Second to last in runs per game, on base percentage and OPS+. Dead last in homers, slugging and total bases. With a pitching staff and defense that gave up 4.8 runs per game – just a shade under the league average – it seemed like the Royals needed a boost in the offense to complement a good bullpen and a rotation that boasted Zack Greinke and Gil Meche (and Brian Bannister, who at the time had just finished third in Rookie of the Year voting).

The proposed solution was a bold one, even controversial.

Sign Barry Bonds.

Aug 24, 2011; San Francisco CA, USA; San Francisco Giants former player Barry Bonds in attendance before the game against the San Diego Padres at AT

On paper, Bonds looked like he could have been an immediate improvement to a dismal Royals lineup. In 2007, Bonds’s production in 126 games would have led the Royals in most categories. Despite knee injuries (and being past age 40), Bonds had more homers (28) in 126 games than any Royal all season (John Buck had 18 to lead the team). He was an on-base machine. In fact, he’d always been an on-base machine, and even at 43 years old going into the 2008 season, it was thought he could still be a force at the plate when pitchers were forced to throw to him (regardless of the means that allowed him to be such a threat, he still was a threat).

Surrounded by baggage and well past the age that teams would usually bring on a player, the rumors were there. It started with little mentions and later, more official acknowledgments. With the allegations of steroid use still in the air, obviously some fans were against the idea altogether, but it still made sense to some. Bonds would have immediately added a power bat to the lineup and could have been a force at designated hitter, even if just for one season.

On June 27, 2008, the Royals won to improve to 37-43 and had won six in a row. That same day, Joe Posnanski wrote that the Royals should revisit the Bonds question. There was an argument to be made that Bonds would be willing to play nice in order to improve his image, and a Midwest team playing the underdog wouldn’t be a bad spot for him. Also, the Royals were soon to unveil renovations at Kauffman Stadium and the spectacle alone combined with new surroundings could have been a boon for the team’s ticket sales (or, it’s possible the signing could have ticked off a large portion of people who would then stay away.) Dayton Moore had less than two years on the job and a move like this would have been a big splash.

As it turns out, the Royals never did sign Bonds. Nobody did. There were plenty of whispers of collusion, and it wouldn’t be hard to see how teams would be blacklisting Bonds. Despite his 2007 performance (enhanced or otherwise), nobody came calling. Maybe they just didn’t want the circus.

The Royals finished 2008 scoring less runs per game than in 2007.

The question resurfaced for the 2009 season as well. In spring training, Bonds hinted that he’d be willing to play for the league minimum just to get the opportunity to play. Bonds was under felony charges and teams weren’t going to overlook that. And, again, there was the issue of age. With a year off and set to turn 45, there were significant questions about his ability to pick right back up and play. There isn’t much of a precedent for 45-year-olds taking a year off and being effective (for one, how often do players of that age get the opportunity?), and there wasn’t much to show that Bonds would be much more productive than any other player.

Jason Whitlock went through the locker room to see what the reaction might be to a Bonds-in-KC situation, and the responses were surprisingly open to the idea. I could understand that they would be optimistic about the idea. Whitlock’s article was written at the end of April and the night it ran, the Royals improved to 11-10 while Zack Greinke had won his fifth game of the month and seen his ERA balloon to a gaudy 0.50. The 2009 season was also the year that the Royals traded off bullpen pieces to get Coco Crisp and Mike Jacobs with the idea that they’d be set to contend in the division. It’s possible that with all the baggage, all the questions and a young team they thought was ready, the Royals simply didn’t think they needed Bonds on the roster.

Maybe they didn’t, but their average runs per game fell again.

In my memory, there was enough chatter about the potential signing that I think it was more than messageboard hope and rumor, but it never seemed like something the Royals would do. While Bonds may have still been able to hit the ball out, Billy Butler wasn’t the hitter he is today, Alex Gordon had improved but wasn’t a huge threat yet. David DeJesus had a good year but isn’t exactly lineup protection, nor was Mike Aviles. Bonds’s power could have been negated in the same way it had been in the year’s prior – just walk the guy and move on to the next one.

And the injuries and physical breakdown can’t be overlooked either. Even in his play in 2006 and 2007, he wasn’t the overwhelming monster at the plate he had been. He’d probably had hit 20+ homers in another season of play, but it’s not likely he’d have been in the lineup every game and may have been destined to be stranded on first quite often.

Finally, I think there’s enough sense of baseball history in Kansas City that would have led to fans being upset with such a move. There’s enough outrage over a reasonable signing of a guy like Jeremy Guthrie with no character questions around him in Kansas City. Billy Butler’s hit like crazy the last few years but sometimes looks surly, so he gets occasional backlash. Bringing in a guy with a rap sheet and multiple red flags? That’s not Kansas City.

