Barry Bonds, OF, San Francisco Giants

March 31, 2006 @ 14:29:34

By Jeffrey Rake
Edited by KFFL Staff

There's no question that the 2006 season will be a memorable one for San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds – a player who is widely considered to be the best pure hitter in Major League Baseball. The problem for Bonds is that his season might be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Bonds, who enters the 2006 season with 708 career home runs, trails Babe Ruth by seven and Hank Aaron by 48 for the all-time home run record. However, a season that was supposed to be a joyride toward baseball immortality could take a sudden turn for the worse.

Bonds has been accused of taking illegal steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs, and has become a scapegoat in the national media. All of his accolades, from batting titles, to home run records, to league MVP's have been called into question. An upcoming book, "Game of Shadows," written by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, got the attention of commissioner Bud Selig and Major League Baseball. The book, which provides circumstantial evidence that Bonds received steroids, has prompted Selig to launch an in-depth investigation into the matter.

Although a suspension is possible, it likely wouldn't happen anytime soon. The investigations are expected to be precise and thorough, and it's doubtful that Selig would disrupt what many expect to be a historical season. But one fact remains: Bonds has a stressful, trying season ahead of him. He'll be forced to answer questions and defend his reputation all season long, and although he has survived the first few blows, many more are still to come. Like his body, he might start to show signs of breaking down. This has to be a concern for fantasy owners, especially when you consider that Bonds recently admitted that his life "is in shambles."

Even if fantasy owners are convinced Bonds can persevere through all of the inevitable scrutiny, there still has to be concerns over his injury status. Last season Bonds appeared in just 14 games and had only 42 plate appearances after being sidelined until mid-September with right knee problems. He had two operations on the knee and spent much of the season trying to rehabilitate.

Despite having a few minor setbacks this offseason, Bonds appears to be ready to go. He feels confident with the knee and has tested it on the base paths throughout spring training. He's also demonstrated power at the plate, as he's hit four home runs in just 16 spring training at-bats.

Fantasy owners shouldn't be leery about his age, either. Bonds has gotten better with age, as the power surge he's put together over the last few years have all come after his 36th birthday. At age 41, Bonds is still in remarkable shape, which is possibly a result of the performance-enhancing drugs that he's believed to have taken since 1998.

Despite all of his off-field shortcomings and the distractions that he'll be forced to overcome, there's no question that Bonds can be a huge contributor to your fantasy team. If he's able to stay healthy and play the entire 2006 season, there's no reason to believe that he can't hit .330 with 40 home runs and 100 RBI.  If Bonds is on your fantasy team, this should be a huge positive in a season that could otherwise be filled with a bunch of negatives.

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Jeffrey Rake

Jeffrey Rake is a KFFL contributer who offers a unique perspective in the NFL/MLB. He's a die-hard Chiefs & Cubs fan and has never seen his team win a championship. Jeff promises to bring you updated information that is accurate and reliable.

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