Biscuits' coach now a part of Bonds' history, By A. Stacy Long
May 21, 2006
The highlights stared off the newspaper page at Xavier Hernandez, who laughed at the present his players left him.
Two years ago, when Barry Bonds cracked his 700th career home run, Hernandez found a highlighted reminder of his role in the feat.
The Montgomery Biscuits left Hernandez another last month, hanging a historical record of his "success" against Bonds on a clubhouse board.
Hernandez, Montgomery's pitching coach, had an elemental role in Bonds' home run climb. He served up Nos. 150, 186 and 273.
"To say Barry liked hitting against me is probably an understatement," Hernandez said.
Bonds, who tied Babe Ruth on Saturday for second on the all-time home run list in the Giants' game against Oakland, was 5-for-7 with three home runs, two singles and two intentional walks against Hernandez.
Hernandez still remembers the circumstances of their last meeting, which was June 27, 1998. It was a tie game and one out.
"All I know is I wasn't pitching to him, so I hit him," Hernandez said. "I'll take my chances with Barry on first base, on my terms.
"He's just a dang great hitter. I wasn't going to allow him the opportunity to beat me."
Bonds next chases Hank Aaron, who set the all-time record with 755 career home runs. Hernandez, the Biscuits and even some of their Southern League rivals wished him luck.
"A lot of guys have different opinions, but I'm pulling for him," said Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Atlanta's top prospect. "Steroids or not, he's still a great player."
Bonds has been accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs. He was the biggest star caught up in a federal probe into a San Francisco-area laboratory.
Bonds testified before a federal grand jury and has said he did not knowingly take steroids. Two books this spring have detailed Bonds' alleged steroid use.
"No matter what he's on or not on, you still have to hit that thing," said Montgomery's Michael Coleman, who has played in the major leagues. "It's amazing what he's done."
Bonds, at an age when most players are in decline, set the single-season home run record in 2001. In the season he turned 37 years old, Bonds hit 73 home runs.
He hit at least 45 home runs in each of the next three seasons.
"No one is going to erase the name of Babe Ruth," Biscuits coach Mako Oliveras said. "It's still a great accomplishment for him. A lot of people are judging him before they know for sure whether he took steroids or not.
"To hit 714 home runs, with or without drugs, you have to hit the ball. Get any Joe off the street and give him steroids and see if he does that."
Said Montgomery manager Charlie Montoyo: "And you can't go by the allegations. You don't know if they're true or not."
Bonds has won seven National League Most Valuable Player awards. In 1990, 2001 and 2004, he was also the major-league player of the year.
Bonds is a 13-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner.
"During a good part of my career, he was probably the best player in the National League, if not the game," said Jeff Blauser, a former Atlanta shortstop who now manages the Class AA Mississippi Braves.
"The only thing Barry Bonds had against him was that he wasn't a great fielder," Blauser said. "He made up for that by positioning himself so well. He would play such a shallow left field to make up for his arm."
Hernandez says that one of Bonds' home runs off him came on a "very good pitch," a sinker down and away. Bonds hit an opposite-field home run.
"A lot of players can hit mistakes for home runs," Hernandez said. "He's the type that could hit a very good pitch for a home run. That's what, in my opinion, makes him great."
But will he pass Aaron?
Bonds played only 14 games and hit five home runs last year in an injury-plagued season. He turns 42 in July.
"We'll see what happens," Hernandez said. "Age creeps up on you."
