Take a walk, Giants

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting here that the Giants may walk away from the deal to resign Barry Bonds that was announced last month after concern about the revelation that he failed a test for amphetamines. Murray Chass of the New York Times reported the Giants' concerns about Barry a day earlier.

To quote the Times story,

A lawyer on the Bonds side said yesterday that they suspect the Giants, reacting to negative news media views in the Bay Area, are exploring ways of getting out of the contract. When an official on the management side with knowledge of the talks was asked yesterday if the deal could blow up, he said, “It’s possible.”

We hope so. With the latest revelations, the Giants may have finally realized what everyone else did long ago: Barry Bonds carries a huge anchor of problems with him and is really nothing more than a huge pain in the ass. But with only a relatively short time (four weeks) before the beginning of spring training, this problem puts the Giants in a sticky spot. Do they sign and the contract and get 'er done? Or just walk away.

We say walk away. As the season progresses, if any new complications develop -- more seamy stories, more accusations, more failed tests, even -- the media circus that traveled with the Giants last year will return, probably more intense than before. That's not something the Giants would relish, even with Barry in the clubhouse.

The Giants can't replace Barry's bat, but who says Barry's bat will be all that spectacular to begin with at his advanced age. Who says he won't get injured again?

As we've said before, the risks are too huge to pin this season on Bonds. Don't ruin Barry Zito's first season with the Giants by letting the other Barry overshadow him. Walk, don't run, from that contract. NOW!

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