PHOENIX -- One of the headlines to emerge from the baseball world the other day -- albeit a small headline -- was that players' union boss Don Fehr intends to look into whether baseball owners are in collusion to prevent Barry Bonds from playing this season.
Fehr quickly said it was a non-story, noting that the union reviews free agent activity every season and that he wouldn't necessarily zero in on a Bonds investigation.
Which is only the latest indication that, despite the Big Man saying he wants to play in 2008, nobody's listening.
Even as the game's all-time home run king, it really isn't all that mysterious that Bonds remains jobless. First of all, he's toxic because of his legal issues. Second, he's strictly designated hitter material now -- he was a huge liability in left field for the Giants last summer -- so that eliminates 16 of the 30 big-league clubs right there.
And of the 14 American League clubs, most of them are set at DH. I count five, maybe six AL clubs who possibly could be upgraded by Bonds' bat: Seattle (Jose Vidro is the current designated hitter), Texas (Frank Catalanotto), Baltimore (Aubrey Huff, who might be traded), Tampa Bay (Johnny Gomes, who could move to another position), Kansas City (Ross Gload) and Minnesota (Jason Kubel).
Of those, a handful are small-market clubs who probably aren't going to pay Bonds anything near what he wants.
And for the very small handful of clubs for whom Bonds might, maybe, in a pinch, possibly make sense ... is it really worth it to bring in a guy whose legal future is murky? A guy who essentially has demanded his own set of rules apart from the rest of the team? A guy who is a lightening rod for bad publicity?
"He can't play for me," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said the other day. "First of all, I already have a DH (Jim Thome). Second of all, my ballclub goes by the rules, all 25 guys. I don't know him, but he's got hiw own way. I respect that. He's the best player ever to play the game. But it's a different style.
"It's surprised me (that Bonds is unsigned) because a lot of teams need a leader like him. Maybe people don't want the aggravation of talking about him every day."
Likes: Closer Brad Lidge back in Philadelphia. ... The Washington Nationals deciding to go with their talented young pitching. Yes, it was shocking to see last year's openind day starter, John Patterson, handed his walking papers, but the injuries and rehabbing are endless. The game stops for no one, and the Nationals owe it to their players and fans to go with starting pitchers who can take the ball every day. Especially with Shawn Hill's status uncertain. John Lannan and Matt Chico are going to be good. ... Dodgers broadcaster and former big leaguer Rick Monday. Pure class. ... Honey Bear's barbecue in Phoenix. Terrific ribs, and a great motto: "You don't need no teeth to eat our meat." Plus, you've gotta like a barbecue joint with a sign out front warning that there are no weapons allowed on the premesis unless the holder is a police officer. ... The first two days of the NCAA tournament, with games going for 12 hours. ... The rocking Taco Bell cheesy something-or-other commercial with the Modern English song Melt With You. Good song, and who wouldn't like melted cheese overmeat? ... Organist Danny Federici, on the disabled list with melanoma, re-joining Bruce Springsteen's E St. Band in Indianapolis on Thursday night. Here's to continued good health. ...
Dislikes: Opening day in Japan. I'm all for growing the game and doing everything to ensure its future