No other team ended up signing Bonds and 2007 was his last season in the big leagues. He’s up for Hall of Fame election in January. Odds are, he won’t make it on the first ballot.

In every game, the first baseman will make several putouts.  With the exception of the few times each game that the first baseman may catch a line drive, or beat the catcher back to the base on a grounder, most of these outs are preceded by another defensive player snagging the ball and throwing it to the first baseman.  If it wasn’t for Alcides Escobar, aka #ShortStopJesus, and Mike Moustakas, aka #Moose throwing leather all over the left side of the infield, Eric Hosmer wouldn’t be credited with nearly as many putouts.

Jeff Francoeur puts fear into the hearts of opposing baserunners (Image: Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE)

For all their short comings, one thing the Royals have in good supply is strong defense.  The left side of the field is covered by Gold Glover Alex Gordon, future Gold Glove shortstop Escobar, and the most improved third baseman in baseball, Moustakas.  When Salvador Perez returns at catcher I believe he will significantly solidify our only current position of defensive weakness.  Eric Hosmer plays strong defense, and Chris Getz, Jarrod Dyson / Lorenzo Cain can hold their own with the best of them.  But there is one aspect of our defense that nearly outshines the others with consistently stunning and noteworthy performances – Jeff Francoeur and his lethal ability to gun down unsuspecting baserunners.

When I began writing this story, I started to research all the records for outfield assists so I could compare Francoeur to the great Carl Yastrzemski (he lead the league in outfield assists 7 times) and Roberto Clemente (led the league 5 times and many say he had the best arm ever), or talk about how some of the “so called” greatest players, such as Albert Belle and Barry Bonds were the easiest outfielders to run on, etc., etc.  And then, I decided against it.

If given the choice, would you rather read about the history of the Grand Canyon, or would you prefer to stand on the edge, peering down into the magnificent canyon below while the sun set in the surrounding desert?  Endure a tedious classical art lecture, or gaze opon the timeless face of the celebrated Mona Lisa?  I decided not to engage in a boring discussion of defensive assists and simply pause for a few moments while we take in the majesty of the greatest outfield arm of our generation.

One of my all-time favorite baseball highlights is the video of Francoeur’s perfect, perfect, perfect throw to nail the Tiger’s Jhonny Peralta at third base on August 7 last year.  Apparently, Peralta didn’t get the memo about Frenchy’s ability to throw runners out.  I challenge you to find a more beautiful, almost breathtaking defensive play – Francoeur running toward the line to pick up the ball, whirling and launching a rocket to 3^rd, capped by the ho-hum nonchalant tag made by Moustakas as if it happened every day.  And check out the Tigers 3^rd base coach’s reaction as he hangs his head during the slow motion replay, it’s classic.  Click here to see perfection.

Then, fast forward to this season, May 1, 2012 and apparently Peralta was suffering a memory lapse evidenced by his ill-advised attempt to test Francoeur’s arm again.  (Peralta would make a great subject for an SNL Weekend Update “Really?!?” skit.)  Click here to see the result, as if you don’t already know.  Don’t you just love watching Jhonny Peralta run the bases against the Royals?  On the downside, this highlight would be a lot more enjoyable if the Royals weren’t losing 9-0 in the 4^th inning.

Another of my all-time favorite defensive highlights is from September 7, 2011 when Michael Taylor of the Oakland A’s came to bat in only his 4^th game and lined what appeared to be a sharp single into right field.  Well, bad luck for Taylor, Jeff Francoeur was playing right field and as a baserunner you can never take anything for granted on a ball hit to Frenchy.  Even more amazing to me is the fact that Hosmer went to first base to cover the throw from Francoeur.  That is the definition of heads-up.  Click here to see the embarrassing moment.  Welcome to the big leagues rookie.

Last year, the ESPN blog ranked active outfielders’ throwing arms and came up with a virtual tie for the number one position between Francoeur and Shin-Soo Choo.  In 2012, Choo has one assist, Francoeur has 5.  End of discussion.

The difference between those who have the ability to throw out runners from the outfield and those who don’t is absolutely huge.  In 2012, Francoeur is tied for the AL lead with 5 assists and only 16 other guys have two or more.  Everyone else has one or none.  Francoeur’s ability to throw out runners is similar to Willie Wilson’s ability to steal bases, or George Brett’s ability to hit for average, or Humberto Quintero’s ability to swing at the first pitch and tap a dribbler back to the pitcher – it’s far above the abilities of almost any other player in the league.

One thing worth mentioning in this story is that with all his talent, Jeff Francoeur didn’t lead the Royals in outfield assists last year.   In 2011, that honor went to Alex Gordon.  Remember this when you hear someone talking about an unfair arms race, they may be talking about the Royals rather than the Russians.

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