The San Francisco Giants declined to offer salary arbitration to Barry Bonds before Friday night's deadline, prompting his agent to say the team has not made bringing the slugger back a priority.

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I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO AVOID DEALING WITH THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF BASEBALL AND NEGLECTING THE POSITIVE SIDE - THE NEW PLAYERS WHO ARE BRINGING BACK CREDIBILITY TO THE SPORT - BUT IF SEEING THAT THERE IS NO "GIANT" MARKET FOR AN AGING CRACKHEAD, IS SURPRISING, I HAVE TO WONDER IF THE AGENT IS A CRACKHEAD TOO.

I AM NOT HAPPY WITH MYSELF FOR MENTIONING THIS GUY,  I HAVE FAILED TO IGNORE HIM, AS I SHOULD HAVE; SO,  PLEASE DON'T WASTE YOUR  TIME COMMENTING ON THIS NOTE -- I REGRET EVEN POSTING IT.

   Criminal Negligence: a gross deviation from the standard of care expected of a reasonable person.

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 YOU  HAVE A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM.

   YOU HAVE 25 PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS ON THE TEAM.

   THEORETICALLY,  THE GOAL OF THE TEAM IS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS AND

WIN A PENNANT AND A WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP,

            ONE OF THESE  25 PLAYERS  IS :

             A SLUGGER WHO IS 42  YEARS OLD

             A  SLUGGER WHO IS A DRUG USER 

              A SLUGGER WITH 14 HOMERUNS LAST SEASON

               A SLUGGER WITH 14 HOMERUNS THIS SEASON

               A  SLUGGER WHO CAN'T PLAY IF IT IS  -- RAINING OR A DAY GAME AFTER A NIGHT  GAME OR  A  GAME IN CERTAIN PARKS  OR A GAME AT LOW ALTITUDE  OR A GAME WHERE THE WIND IS BLOWING IN TOWARD HOME PLATE

                 A SLUGGER WHO HAS MISSED ABOUT 25 OR MORE GAMES  ALREADY AND ONLY PINCHED HIT IN SEVERAL OTHERS

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         NOW, THE AVERAGE PERSON, IS AVERAGE.  THE AVERAGE PERSON IS NOT A GENIUS.  THE AVERAGE PERSON IS NOT PAID MANY HUNDREDS  OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO RUN A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM. 

           YET,  IS THERE ANYONE READING THIS MISSIVE, WHO WOULD STAKE THE FATE OF THEIR TEAM ON A SLUGGER WITH THE FLAWS OUTLINED ABOVE? 

                 IS THIS THE GUY YOU WOULD PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE THE SLUGGER ON YOUR TEAM  - THE ROCK OF YOUR ORGANIZATION ?

               SO,  IF THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN CLEARLY SEE THE ERRORS IN JUDGMENT  ASSOCIATED WITH THE EMPLOYMENT OF THIS "SLUGGER"  -- HOW IS IT THAT THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE TEAM,  HAVE ALLOWED THE EFFORTS OF 24 PLAYERS TO BE UNDERMINED BY THEIR CATERING TO ONE, OVER THE HILL,  .240 BATTING AVERAGE,  NON-CONTRIBUTING  "PLAYER."

                THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION - IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF BASEBALL,  TO HAVE A MAJOR LEAGUE ORGANIZATION TANK THE SEASON, FROM DAY ONE -- AND STARTING A 162 GAME SCHEDULE WITH THIS DOOMED PLAN OF ACTION IN PLACE, WAS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. 

                   I HAVE NAMED NO NAMES -- BUT THERE ARE 30 MAJOR LEAGUE TEAMS AND ONLY ONE FITS THIS DESCRIPTION -- THAT TELLS YOU A GREAT DEAL ---  THAT IS DAMNING TESTIMONY AGAINST THIS ORGANIZATION.