-August.

Baseball unites all Americans -- OK, not really -- so maybe if there's one thing we can all agree on, liberal or conservative, red state or blue ... is that it's at least mildly entertaining watching President Bush face to face with Karl Ravech. Too bad John Kruk wasn't invited out.

(HT: Simon On Sports)

After making it known that he was a fan of Baseball Tonight, President George W. Bush allowed himself to be interviewed by ESPN studio host Karl Ravech outside of the White House. Several pieces of the interview were aired on Sunday, and what struck me most was President Bush's thoughts about steroids in baseball. Being a former baseball team owner, he obviously understands the impact of steroids on the game, and frowns upon the use of them:

Clearly, the steroid issue put a cloud over the great sport to a certain extent. I appreciate the fact that the commissioner and the labor have worked out an agreement to win the trust of the fans.
...
I had talked to some of my baseball buddies and said this steroid issue looks like it's getting out of control. So I just decided to say something about it with the intent to try and put the spotlight on it and then John McCain picked it up and members of Congress did. And I think it was a useful forum because it basically said enough's enough; we want players to be using their god-given talent.

As far as implicating Bonds or deciding what he would do if he were the commissioner, the President was less certain:

You know, I don't know, I have my mind elsewhere these days...I really haven't considered what I would do.
...
You know, it's hard for me to tell. Again, I know there's a lot of implications, my advice is for people just to wait and see what the facts are.

President Bush did a good job of avoiding controversy with his answer about dealing with Barry Bonds. Privately, we don't know what he feels, but publicly, he kept from rocking the boat. As far as steroids goes, it's good to see he sparked Congress to take the matter seriously because he's right -- steroids have clouded the game.

If you were dying to hear John Kruk and Steve Phillips' indecipherable mutterings on the All-Star Game live and on location this week, you will be sorely disappointed: the Baseball Tonight set has been banned from the All-Star Game by Major League Baseball.

The reason? ESPN went ahead and reported the All-Star rosters before TBS, who had exclusive rights and a show set up specifically for the breathless revelation that Prince Fielder would indeed be the starting first baseman. Now, the Baseball Tonight set will sit idly in the outfield, being utilized by photographers with hair presumably far more voluminous than Krukie's.

Leagues and organizations do this all the time -- one way of dictating news coverage is by carefully negoiating who/what organization receives access to your events. In a way, this is a routine way for Major League Baseball to control its product. But the fact that it involves ESPN -- making clear that the leagues, and not the networks, still maintain the head spot at the power-brokerage table -- sets a precedent here that many ESPN-bashers will love, and the pro leagues will certainly appreciate. Check the nametag, grandma: you're in MLB's world now.