Bonds returns to PNC Park as Marlins’ coach
PITTSBURGH 鈥� The worn-out phrase about those who can do and those who can鈥檛 teach does not apply to Barry Bonds.
Not by a long shot.
The former Pirates star left fielder, who won the National League Most Valuable Player in both 1990 and 1992 while with Pittsburgh, is in his first year as the Miami Marlins鈥� hitting coach.
鈥淗e蘑菇视频 one of the best hitters in the history of the game and he knows everything you need to know about hitting,鈥� Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich said. 鈥淚t蘑菇视频 great to be able to talk hitting with him and learn from him.鈥�
The Marlins and Pirates are playing a three-game series that concludes Sunday afternoon, marking Bonds鈥� first time in uniform at PNC Park since his final season as a player with the San Francisco Giants in 2007, a year in which he passed Hank Aaron as the major leagues鈥� all-time home run leader.
鈥淚鈥檓 loving it,鈥� Bonds said about his first foray into coaching. 鈥淚t蘑菇视频 something I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to do someday. The timing just seemed right this year and I鈥檓 having a lot of fun.
鈥淲e have a good bunch of young kids who really want to learn and it蘑菇视频 a chance to pass some of my knowledge along to them.鈥�
Critics claim that Bonds has gotten into coaching solely to rehabilitate his reputation in an attempt to be voted into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Though he never failed a drug test, Bonds was strongly linked to performance-enhancing drugs late in his career and often had a rocky relationship with the media.
Bonds has been up for election four times and received his highest vote total this year when he was named on 44.3 percent of the ballots. That was still well short of the 75 percent needed for induction and he has six more years to reach that mark before being removed from the ballot.
Those who do not vote for Bonds say the PED issue taints his on-field accomplishments.
However, Bonds insists that teaching hitting in South Florida is his motivation, not increasing his chances of getting a plaque in the Hall of Fame. He says he only wants to pass along the knowledge he gained from playing 22 seasons in the big leagues and also gleaned from his father Bobby Bonds, a three-time All-Star outfielder, and godfather Willie Mays, a Hall of Famer.
鈥淎nyone who watched me play knows I was a Hall of Fame player but that蘑菇视频 out of my hands and nothing I do as a coach is going to change what I accomplished as a player,鈥� Bonds said.
The Marlins entered the weekend just 21st among the 30 major league teams in runs scored with an average of 4.26 a game. However, Marlins Park suppresses offensive and Miami is also without its top two home run hitters as right fielder Giancarlo Stanton and first baseman Justin Bour are on the disabled list.
It was jokingly suggested to Bonds, who still looks like he could play at 52, that he should be added to the active roster. The Marlins are in the thick of the National League wild card race as they attempt to reach the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2013.
Surely, Bonds could provide some missing power after hitting 762 home runs in his career.
鈥淵ou know I could still hit if I had the chance,鈥� Bonds said with a smile. 鈥淚鈥檓 done, though, as a player. I鈥檒l leave it to these guys to get the job done and I鈥檒l be there to support them.鈥