Thursday, September 16, 2004
The slugger went hitless for the second straight game.
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Felipe Alou wants Barry Bonds to get some respect, and not the kind that pitchers and managers show by walking him all the time.
The San Francisco Giants manager said he hopes the public's perception of the slugger will change when Bonds joins Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron in the 700-homer club.
"Some of the great things that this man does would be finally and truly recognized," Alou said.
Bonds nearly joined the club Wednesday night, sending the first pitch he saw to the right-field warning track.
He went hitless for the second straight game, however, going 0-for-4 with a walk in the Giant's 8-1 win over the Brewers that kept San Francisco one-half game ahead of the Chicago Cubs in the NL wild-card race.
More chances
Alou is averse to giving Bonds a day off with the Giants in the playoff race, so his left fielder was scheduled to play today in the series finale.
If Bonds doesn't do it in Milwaukee, he'll get the chance to hit his historic homer where he has most of them, at SBC Park, where his shots often splash into McCovey Cove in San Francisco Bay.
The Giants start a nine-game homestand Friday night against the San Diego Padres, his favorite victims. Bonds has hit 78 homers off Padres pitchers, more than any other opponent.
Despite his power, Bonds is far from a beloved player. He's been bedeviled by his often cantankerous disposition and, in recent years, steroid suspicions.
Alou played with Aaron and would like to see Bonds respected in the same manner.
"Hank was a guy who was not Mr. anything. He was Mr. Gentleman," Alou said. "Even to this day he's hoping that somebody would break his record. But not everyone's the same. ... People come from different environments.
"I don't know why Barry is the way he is or why Hank was the way he was. And it would be impossible to make everybody likable to the public."
Close call
Right-hander Wes Obermueller thought for a moment he was Bonds' victim for No. 700 when he left a two-seam fastball right over the plate in the top of the second.
With the roof closed to keep out the rain but with winds swirling through the open outfield panels, Obermueller thought it might carry 360 feet over the wall before Brady Clark cradled the ball a few feet in front.
"I'm sure he'd like to hit one a little farther for his 700th instead of sneaking one out on me," Obermueller said. "When a guy takes a hack like that and it's that high, you just cross your fingers."
With a runner on first and one out in the sixth, Bonds walked for the 206th time this season. Snow then sent a 1-0 pitch from Obermueller (5-8) into the Giants' bullpen for his 11th home run and a 3-0 lead.
Bonds reached on an error in the ninth inning, disappointing the small crowd of 22,228 that cheered wildly when Edgardo Alfonzo drew a two-out walk.