Two Mighty Blows To Two Contenders

They must be frothing at the mouths in Chicago and San Francisco these days.

After two scares to their two aces when both Mark Prior and Kerry Wood went down to somewhat temporary but perhaps chronic injury, now the man they were courting to regain his former mastery and act as their closer, Joe Borowski, has fractured his wrist and won't be able to throw for at least six weeks.

The Cubs came into camp uncertain about who their closer would be. Now it appears LaTroy Hawkins will likely take that role again. Last season, Hawkins was pressed into the job when Borowski injured his shoulder, and went 25-for-34 in save situations. Hardly a recipe for success.

"I thought it was a joke," Hawkins said. "Then he told me about what happened. It's like déjà vu. It's like 'Groundhog Day'—Prior, 'Woody,' Borowski … "

As usual, Goat Riders of the Apocalypse have an interesting take on the matter:

"We all know by now that the on-the-verge-of-triumphantly-reclaiming-his-rightful-closer-role JoeBo stuck his right hand out instinctively yesterday to stop a batted ball, the very same hand with which he throws baseballs with. He shoulda drank another glass of milk for breakfast, for yesterday, this resulted in a break in a hamate bone, which will limit him to light office duties for the next couple of months.

In the movies, even dim bulbs like Nuke LaLoosh learn not to lead with their throwing hand, but in real life, it's hard to teach a Polack to tuck that baby back in. Whatever, this isn't as dumb as Todd Hollandsworth not wearing a shin guard last year, and I'm not just saying this because I've suffered a similar injury in the past. It's an instinctive thing to throw whatever you have handy at a ball bounding right past you."

Over at The Uncouth Sloth the mood is even darker:

"Now, for all you statheads and pollyannas who get all bent out of shape every time someone says CURSE, feel free to shit in the stew."

It must be a cacophonic heaven to be sat listening to sports talk radio in Chicago these days.

If the Cubs want to win the World Series in 2005, it looks like they'll have to do it the old fashioned way:

Trade Nomar.

What the hell, it worked pretty well for the Red Sox.

*****

Sounds like someone has pissed in Barry Bonds' milk.

Yesterday the steroid-tainted slugger who had been rapidly gaining on Babe Ruth and Hammerin' Hank Aaron's all-time Homerun record, announced petulantly that he will miss months or perhaps the season following his most recent knee surgery.

We can all empathise with what it takes for a 40 year old to rehab for three knee surgeries in four months. A mere mortal would have broken down and curled up into a unrecognisable ball of surrender by now. But not Barry Bonds. Instead of remorse, he was filled with vengeance and bitterness.

"You wanted me to jump off the bridge; I finally have jumped," he reported. "You wanted to bring me down, you've finally brought me and my family down. You've finally done it. So now go kick a different person. I'm done. I'll do the best I can and that's about it. [I'm talking about] inner hurt. I'm physically, mentally done. I'm mentally drained. Tired of my kids crying."

What the hell are his kids crying about? Persistent rumours of steroid use and cheating or living large on their father's big fat $18 million per year salary?

"My son and I are just going to go enjoy our lives. My family is tired. I'm tired," Bonds continued on in typical,persecuted fashion. "You guys wanted to hurt me bad enough; well, you finally got there. I'm not just talking about the [Sunday] story. I'm talking about all of it. Me and my son are going to try and enjoy each other. That's all we've got. You've tried to destroy everything else."

Well, if anything is being destroyed, it is whatever granule of hope the Giants have of winning their division this season. Not only that, but ironically, just last September, the Giants guaranteed Bonds his $18 million salary for 2006, erasing the clause that would have forced Bonds to make 400 plate appearances in 2005 to get the money, giving them the double whammy.

This means Mr Bonds can afford to take the season off and then have the unmitigated gall to blame the media for it so he won't have a guilty conscience for doing it.

However, as El Lefty Malo notes about Bonds' penchant for Hype and Psyche:

"The man himself has admitted in the past that he doesn't even believe half the things he says, so I'm going to take the Dr. Bonds Injury Timeline with a big pinche of salt. It sounds much more like his favorite self-motivation technique: bitch, moan, complain, whine about being tired, beat down, then step to the plate and smash one into the bay. It doesn't win him any sunshine points, but whatever works."

Let's say that the "missing the whole season" is the hyperbole but let's also think realistically that knee surgery two weeks prior to the season is also going to cost him, even if he is historically a bit of a superman, effectiveness and playing time for the first few months of the season.

It equates to Giants Season Flushing Down the Toilet:

Last season's first half:

Giants with Bonds: 44-29 (.603)
Giants without Bonds: 5-11 (.313)

The season before that, similar numbers:

Giants with Bonds .669 winning percentage
Giants without Bonds: .419 winning percentage

Do the math.

San Francisco's April schedule, which includes Los Angeles, Colorado, San Diego, Arizona, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh isn't exactly devastating but if they are only winning 35-40% of their games to start with, the NL West race might be over before Bonds even gets back considering that the Dodgers play essentially the same sort of schedule in that period of time.

It means The Balance of Power Has Shifted in the NL West.

Personally, I believe the fans in San Diego should be rejoicing.

Here is their big chance to pull ahead early and stay ahead for the season.

With the Petco Padres appearing to be running on fumes or less, we have to turn to the Gas Lamp Blog for a few answers questions.

Seriously though, where are all the Padres blogs? With the dearth of blogs about the Padres one has to wonder if it is owed to a general malaise about the Padres or that the great majority of Padres fans are illiterate. Which is it?

Now there's a question worthy of "SportsBlogs".

Perhaps they're all too stunned by the recent trade for Adam Hyzdu to speak.

Well, for my money, the Padres just might be the NL West favourites now that Bonds has gone down and it's a pity there isn't more interest.