He’s baaaaaaaaaaack! Almost.
Monday, Jon Heyman reported that the Miami Marlins were looking to add Barry Bonds as their new hitting coach.
“Team higherups have quietly been discussing this possibility for weeks,” Heyman wrote. “Bonds, known as a brilliant tactician, has worked as a special spring instructor for the Giants on occasion. It isn’t known whether he’s willing to move across the country for such a hitting coach job, but he has been working on brandishing his image and has a keen love of coaching.”
And, naturally, given the gigantic cloud of suspicion Bonds lives beneath…people had jokes.
Oh Barry Bonds is going to be the Marlins' hitting coach? *steroids joke here*
— Grady Higgins (@GFTribGHiggins) December 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/PlayByPlayGuy1/status/671560809164627969
#Marlins set to name Barry Bonds as hitting coach. Report he was "The Clear" choice.
— Jay Mahan (@jay_mahan) December 1, 2015
I think it's great #BarryBonds is going 2 B a coach 4 the #Marlins! I mean someone has to teach the kids proper injection techniques! #MLB
— Earl Skakel (@EarlSkakel) December 1, 2015
This just in–#MiamiMarlins have ordered larger hats for all players with news that @BarryBonds will be the new hitting coach. #Roids
— Brent Cromer (@brentcromer) December 1, 2015
https://twitter.com/koitsis/status/671490760856969216
Barry Bonds as Marlins hitting coach.. "Hey Stanton, you sure are strong but have you heard of steroids?" @SportsCenter
— Resistance Fighter (@epicbeard85) November 30, 2015
"Ok guys, today I'm going to teach you how to properly inject steroids in to yourself." -Barry Bonds as the Marlins hitting coach.
— Nate (@minnesota6278) November 30, 2015
Barry Bonds being considered for Marlins batting coach. "Okay does everyone have their needles? Inject it and let the steroids do the work."
— Greg euDaL (@GLaDue28_UMD) November 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/Tricky_Roma/status/671551846444482560
Ugh.
First off…I’m pretty sure people don’t understand how performance enhancing drugs work. Next…Bonds as a hitting coach? It makes sense and, if bringing him in works half as well as the Chicago Cubs enlisting Manny Ramirez to help their young hitters…can you even imagine the guidance baseball’s home run king could provide?
Even though the Marlins ended up 71-91, they finished third in the National League East. That said…they finished near the bottom of the Majors is most of the major offensive categories.