Bochy Ball

Washington at San Francisco. 11 Innings. Enablers 3, Nationals 2.

Bochy writes in his journal during Barry Bonds's first at-bat.

Publisher's Note: In preparation for possible book deal about Barry Bonds's home run chase -- working title "Managing 756" -- Giants skipper Bruce Bochy is keeping a diary of Bonds's performance. The following are excerpts from Bochy's journal entry for Monday's game.

Top 1st - Bases loaded, no outs. That Young fellow hits long fly to left. Easy out, but Barry struggles to get to warning track in time. Makes play look v. hard. Showboating or just too old to play? Never can tell. Hope B hits his damn 756 soon; take him out, shift Davis to LF.

Bottom 1st - Good fly ball ties game, if Barry can sac for team. Swings for fences, foul pop-up. Zimmerman kid nabs it on the run by dugout; great play. B out, doesn't help team. No surprise. Like having void b/w Winn and Bengie. Bat B 7th if I could; fans, press boys would crucify me.

Bottom 3rd - Another leadoff runner. Winn on first. Game still tied; Barry's job to advance runner to scoring position. Any hit puts Winn on 3rd; line-drive double scores run, puts B on first. B walks. Oh, goody. Catcher due up and B sets up triple play taking pitches. Molina pops up; no triple play. Whew. Durham hits grounder, B just gives himself up for the DP! Jogs down basepath like he doesn't want to interrupt this fine play Wash. is making. I wish to God B would just hit that HR so I can bench his ass. Tell press boys he needs rest after grueling chase. "Emotional toll." They'll eat that up.

Bottom 5th - Winn on again for Bonds, no outs. Game still tied. The great B suddenly hacking, not taking. Liner to left for hit and we'll wave Winn around. I don't think that Church can throw. Go-ahead run with good contact from cleanup hitter. But no, B hits grounder. Winn out at second, B out by 30 feet at first. Jogging again, admiring the pretty play Wash. is putting on. Can't be troubled to run, just gives himself up. Reminded of Waylon song: "Are you sure Hank done it this way?" Giving himself up to DPs? Pretty sure Hank didn't do it that way.

Bottom 7th - Vizquel on this time. Winn can't do it all himself. Two out, Barry up, game still 1-1. Rookie Lannan pitching deep into 7th. Looks like that King fellow getting up in 'pen. No, Lannan staying in. B hacking again; strikes out swinging. Not even close to that one; what was he swinging at? Put the bat over the plate and hope pitch misses up isn't hitting, it's guessing. Screw it. Fans have had their ABs. I'm sitting his ass. Tell B to ride the pine, he shrugs. Put Roberts in, shift Davis to LF. Defensive-offensive sub.

Bottom 11th - Finally see that King fellow in relief. Klesko doubles. Roberts draws IBB. No loss from Barry on offensive front! Davis sells fake HBP - have to give him one of those fake Oscar statues. Viz makes out at home. Winn up, pitcher's spot behind him, no protection except loaded bases. So won't be walked, but Ayala in to pitch. Can induce grounders. Fans mostly gone, too. WTF? Came to see B. Don't they ever notice that B in game means SF loses? B out of game, SF has fighting chance? Winn delivers, of course. Single to right, Roberts, late sub for B, scores. Giants win. Dammit, we'd have been right back in wildcard race if B had gone down with injury by All-Star.