June 23, 200620 yr Jeffrey Loria's generosity with ballplayers is well known, but a recent example landed the Marlins owner in hot water with at least one of his National League rivals. When the San Francisco Giants were in South Florida last month, according to multiple baseball sources, Loria sent word through an intermediary that Barry Bonds was welcome to join him on his jet for the flight to New York. The Giants team charter also was headed to the Big Apple after a May 31 day game at Dolphin Stadium, but Bonds accepted the unusual offer within earshot of multiple teammates and other club employees. According to a National League club official who has spoken with the Giants, the club's front office "wasn't happy about it by any means." The club official said the offer was made "openly and haphazardly." However, a source in the Commissioner's Office said he was not aware of an official complaint being lodged as of this week. "That's the first I've heard of it," Marlins spokesman P.J. Loyello said Thursday. Baseball has strict tampering rules regarding unauthorized contact between clubs and players from rival teams. The club official said the Marlins did not clear the Bonds offer with the Giants, who weren't pleased with Bonds, either, for accepting. "Nobody else would even take that offer," the NL source said. "Barry is just Barry. Maybe Barry thought he might have had a nicer seat on [Loria's] plane." It's unclear why the offer was extended in the first place as Loria and Bonds aren't believed to have had any prior relationship. Bonds is not believed to be a client of Loria's art gallery, but the controversial slugger was highly complimentary of Marlins manager Joe Girardi during the Giants' visit. Bonds, 41, can be a free agent after this season and has said he would like to return in 2007 to make a run at Hank Aaron's career home run record. Under Loria's ownership, the Marlins have made several surprising free-agent signings, most notably Pudge Rodriguez, Carlos Delgado and Al Leiter. The Marlins' $15 million payroll is by far the lowest in baseball and less than the $18 million Bonds is making in the final season of a five-year contract. In order to speak to players under contract with another club, teams typically must receive permission from MLB for a 72-hour window of communication. Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has the power to fine individual clubs up to $2 million for violating any of the sport's policies, including those regarding managerial hirings and tampering. Such fines aren't always announced publicly, however. In July 2004 Yankees owner George Steinbrenner drew Major League Baseball's ire for complimentary comments about then Arizona pitcher Randy Johnson during a national radio interview. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-lor...la-sports-front
June 23, 200620 yr Lineup for 2007: 1) Hanley (SS) 2) Uggla (2B) 3) Bonds (LF) 4) Cabrera (3B) 5) Hermida (CF) 6) Jacobs (1B) 7) Willingham (RF) 8) Olivo © :hat .................just joking. No one to play CF.
June 23, 200620 yr Before anyone gets upset, bear in mind... this is BERARDINO. I'll betcha anything Mike was saving this one for a sunny day like today. As for Loria breaking the "rules"... if true -- even though it seems like a silly thing -- he, as owner, should've known better. And, no... I don't think we're going after Bonds.
June 23, 200620 yr Marlins team payroll in 2007- 18 million Bonds payroll in 2007- 23 million 41 million total...not bad! lol
June 23, 200620 yr "Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has the power to fine individual clubs up to $2 million for violating any of the sport's policies, including those regarding managerial hirings and tampering. Such fines aren't always announced publicly, however." Drink beer Loria! Well, now we know where our other $20M went. Who knows how many more Loria invited without permission. :banghead
June 23, 200620 yr No Bonds please. Besides farmhand Wilson Delgado we've had a clean clubhouse(to the best of ones knowledge), no need for Bonds to come in and ruin it.
June 23, 200620 yr "Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig has the power to fine individual clubs up to $2 million for violating any of the sport's policies, including those regarding managerial hirings and tampering. Such fines aren't always announced publicly, however." Drink beer Loria! Well, now we know were our other $20M went. Who knows how many more Loria invited without permission. :banghead What are you talking about?
June 23, 200620 yr as I said in the trade rumors thread where posted this up. Bonds would fill dolphins stadium with people. We might not like him but people would go to watch him put up history. They would get 30-40k per night at least. Would he be good for the trade, only if they use him as trade bait. Would it happen? Slim to none. It is something to talk about? Sure why not. Do I hate cheaters like him? yep.
