The Zong

Watching the highlights from #756, one thing really stands out to me about Barry Bonds. His swing hasn’t changed much (though his physique has) over the years, and the cut he took to launch that ball out past the 420 marker was about as great a swing as has ever existed. The man is 43 years old, and I think we can probably be pretty sure he’s not still juicing. I grew up watching Bonds play for the Giants, and the pure balance and mechanical precision of the man’s swing when he’s hitting well is a familiar, welcome sight to anyone wanting the Giants to win a ballgame.

Strip away all the juicing and the venom surrounding the record for a minute, or don’t. It’s still there: Bonds is undeniably among the greatest pure hitters the game has ever seen. Add in all the gold gloves, stolen bases, MVPs and records, and it’s hard not to wonder how different this moment would be for everyone involved had steroids never been infused into Major League Baseball. You already know that there’s more than one man to blame for it, but Bonds’ achievement last night is a rare (but not unprecedented) thing for the history of baseball, in that the monumental nature of the moment highlights both what is great about his talent, and tragic about his character.

And by the way, the Giants lost to the Nationals last night, 8-6.  It’s finally fucking football season!

- M.G.