Wow.

Probably the saddest aspect of the whole Bonds collusion saga is the sheer number of people that couldn’t care less about the wrongness of collusion so long as Barry Bonds is the one that suffers.

No matter how many times I state the fact that I am not a Bonds fan–I am told to get my lips off his posterior (or other combination of oral/privy parts) and telling me what I depraved person I am for speaking out in “support of that [insert expletive of choice]”.

Where do people learn to hate with such vehemence that blinds them so much that they cannot see the irony of hating Bonds for “breaking the rules” (the stated reason for their loathing) while celebrating MLB’s possible breaking of the rules because he suffers because of it? You cannot be anti-collusion because it means you’re a Bonds-lover.

Um … O.K.

Why is it bad for players to cheat but O.K. for owners to do it? After all, cheating is O.K. if it gets cheaters (with the initials BLB it should be noted) out of the game.

And I’m the morally bankrupt one for having a problem with it.

I wrote a column on MSN Canada about the implications of collusion as it pertains to the Toronto Blue Jays and included Marvin Miller’s thoughts on what it does to the integrity of the sport and have never received so much hate mail before on any column.

I’m amazed that Bonds engenders so much hatred that people all but imply that they’re cool with rigged pennant races so long as Barry Bonds somehow is harmed by it.

We think of some of the heinous acts committed by folks employed by MLB: people abuse their spouses, utter death threats to children they fathered, commit rape and sexual assault, are vocal bigots, abuse and deal drugs, risk (and harm) innocent people’s lives by drinking and driving, commit various felonies etc. but people have saved up their vitriol for a man who (1) is a rude, self centered individual–a common species in MLB (2) has used anabolic steroids–also a common species in MLB and (3) has treated members of the media poorly (see 1 and 2) because…?

It’s equally amazing that people still receive what is stated in the media without any critical analysis whatsoever. As I posted on Mike Wilner’s blog Miked Up: “I think set a record for e-mails that stated ‘OMG u r such an idiot, there was no collusion just look at teh size of his head u jerk!!1!!’”

I wrote that in response to a reader of the blog that stated “Just read John Brattain’s article on collusion. He talks as though it’s signed, sealed and settled. That’s a really unfair commentary.” It was the last straw (thereby triggering the rant) in that I did nothing of the kind. The article stated:

“…but it appears that the major league baseball players association has uncovered evidence that MLB came to a decision that no club would sign Barry Bonds in 2008.”

and…

“If collusion is firmly established….”

To me, that’s the most disturbing thing, they start to read an article that isn’t dripping with venom toward Bonds and they assume what the rest of the article says rather than reading it and then hastily fire off an e-mail based on their mistaken assumption questioning my intelligence, integrity and qualifications since I don’t reflexively despise Bonds the way they do.

It makes me wonder if that’s one of the reasons so many writers have written that Bonds is unemployed because he’s a jackass–it’s a guaranteed winner with their readers since it justifies what they want to believe. Of course, the reason they want to believe it is because the media has been banging the “Bonds is a creep” drum for so long. Steve Garvey, Pete Rose and Joe DiMaggio were beloved by the fans for years even though they were morally depraved individuals. We know better now but how did those feelings of adulation develop? We acknowledge that we were mislead by the press and chances are we’ve told ourselves that we’ll be more wary in future about what we read but do our current attitudes reflect that?

Let’s face it, the quickest way to be regarded as a genius is to reinforce what the reader wishes to think and believe.

There was a significant level of hatred toward players during collusion in the 1980’s since it happened just after the cocaine scandal of that decade and the media often blasted the “spoiled, pampered overpaid players.” Fans didn’t care that rules were being broken, they didn’t care that owners were cheating nor did it matter that they were cheating their teams out of a chance to possibly compete for the post season.

They were just happy that the spoiled millionaires were “getting theirs.”

Of course, such ones were merely taking their cues from the media.

What’s funny, is that folks watch the movie “61” and think that the media were such jerks back then (to Roger Maris) or idolize Ted Williams and would be quite offended if you suggested to them that had they lived back then that they would have hated Maris and “The Splendid Splinter” right along with everyone else.

However, what do their histories suggest? If they do not look at media coverage with any kind of critical eye now, what makes them think they could see through the press’s agenda back then?

Ultimately, I just got tired of all the blasts. I answered the first few (and there was some positive feedback as well) but realized that you cannot reason with people with whom Bonds is an emotional, visceral issue. Instead, I’ve simply created an e-mail folder for them and I will wait for the arbitration case to play out.

