MLB Propaganda

Reading this account of Barry Bonds' 713th home run, from the Major League Baseball website, one gets the idea that there is no controversy whatsoever.

And so it has all come down to this: Next up, Babe Ruth. Next up, perhaps on Monday night when an eight-game homestand opens with a makeup game against the Astros, No. 714. After that, three games against the Cubs and old friend Dusty Baker. Then three more against that old nemesis, the Dodgers.

Hank Aaron, the all-time leader with 755, now stands only 42 away.

Giants manager Felipe Alou said it was doubtful that Bonds would be in the starting lineup against Astros ace right-hander Roy Oswalt on Monday.

"After three straight games, I don't think you'll be seeing him [Monday] night," Alou said. "But I'm sure we'll be seeing a few more home runs on this coming homestand."

...Now he has the opportunity to tie and pass the Great Bambino in San Francisco, where it always seemed meant to happen.

...During the past few weeks, Bonds has declined to speak about the specter of Ruth, although he finally started addressing the issue during a postgame press conference on Sunday night.

"Babe Ruth was a great, great baseball player," Bonds said. "Ruth started all this. He was in a league of his own. He brought the game to a different level and brought people into the stadium. All of us look up to Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron and the guys before us."

Asked if he would consider himself a better player than Ruth once he passes him, Bonds added: "I don't know yet. But the numbers speak for themselves."

This article doesn't say a word about fan reaction, the investigation into Bonds' steroid use, nothing.

Bonds is NOT a better player than Ruth. But I agree that the numbers speak for themselves. Bonds' numbers are as inflated as his ego.

Another article on the MLB site makes just a passing reference to the matter of Bonds' cheating, noting the stress he's under due to "the pressure of baseball's investigation into its steroid era and a grand jury hearing testimony to determine whether Bonds told the truth about the matter three years ago."

The pretense by MLB is sickening.

The fans deserve so much better than this.