Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Wild idea: Things offer Bonds

Here is the press release from the Wild Things that has created plenty of publicity, including a spot on ESPN's "SportsCenter" this evening:

Washington Offers Barry Bonds a Contract
Wild Things Offer Bonds an Opportunity to Return to Pittsburgh Market

Washington, PA - The Independent Frontier League’s Washington Wild Things, presented by Washington Federal Savings Bank, have offered a contract to Barry Bonds, according to officials. Bonds, the seven-time MVP, is the all-time Major League home run leader with 762, passing Hank Aaron (755 HR) during the 2007 season. Bonds owns the Major League Baseball single-season records for home runs (73 in 2001), walks (232 in 2004), on-base pct. (.609 in 2004), slugging pct. (.863 in 2001), HR ratio (6.52 in 2001), and HR pct. (12.06 in 2004). Bonds batted .276 with 28 home runs and 66 RBI in 126 games last season. Bonds sports a .298 career batting average and 1,996 RBI in 22 Major League seasons.

A move to the Wild Things’ organization would give Bonds the opportunity to return to the market where he started his Major League career. Bonds debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986, playing seven seasons in Western Pennsylvania prior to signing a contract with the San Francisco Giants in 1993. “Many of the great one’s eventually return to where their careers began,” said Wild Things General Manager Ross Vecchio. “Babe Ruth began his career with the Red Sox and then finished with the Boston Braves; Willie Mays started with the New York Giants and finished his career with the Mets; and, of course, Hank Aaron began and finished his career in Milwaukee (Braves & Brewers). This contract gives Barry the opportunity to play once again in Western, PA as he continues his career.”

According to the Wild Things, Bonds’ contract offer includes a base salary as well as a number of incentives. “He will have the opportunity to meet certain bonus levels based on breaking any Frontier League single-season offensive record,” explained Vecchio.

Bonus Level A for hitting 36 Home Runs (record 35 by Morgan Burkhardt in 1998)
Bonus Level A for 101 RBI (record 100 by Pete Pirman in 2005)
Bonus Level A for 86 Base on Balls (record 85 by Burkhardt in 1998)
Bonus Level B for breaking single season record in any of the following categories: batting average, games played, at-bats, runs scored, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, hit by pitch, and/or stolen bases

In addition, Bonds’ contract offer includes other considerations including a single king-sized room when the team is on road; 50% of all net proceeds of individual Barry Bonds/Wild Things merchandise; and The Wild Things will provide Bonds a host family if needed.

11 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wonder how they would get past the Frontier League age limit?
In any case, he would fit in with the Wild Things since Bonds has a reputation of not talking with the media.

November 14, 2007 at 4:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Even with Bonds, they would still lose the championship.

November 14, 2007 at 12:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

why do people who hate the Wild Things write to the this blog? Why do you care if they ever win? Obviously you are not fans of the team. So get a life!! Go to the "I HATE WILD THINGS BLOG" and leave this one to the fans of the team!

November 15, 2007 at 11:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's not that people hate the Wild Things so much - it's because the Wild Things love themselves so much!
For the most part the Wild Things management couldn't find their butt with BOTH hands.
Crap, to listen to them you would think they NEVER screwed anything up! Well, just look at the season ending mess they created for themselves!
Now they do this ultra stupid Barry Bonds thing!!!
Anybody that thinks the Wild Things have it all together really needs to wake up and smell the coffee or, just plain pull you heads out of wherever you've got them!
BTW: Just because one doesn't agree with Wild Things does NOT mean they are not a fan. It just means that they have at least a bit of common sense and are not going to let the Wild Things BS influence their thinking processes.

November 17, 2007 at 5:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gee, the Wild Things really screwed things up this time - they failed to make an offer before he signed with the Dodgers. He might have even brought a little class and integrity to a team, and league, that could really use it.
Instead they make the most stupid publicity stunt in the history of sports by offering a contract to the number one crap-head in the entire sport world (except Michael Vick)! Well darn, why didn't they go ahead and off A-Rod a deal, too!!
These people have ABSOLUTELY no pride!- NONE!!

November 17, 2007 at 5:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I screwed up almost as bad as the Wild Things! By "he" I meant to say Joe Torre! Sorry about that!

November 17, 2007 at 5:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lets recap.
End of year screw up (not loosing the final game, but the actions after the game), the manager has to go.
Whose brain child was it to make the offer to Barry Bonds days before he has his actions under review by a grad jury.
Looks like time for another in Wild Things higher management to "get on with life's work".
Jim Tracy and David Littlefield are still available.

November 18, 2007 at 4:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Both! It was Ross that made the "offer". Probably had nothing else to do at the time - he sure wasn't thinking, was he?

I'm afraid we are stuck with the same coaching staff next year - I've heard nothing to suggest otherwise.

Yep, even Jim Tracy would be a few steps up from what we have now!

November 18, 2007 at 5:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jim Tracy, let's see:

He takes all the credit for the good, lays the blame on his players for the bad.

That would be a step up, how? Actually, not sure it's a step in any direction..

November 19, 2007 at 7:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It was a publicity stunt!! Hello! It was ingenious. It was on ESPN Sports Center!! The whole idea was a big joke and it was hillarious. Some people even believed it. I loved the attention it gave the team!!

November 20, 2007 at 11:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, some people like all the hoakie crap the Wild Things do. Instead of getting their act together, the Wild Things do silly stuff like this!
As long as they have "sheep" that can be taken in by this stuff they, of course, will continue to do it.
ESPN has a lot of air time to waste on baseball news at this time of the year so they mentioned it in passing.
Do you REALLY think anybody in the real baseball world knows, or evens cares, about the Wild Things.
Geez, quit being such a small time 'local yocal'!!!

December 4, 2007 at 9:19 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home