I feel confident that it will play out that the owners have indeed colluded. Don Fehr never proceeds unless he is absolutely sure of his case, players–no matter how obnoxious–have always managed to find work if a club felt they could contribute. Heck, John Rocker posted an ERA of 6.66 in 2002 but since he was left handed and had a K/9 of 11.1 the Devil Rays gave him a job. Yet a guy that posted an OPS+ of 170 being offered at the pro-rated major league minimum cannot?

It’s not like Rocker was a media circus or distraction or anything like that–right?

Ownership has a long history of collusion so it’s not like there isn’t past precedent.

Anyway, I saved the e-mails and when all is said and done I will send a polite, respectful response. I will mention that anabolic steroids aren’t the only thing that affects the integrity of the game and it’s good to remember that.

I will make one last prediction: MLB will collude again, the media will tell us that it’s all in the mind of paranoid conspiracy theorists and those that speak out against it will feel the wrath of those taking their lead from the mainstream press.

Please prove me wrong.

If some were hoping to “teach me a lesson” with their e-mails, well–mission accomplished. I learned the following: if reading what folks wish to believe causes them to blindly hate then it’s very important to write things that people don’t want to hear

Finally, I would like to ask some of my more vehement critics one question: if you hate Barry Bonds so much, why do you imitate his treatment of others–especially people he (or you) may not even know?

Best Regards

John

A bases loaded infield single by Carlos Ruiz against a five-man infield to plate the winning run in a bizarre 5-4 win to give the Phillies a 2-to-1 lead over the Rays in the World Series.  A fitting ending for a game with a 10:06 p.m. start time, the latest in World Series history.

“A guy on third and nobody out,” said Ryan Howard.  “And luckily for us, Chooch was able to get that hit, and it didn’t have to go 400 feet, just about 25.”

Thanks to rain most of the day, Philadelphia’s Jamie Moyer had to wait 91 minutes to become the second-oldest starting pitcher in World Series history and thanks to Ruiz’s walk-off infield hit in the ninth, the game ended at 1:47 a.m.

With the game tied in the ninth, Rays reliever J.P. Howell hit Eric Bruntlett — in the game as a defensive substitute for Pat Burrell — with a pitch.  Grant Balfour replaced Howell and threw a wild pitch fielded quickly by Dioner Navrro who then made a bad throw to second which allowed Bruntlett to advance to third.

The Rays intentionally walk Shane Victorino and pinch hitter Greg Dobbs to get to Ruiz and manager Joe Maddon brought in right fielder Ben Zobrist to create a five-man infield. 

“It looked like they were about to blitz,” Howard said.

Ruiz barely got wood on a pitch and hit a squibber down the third base line.  Third baseman Evan Longoria fielded the ball and attempted a diving underhanded flip home that was well over Navarro’s head and Bruntlett scored the winning run.

“That happens in the ninth,” said Maddon.  “Of course the hit batter is not optimal and the wild pitch and getting to third really creates a lot of havoc in a very difficult moment.  Other than that I thought we played a great game tonight.”

The hit was the first RBI hit by a Phillie with runners in scoring position and only second in 33 tries.

“I’d say, what, we’re 2-1 and actually we could ahve been 3-0 or basically Tampa could have been 3-0,” said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.  “The games have been close, and there’s been chances for both teams to win all the games.  So far it’s been an outstanding series.  We’ve made mistakes mentally and physically, but at the same time I think our pitching has been very good in the series.”

On Saturday night, the good pitching came from Moyer who struggled in two postseason outings in the NLDS and NLCS.  Tonight, though, it was different.

“The difference for me tonight was probably just creating a tempo,” said Moyer.  “And I was able to create a tempo in the bullpen [before the game].  And then I think with the electricity of the crowd here at the ballpark, and throwing some early strikes, getting some quick outs, just allowed me to get into the flow of the game early and really not have to fight and make a lot of pitches early in the first and second inning.”

Moyer started strong and faced the minimum number of batters in the third, fourth and fifth innings after a second inning solo shot by Ruiz gave Moyer and the Phillies a 2-1 lead.

In the sixth, Moyer gave up a one-out hit to B.J. Upton who stole second but was stranded there on an Evan Longoria fly ball that died on the warning track.

“I threw it, he hit it and I thought, ‘oh boy’,” Moyer joked.  “It was high and I’ve seen a lot of those balls land in the flower pot.  And I thought, oh, my gosh, this isn’t a good thing.”  But the ball landed in Burrell’s glove a few feet shy of the left field porch.  “I felt like I got away with one,” Moyer finished.

