How many home runs does Barry Bonds have to hit to get beyond the lack-of-lovability issue?
The correct answer is: It just doesn’t matter. Bonds did not hit No. 700 Wednesday night, even though he was matched primarily against Milwaukee Brewers starter Wes Obermueller, a fellow who came in with an earned run average of 6.42. This matchup suggested not so much David and Goliath as it did Goliath and a very small mammal. But the closest Bonds could come in three tries against Obermueller was a towering fly to the warning track in right. Against two relievers he grounded out and reached on an error. The march to 700, on nights when no Bonds home runs are actually hit, leads naturally to a discussion of Bonds’ place among baseball’s greats. It is, of course, impossible to deny him a place at the all-time greats’ head table. “If you don’t respect Barry Bonds by now,” said Brewers manager New Yost, “something’s wrong.
