I lost exactly 60% interest in the team after 756 (remaining 40% = 2/5 starts, lincecum & cain), because I was just so "over" all the hooplah and the coverage and blah blah blah.  That being said, aside from fellow Gaucho Michael Young...there's not a lot going on in the ballpark in Arlington.

I'm with Grant. I'll miss watching Barry. I'll miss the chickens on the wall. I'll miss Atomic Dog blaring from the ballpark speakers as the place goes apeshit when Barry comes to bat. I won't miss the asinine treatment Giants news gets on various sports networks. I won't miss my jackass coworker spewing hateful repetetive BS about Bonds. I won't miss choosing to abstain from conversations on Bonds because I know I'll get lambasted for saying, "well you know, I sorta like the guy..."

I know Barry the man is leaving us, but the rest of him is staying for a long time. We're holding the bag. Hurrah.

And I'll miss the splash hits.

Poe and I were at the game last week and he said to me: "It took 8 years for the Giants to get 45 splash hits.  How many years until they double that, and hit another 45?"  I thought it might take 10-15 years.  He thinks it will take 30.  He might be right, and that's how amazing Bonds is.  I'll miss that.

I swear this is related.

I had my Giants hat on and a guy selling me the peppers (in his late-teens or early 20s) started talking about Barry. I think he asked, "Are you excited?" I just sort of looked at him, shrugged, and gave him the money.

In the car I was yelled at for being surly. I had to explain that I just didn't have the energy. I didn't even care if this random guy was "pro-Barry" it just wasn't worth it.

I'll most fondly remember him wanting to wear #24A in honor of Willie.

I just got back from an east coast trip* and Ripken's presence is still all over Camden Yards.  Of course, Cal retired and Bonds is likely to be playing for another team.

I'll get around to posting our RFK and Camden pics soon.

Unfortunately, the FU extends to the fans there last night as well, and that sucks, but in what has become the biggest ego pissing contest between two people I've ever seen I just find it hard to get too worked up. As a fan, Barry's treated me more than well this excruciating season, with the exception of three or four nights. I'll give him the one, this time, to go with those others, as long as he makes it worth my damn while tonight. And even if he doesn't, I'll only be bitter for a while.

It's just another ugly finish to a great thing. Ugly and uglier. I wouldn't even be surprised if they didn't do much for him tonight. Some fireworks, and a few words from Renel, just so PM can say FU one last time. One day soon I'll be able to see all 15 years in context again. Last night, it sucked though. The whole thing puts a bad taste in my mouth.

Frankly, Barry holding all the HR records against the wishes of baseball and many fans is a good thing.  It proves that achievement still beats the wishes of money in this sport.  That's a good message for the kids.

As far as the doping goes, I'm with Grant.  I wish he didn't do it, but he doesn't deserve to be singled out.

Thanks for the memories Barry!  I wish I could be there to help give the man a proper farewell.

Is he a d-bag in person?  Wouldn't know, I've never dealt with him.  I think the only people that should dislike him for being surly are the people he's been surly to, and he's NEVER been surly to me.  But I'll say this, I think the media is a hateful entity that truly holds more power to influence opinions, and the fact that the majority of "articles" anymore are opinion pieces is a load of horseshit.  Too much of what anyone writes is based around scandal or bad behavior or anything else they can use for shock value, so they can sell their crappy articles and/or rag.  The local media particularly should know better and understand that we'd like to hear a little more about our TEAM, not just Bonds.

And I too feel that IF he took any illegal substances (and no, I'm not saying he did or didn't, because I honestly don't know, regardless of how much the media wants to force down our throats that he most certainly did), it's too bad but it's really not anything new.  That doesn't make it okay, it just makes it nothing new.

http://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6744

Barry Bonds > media

Same ole veteran lineup, except Frandsen at 2nd...  What happened to Schierholtz, Ortmeier?  Did they "mysteriously" disappear on their way home one night?  Please, the only reason to pay any attention tonight is the man in left.(Which is very good btw, but I'd rather see the young'uns than these old farts.

Roberts CF
Frandsen 2B
Winn RF
Bonds LF
Molina C
Klesko 1B
Feliz 3B
Vizquel SS
Misch P

I really, really like all of those guys, as players even. Man.

It's a sad day, even though I agree it's time to let him go. When we moved from Southern Cal in 2000, we made it to Pac Bell Park that May, and Barry hit one into the arcade.  I was instantly hooked. I've been a Giants fans ever since (my grandmother must still be rolling in her grave, since I grew up rooting for 70s-era Dodger blue and 80s-era Angels). The first 4 years, 2000-2003, were simply amazing.  Barry and the Giants brought me back to baseball.

It does get hard defending him to the sheep-culture and their ignorance... and it's draining to watch the drama and fan hypocrisy that follows him on the road. I won't miss that, or having to read another smug East Coast media hit piece.

Despite all the personal crap he's brought on himself, I know I'll never see another player like him again. I hope he has a great night tonight.

Really bummed I can't be there tonight. Whatever anyone might think about the man, it's the end of an era for sure. Bigger deal than when Will Clark or Matt Williams left, even - and unlike with those two, we know he's gone.

Insert joke about what Giants fans need to withstand the pain here.