In the bottom of the inning, the Phillies sluggers answered and gave Moyer a cushion.  Chase Utley and Howard answered with back-to-back home runs to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead.

The Rays responded and closed the gap in the seventh after Carl Crawford reached on a bunt single despite an amazing defensive play by Moyer that replays later showed Crawford was clearly out.  Dioner Navarro followed with a double and Gabe Gross picked up his second RBI of the game on a ground out to first.  Moyer gave way to Chad Durbin who allowed one more run to score on a Jason Bartlett ground out and walked Willy Aybar before Scott Eyre finally got the Phillies out of the inning.

Down 4-3 in the eighth, Upton picked up an infield single and stole second and third and scored on a throwing error by Ruiz to tie the game.  The Phillies bullpen shut down the Rays the rest of the inning and in the ninth and the Phillies picked up the win on the Ruiz nubber in the ninth.

Game 4 is expected to start at 8:29 PM, less than 20 hours after Game 3 ended.  Philadelphia’s Joe Blanton takes on Tampa Bay’s Andy Sonnanstine in the Sunday match-up.

NOTES: Ruiz’s walk-off hit was the 55th game-ending play in World Series history and first since the White Sox’ Scott Podsednik hit a solo home run off of Brad Lidge, then with Houston, in the ninth inning of a Game 2 win in 2005.  It was also the first game-ending play to favor the Phillies — they were on the wrong side of the walk-off in 1915, 1950, 1980 and 1993… The Rays scored all four runs in tonight’s game without a hit and just three of their 10 runs in the Series have scored on hits… Chase Utley and Ryan Howard’s back-to-back home runs in the sixth were the 14th in World Series history and first for the Phillies in the World Series… B.J. Upton tied a World Series record with three steals in Game 3.  Upton joined Lou Brock (’67, ‘68), Willie Davis (’65) and Honus Wagner (’09) as the only players to steal three bases in a World Series game… The Rays added four postseason steals in Game 3 and now hold the record for most steals in a postseason at 22.  The record was previously held by the ‘75 Reds and ‘92 Braves.  Both teams stole 20 in their postseason appearances.

———————————————-

PHILLIES THREE KEYS

• The Manuel Manual

Manuel’s decision to go with Eric Bruntlett for defensive purposes didn’t hurt the team despite the loss of Pat Burrell’s bat in the ninth inning.  Instead, Bruntlett was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a wild pitch, to third on a throwing error and scored on an bases loaded infield single.  Manuel’s bullpen management worked for the most part although Ryan Madson’s eighth inning performance was less than spectacular but with Madson’s postseason track record, it doesn’t make sense to go with anyone else there.

• Hold Serve at Home

After the game, many of the players discussed the electricity in the Bank and credited the fans with an assist.  Moyer, in particular, looked energized and ready to go with the added shot of adrenaline.  The Phillies are just two home wins away from a World Championship and a split gives them two shots at Tropicana Field to take the Series from the Rays.

• Myers and Moyer

For all of the concern over Jamie Moyer’s third postseason and all of the hype surrounding Matt Garza following his two wins over Jon Lester in the ALCS, Moyer delivered in a big way.  The 45-year-old Moyer pitched 6-1/3 innings and allowed three runs on five hits and made a huge defensive play that was missed by first base umpire Tom Hallion that may have kept his run total even lower.

RAYS THREE KEYS

• Minimize the Phillies “Big Inning”

Again, the Rays did this again but the back-to-back homers in the sixth allowed by Garza were a back-breaker.  There’s no telling how big the ninth inning would have been in a normal situation for the Phillies but they only needed one run and got it off of the usually stingy Rays bullpen.

• Choose the Right Closer

It wasn’t a closing situation but the bullpen choices in the ninth didn’t work out for the Rays.  Grant Balfour’s wild pitch forced the Rays to load the bases and then the Ruiz hit ended the game.

• Avoid Fielding Mistakes

 The throwing error on Dioner Navarro in the ninth proved costly but it’s important to note B.J. Upton’s slow break on the back-up of the throw.  Had Upton broken quicker, he might have had a chance to keep Bruntlett from moving to third.  The last play of the game was also controversial.  Replay showed that Evan Longoria may have fared better to let the ball go as it was headed toward foul territory.  Longoria instincts were to field the ball and make the play at home and it didn’t work out.  Hindsight is always 20-20, isn’t it?