i don't know what ken rosenthal is smoking, but it might be time to start wearing the patch.

once again, an "expert" thinks an anual contest of the best players should save a spot for a guy to celebrate his career accomplishments.  i'm not going to argue the steroids issue here...i just want to make that clear right off the bat.

my problem is, besides the injuries bonds has had this year, he's been inconsistent, has terrible numbers, and that's not just in comparison to the more deserving players.  compared to his own career numbers, bonds is not even close to having an all-star caliber season.

there are some who think albert pujols shouldn't be the starter because he missed almost 3 weeks with an injury.  my personal opinion on that was, if he was unable to come back until 2 or 3 games before the all-star break, then no, i didnt think he was deserving.  but he came back a week and a half ago, and even though he missed almost 3 weeks, was STILL in the top 5 in homeruns and RBI.  with bonds, he's missed a game or 2 here, a game or 2 there, sits out most day games that follow a night game, and has left a few games in the late innings if he wasnt conceivably going to get another at bat.

if you want to celebrate what bonds has done, go ahead, but i dont think turning the all star game into a barry bonds career achievement party is the way to go.  yeah, the idea of parading him around the city of pittsburgh, where he started his career, is part of this silly plan, but they dont like him any more than redsox fans like bill buckner.  i could probably handle the idea if the game were being played in san francisco, or siberia, but lets not ruin the game for the fans of pittsburgh by trotting out perhaps the most disliked player in the game today.

seriously, it's bad enough this game has turned into a contest to see how many redsox and yankees players can be voted on to the AL team.  there are already too many guys being awarded roster spots who dont have the numbers to back up their selection.  adding another 1, who isnt liked by the fans of the host city anyway, is like asking knicks fans to vote isiah thomas into their hall of fame.