Baseball Musings: A Tale of Two Homers

July 21, 2006

A Tale of Two Homers

The Boston Globe NL Roundup column compares Barry Bonds' 722nd home run with the first by Carlos Quentin:

Barry Bonds moved within 33 home runs of career leader Hank Aaron and left the ballpark without talking to the media. Carlos Quentin moved within 754 of Aaron and was talking up a storm.

Maybe Barry was celebrating not getting indicted yesterday. For some reason, the case seems to hinge on Greg Anderson:

Shortly before the trainer was freed, the agents handed him a subpoena to appear before a new grand jury next Thursday.
Anderson, who pleaded guilty to distributing steroids in the BALCO case, would be a star witness for the prosecution if it could get him. If he again refuses to testify, he could be imprisoned for the entire 18-month life of the new grand jury.

A friend who accompanied Anderson out of jail, Paula Canny, said afterward that the trainer was "never, ever going to talk. Never." Anderson, she said, was "in for the long haul."

So now, does Anderson go to jail for 18 months, or does he talk? To a certain extent I agree with Bonds' lawyer on this one:

An hour before Ryan's statement, Bonds' attorney, Michael Rains, stood outside the federal building in San Francisco and railed against the government for its "persecution" of the Giants outfielder.
"They don't even have enough to indict a ham sandwich," Rains declared, "let alone Barry Bonds."

It strikes me if you want to indict Bonds on tax evasion, the two witnesses cooperating with the government should be enough. I don't see where Anderson can add to that count. But if the charge the government really cares about is perjury, then this is a waste of time. BALCO is over. Justice was served there. Getting Bonds on perjury doesn't do anything but get on record what many already believe, that Bonds used performance enhancing drugs. A tax evasion conviction might actually net the government some money (although given the cost of the grand juries and prosecution, probably not). On the steroid issue, there is definitely the tinge of persecution here.

Posted by David Pinto at 07:51 AM | Sluggers | TrackBack (0)

Comments

Getting Bonds on perjury doesn't do anything but get on record what many already believe, that Bonds used performance enhancing drugs.

Perjury is a serious crime in itself...

Posted by: Steve Brady at July 21, 2006 11:20 AM

Agreed Steve, I think David missed this one badly. If the Government thinks a witness lied to a Federal Grand Jury in a high profile case they have an obligation to pursue charges. If Anderson was not going to implicate Bonds he would take the stand asap. Rains ought to shut his mouth, if Anderson flips his boy will do at least 12 months. As is he sounds like some mafia mouthpiece. That the public perception is "Barry lied to the Feds" only increases the need for ongoing investigation, and if the evidence warrants, charges. Giambi told the truth, and the scumbag NY media trashed him for it. Barry should skate for lying? That's just wrong.

Posted by: abe at July 21, 2006 11:34 AM

If I may defend myself, I do believe lying is a serious offense. However, from what I've read about perjury cases over the years, it's a difficult charge to prove. My concern is that the Federal Government is persuing a difficult charge at the expense of putting Bonds in jail on an easier one. I believe that's the way the justice system usually works. You build a good case, and if things go well, the defenant pleads to a lesser charge so you don't need the cost of the prosecution.

Now, instead of nailing Bonds on his taxes and getting this done, we're looking at paying for 18 months of Greg Anderson's incareration and 18 months of grand jury time. To what end? Preventing Barry from breaking Hank Aaron's record? Stopping others from lying to a federal judge? Bill Clinton's disbarment didn't appear to have much of an effect on Barry. Justice for justice's sake? Then there are a lot of deals that are not going to be made in the future.

This is not how our legal system usually operates. That's what bothers me the most.

Posted by: David Pinto at July 21, 2006 11:56 AM

"This is not how our legal system usually operates." True. When the camera are on all bets are off. Martha found out the hard way. She went away for false statements to a Federal Officer, a lesser offense. This is exactly how the Government works when the front and back pages of the paper is available. It's nasty business thru and thru. Bottom line, Anderson should take the damn stand, that's the right way to end this phase.

Posted by: abe at July 21, 2006 02:03 PM

I've been following this all along and, the way I see it now, Bonds and Anderson absolutely have both the sports-media world and the judicial system by the kahones. And more power to them. The east-coast-based media (columnists, radio, Sorts Illustrated, Tom Verducci) has been so biased against him that it will appear quite embarassing in retrospect. Even if Bonds is indicted in 18 months or whatever, by then it won't matter too much. In this drawn-out world series, it's Bonds and Anderson 4, small-minded east-coast bias, racism, expensive legal processes, and leaky grand jury testimony 3. It's just a game, afterall.

Posted by: Peter Bryan at July 21, 2006 03:41 PM

well, it is obvious to anyone that this thing is most definitely a witch hunt.

if they had ANY evidence about barry and taxes the IRS woulda got him a LONG time ago. they are a lot faster than all the other shtt because if someone (say, the angry ex gf who wanted some money from barry) calls the tip line, they investigate him right then and there - if he produce his records and they show he DID pay taxes, goodbye gold digger.

they need greg anderson to make a case? puhleeze.

and if i was anderson, i'd give them the finger too. he got exactly NOTHING to lose. they screwed him sideways big time.

lets get real here. it's ONLY about nowitzki all mad because bonds snubbed him 5 years ago or whatever and wanting to get even wasting government time and money for revenge.

Posted by: lisa gray at July 21, 2006 10:44 PM

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