Barry Bonds Says Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Has it Much Easier Than He Did
The things that Shohei Ohtani did in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers was historic.
Opening the 50/50 club, winning a National League MVP award, and of course hoisting the franchise’s eighth World Series championship was truly a Hollywood script in the first of one decade in Tinseltown.
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With such a dominant season and the spotlight growing on Ohtani, it has of course opened up the debate to the baseball world about his place in history.
It has also opened up the conversation to some of the game’s legends.
Barry Bonds spoke on Ohtani during an appearance on the All The Smoke podcast. While first giving props to the three-time MVP’s brilliance, he also pointed out the differences in the way the game is played now compared to when Bonds was suiting up regularly.
“The pitching and hitting has been outstanding for what he’s done,” Bonds said. “Baserunning. He’s a complete player. There’s no doubt about the type of player he is and what he’s accomplished in his career.”
Ohtani’s brilliance is undeniable, but then the seven-time MVP critiqued how different the MLB landscape looks today.
“The game has just changed,” Bonds said. “The game is way different than it was when I played. The same way Michael (Jordan) talks about it or anybody does. Ohtani is not gonna hit two home runs without seeing one go (by his ear) in my generation. I don’t care what he does. He’s not gonna steal two bases without someone decapitating his kneecap to slow him down. It’s a different game back then.”
Bonds doubled down on how the new generation differs, offering another comparison to the seemingly easier treatment of MLB stars in this day and age.
“They should be better than us hitting-wise because they can hit a home run, throw their bat up in the air, run around, get a taco, come back down and have a limo drive them around,” Bonds said. “All these antics that we weren’t allowed to do. If I did anything like that, I’m gonna see a star. I’m gonna see a hospital, but I ain’t gonna see baseball that day.”
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Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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That’s total B.S. Bonds hot dogged it after every home run. He stood at home plate and watched it. He did not have pitchers throwing at him. Ridiculous.
I bet Barry thinks he walked to school uphill both ways in the snow.
Sheesh Barry. Haven’t you embarrassed yourself and destroyed your legacy enough already? You were once one of THE greatest players of your generation; actually several generations before you cheated. Just stop digging the hole you’re in.
Take some more ‘roids, LOSER Bonds.
It looks easy when Shohei did it, but nobody done it yet before him. I certainly hope that the record is broken every season but until then, Shohei done an insane achievement.
Different back in his day? Like the time he did a little 360 degree ballerina pirouette out of the box after smashing a home run against the Dodgers and no Dodger pitcher ever exacted retribution? That kind of different era? Poor, poor Barry. Things were so hard for him, having to dose everyday and all that.
Before pitchers had more control of where they wanted to pitch if they wanted to pitch inside the would do it nowadays pitchers have no control of the ball in the past the pitchers where using sticky stuff now they are checking for that if they can’t use any foreign materials anymore the pitchers have less control and they are throwing much harder than the Barry Bonds era plus they are checking for substance in players body nowadays so respectfully mr Bonds I think you are better off staying quiet.
Certainly some decent points being made,, but it’s also today’s winning run-on sentence by a landslide. I was gasping for breath halfway through. Punctuation isn’t always necessary for clarity, but when it reads right, the points are much better comprehended. Also, in general (but not imperative), contractions are used in informal writing and speech so the points flow even better. Using “they are” 3 times instead of “they’re” lengthens the read. Just sayin’………
Before, pitchers had more control of where they wanted to pitch. If they wanted to pitch inside, the(sic) would do it.
Nowadays, pitchers have no control of the ball. In the past, the pitchers where(sic) using sticky stuff, now they are checking for that.
If they can’t use any foreign materials anymore, the pitchers have less control, and they are throwing much harder than the Barry Bonds era. Plus, they are checking for substance in player’s body(sic) nowadays.
So respectfully Mr. Bonds, I think you are better off staying quiet.
Bonds would be better off keeping his mouth shut to keep his already tarnished legacy relevant. Downplaying Shohei will only work against him. He needs to learn it and grow up as a person.
Barry Bonds sounding a lot like another whiner Isaiah Thomas. Also, Dodgers average getting up there. Need to start keeping more kids up in the bigsAve age may be 33. I did not run the numbers. Funny Fact. 4 of the winningest baseball seasons ever have been since 2018 and in the Nat League West. Means the losers gotta be there too! Baseball stats-reference a good source.
It’s funny to see giants (no pun intended) of the older generations in NBA and now MLB not giving proper respect to the current players who are furthering the success of their sport!
On the contrary, Barry’s dad ws a fine outfielder and hit 300 hrs I recall. Ohtani had no such familial help.