The Mets should sign Barry Bonds

[Cannon Shell]

They cant depend on the current lineup producing enough runs especially considering that Delgado (who looked really old last year) and Alou are already hurting. Plug Bonds in for 110-120 games in left, Alou can play the other 40-50 in left, platoon some with Church in right (Beltran may have to cover the entire outfield in these games) and possibly even fill in for Delgado at 1st. In the games Bonds doesnt start, he gives them a huge threat off the bench in late inning situations. This gives him and Alou enough time off both should stay relatively fresh, protects Church from lefties, and gives them a huge run producer in a lineup behind Reyes, Beltran and in front of Wright. Endy Chavez can be used as a late inning defensive replacement for both Alou and Bonds and pinch run for both in the late innings also. Bonds could also be used as the Mets DH in interleague games against the AL teams and/or World Series road games.

Reyes
Castillo
Beltran
Bonds
Wright
Delgado
Church/Alou
Schneider

is a pretty imposing NL lineup. Bonds would probably sign a 1 year 12 to 15 million deal which is not that much considering Juan Pierre makes 11 million a year. It will also take some of the pressure off of the team when the collapse talk comes up when they lose 2 games in a row. Barry can just say something crazy and everybody will forget the choke for awhile. If they win the WS and Barry doesnt freak out he gets his ring and the NY media would cozy up to him. Not to mention that it would totally freak Hank Steinbrenner out if he hit a couple of game winning shots that took the Yankees off the back page, especially if they are off to a slow start. It is a logical move, therefore it wont happen.

I think it is funny that Sports Illustrated wrote up a story on how happy the Giants clubhouse is without Bonds this year. Lets see how happy they are when they are 30 out at the All Star break. Not that he could have prevented that but that is as pitiful a lineup as seemingly possible. They have a couple of really live young pitchers in Linecum and Cain but they have an old, declining bunch with nothing coming behind them. How would you like to be a season ticket holder and watch Rich Aurillia hit cleanup?