June 23, 200620 yr No Bonds please. Besides farmhand Wilson Delgado we've had a clean clubhouse(to the best of ones knowledge), no need for Bonds to come in and ruin it. Abraham Nunez, Felix Heredia and probably more who were in our organization at one time or another, used here or haven't been caught. Our ball club is not full of choir boys. Umm so are we targeting Bonds when he becomes free agent? That's the suspicion... which is fueling this story.
June 23, 200620 yr No Bonds please. Besides farmhand Wilson Delgado we've had a clean clubhouse(to the best of ones knowledge), no need for Bonds to come in and ruin it. Abraham Nunez, Felix Heredia and probably more who were in our organization at one time or another, used here or haven't been caught. Our ball club is not full of choir boys. Umm so are we targeting Bonds when he becomes free agent? That's the suspicion... which is fueling this story. I think Pudge used roids back in the day too...all the old Rangers did.
June 23, 200620 yr Its possible Loria just liked the idea of possibly being able to talk to Bonds about baseball, his life etc. Not that Bonds would say a word of course I think the Giants are most upset at the fact Bonds accepted the offer.
June 23, 200620 yr Most NL teams are going to steer clear of Barry next year because he can't play the field that well, and if that is something Barry would be interested in, maybe the Marlins would give him that chance. Or maybe this is much ado about nothing.
June 23, 200620 yr I wouldn't doubt that Gary Sheffield did roids back in the day. Anyway, Barry has yet to test positive for roids, however, as it stands, I'd rather believe everyone did steroids in the 90s then trying to figure out who did.
June 23, 200620 yr Anything that get's under Mr. Sourpuss, aka Felipe Alou's, skin is a-okay with me.
June 23, 200620 yr Its possible Loria just liked the idea of possibly being able to talk to Bonds about baseball, his life etc. Not that Bonds would say a word of course I tend to agree. Doesn't really bother me either way. Who the hell cares? Maybe they're friends? So what.
June 23, 200620 yr I wouldn't doubt that Gary Sheffield did roids back in the day. Anyway, Barry has yet to test positive for roids, however, as it stands, I'd rather believe everyone did steroids in the 90s then trying to figure out who did. Agreed. The funniest part of the whole article was the fact that it was on the front page of the sports section (Sun Sentinel). The article on the best Marlins game of the year and the Miguels (aka GOD) play of the year didnt make the front page.
June 23, 200620 yr I wouldn't doubt that Gary Sheffield did roids back in the day. Anyway, Barry has yet to test positive for roids, however, as it stands, I'd rather believe everyone did steroids in the 90s then trying to figure out who did. Agreed. The funniest part of the whole article was the fact that it was on the front page of the sports section (Sun Sentinel). The article on the best Marlins game of the year and the Miguels (aka GOD) play of the year didnt make the front page. are you sh*tting me? I didn't see the paper this morning. That is an abolute JOKE that they put a garbage article from Berardino on the first page instead of an absolutely amazing game.
June 23, 200620 yr Anyway if Bonds did come, Loria would be in the shitter with MLB (even moreso). Can't do this kinda stuff. I bet it was innocent talk.
June 23, 200620 yr I wouldn't doubt that Gary Sheffield did roids back in the day. Anyway, Barry has yet to test positive for roids, however, as it stands, I'd rather believe everyone did steroids in the 90s then trying to figure out who did. Agreed. The funniest part of the whole article was the fact that it was on the front page of the sports section (Sun Sentinel). The article on the best Marlins game of the year and the Miguels (aka GOD) play of the year didnt make the front page. are you sh*tting me? I didn't see the paper this morning. That is an abolute JOKE that they put a garbage article from Berardino on the first page instead of an absolutely amazing game. That's nothing. Try finding anything about the Marlins on the Herald's Sports page... http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/ And, speaking of the Sentinel... somebody try and explain this one to me: :mischief
June 23, 200620 yr If Loria trades away most of the team as salary dumps...what makes you think he's gonna spend on Bonds? Plus..you think Bonds is gonna shave his mustache and take his earring out to please Joey Pitbull?
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