Jenkins: Aaron and Selig Should Stay Away From Bonds' Chase

Bruce Jenkins, baseball writer for the San Fransisco Chronicle, says that before Bonds really begins this season's chase in earnest, we need to get a few things straight. One: Hank Aaron and Bud Selig should stay away from the chase at all costs, and two: there's no way the Giants would dream of trading Barry Bonds away.

If there's an argument over whether Aaron should show up and "root" for Barry to take his record, Jenkins attempts to squash it:

Aaron did a wonderful thing this week, telling reporters that he has no intention of attending any Giants games. He was pretty cold about it, too, stopping short of direct criticism but suggesting he might get around to sending Bonds a telegram.

Aaron doesn't admire Bonds as a person, and he is certain that steroids, not talent, will have taken down his record. Why in heaven's name would he show up as a hypocrite, pretending everything is great? ...

That's a pretty good point, and in tandem with Jenkins' assertion that standing next to Bonds could raise concerns about any potential methamphetamine use by Aaron, it makes perfect sense why the former slugger would want to avoid that spotlight. Wouldn't you?

Jenkins also thinks Selig should stay away, if only to preserve an image of honesty. Instead, Selig can ignore Bonds at the MLB level and let the Giants celebrate him, and any future complications can be sent directly to their front office, not MLB's.

And about a Bonds trade, well, Jenkins makes it clear where he stands:

As for the prospects of a Bonds trade, I'm not sure I've ever heard anything more ridiculous. For one thing, he's all the Giants have - in star power, gate appeal and home-run potential. Despite management's frantic denials, he is absolutely (and sadly) the face and centerpiece of the franchise. Are you kidding? If Bonds comes begging to play another season and get his 3000th hit, the Giants will take a hard look at 2008 - no hitting prospects, no blockbuster trade possibilities, fading fan interest, no All-Star game - and cower once again.

Even more to the point, there is no interest from other teams. Got it? None - unless you can picture some American League executive telling his fans, "We just traded for three months of Barry Bonds. We know you hate him. We know we gave up two really good prospects for him. We know he's costing us a ton of money. But really, it's going to be cool."

It seems hard to believe any fanbase would be willing to take on Bonds. Sure, GM's can ignore the wishes of the fans to a certain point, but I find it difficult that Bonds would receive the same amount of (blind) goodwill he receives from most San Fransisco fans.

Still, this is worthy of consideration. What if Bonds was the one player your franchise needed to make the playoffs? To win the World Series? Would you cheer for him then?