Who Better to Give Up a Sleazeball the Record, Than Another Sleazeball?
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by Insan
By now, there has been much reaction to Barry Bonds’ record breaking night last night. Some people enjoyed it, some, not so much. This is not a piece on Barry and his record hitting 756 th homerun, but rather ‘the other guy’.
His name is Mike Bacsik. This Washington Nationals pitcher has been in the majors for five years now playing for four different teams. With about 30 games started in his entire career in the majors, not much is known about Bacsik. Frankly, no one cared who he was, until last night. In the bottom of the 5 th inning, Mike Bacsik gave up the record breaking homerun to Barry Bonds forever writing his name in the history books.
The average person would not want this achievement, especially the average athlete. Most athletes would rather be the one that struck out Bonds on his quest for 756. The thought that someone went out of his way to be that guy, is almost unbelievable and a completely insane thought to think. Not so fast; Bacsik knew what he was doing and he did it on purpose.
Mike Bacsik’s contributions to the historic night were major. He did everything possible to be the guy that allowed Bond’s 756 th homerun. Looking at the statistics, Barry Bonds went 3 for 3 last night with no walks. This was the first time during the entire season that Bonds hit 1.000 with no walks. In the second inning on Bonds’ first at-bat, Bacsik threw two consecutive strikes and then three consecutive walks. Everyone knows that hitting the ball on a 3-2 count is a lot easier than other counts because you’re almost certain the pitcher will try and throw into the strike zone so he doesn’t draw the walk. On Bacsik’s 6 th pitch to Bonds, Bonds doubled to deep right center field. Mission failed… for now. On Bonds’ second at-bat in the 3 rd inning, Bacsik threw the first pitch for a strike and then threw his second pitch in the strike zone again. This time Bonds hit it for a single. Again, mission failed.
With time running out for Bacsik, in the 5 th inning, Bacsik made the most of the opportunity. On another 3-2 count allowing Bonds to chase the ball, Bascik threw an 84 mph pitch down the center of the plate for Bonds to smash it into the right field stands. Mission accomplished! An 84 mph pitch on a full count is a very weak pitch that is easy to hit, especially for guys like Bonds. What makes it worse is that during his post-game press conference, Bacsik says that he was trying to throw a fastball down and away for a strike. Really Bacsik? Are you really that bad that you ended up throwing an 84 mph pitch right down the strike zone? He stated “I wanted to go after him; I was trying to get him out. I threw a pitch that he really likes to hit and he did it.” Well if Bonds really likes to hit those pitches, and you know that for a fact, then why are you trying to strike him out with that pitch? Wouldn’t logic dictate that you throw a pitch he doesn’t like?
Bacsik was no doubt very excited for the moment. You’re probably asking yourself why this would make sense and that there is no way he did this intentionally. Well consider these facts. Coming up to the historic moment, there were many discussions and interviews around the league on whether ball players would want to give up the historic homerun. Not surprisingly, everyone said they wouldn’t. Discussions talked about how people would rather want to be the ones that struck Bonds out during his run. Well let me ask everyone this. Do you know even one pitcher that struck out Hank Aaron during his run? Do you even know who the last pitcher that struck out Bonds was? No one knows and your feat will not be recognized if you did.
The guy that gives up the homerun though, is set for life. Now, Mike Bacsik joins the company of Al Downing, the pitcher that gave up the 715 th homerun to Hank Aaron, as the people set for life by the moment. It was found out, before Bacsik stepped on the mound, that Downing and Aaron would go to autograph sessions and card shows together to sign memorabilia for fans. Also noted, is that Downing made just as much money for the autograph sessions as Aaron. Bacsik knew that he was just another guy until the end of the 5 th inning last night. He was a below average player in the prime of his career with a 4.47 ERA. He is so average that in the beginning of the year, he was in the minors for the Nationals. His baseball career isn’t going anywhere and he knew that. Now that he gave up the famous homerun? His baseball career is extended by 50 years. He and Bonds will go onto do the same thing Aaron and Downing have done during their retirement and get paid very well.
Bacsik didn’t hold his emotions after the game. Although he held his feelings inside on the mound, in the post-game press conference, he was ecstatic. One reporter even pointed out, “You seem genuinely tickled by this whole thing.” Bacsik replied, “Yea I’m excited, we won the game and I got to see history.” He went on to say the following, “You either have to be a really special player to be remembered in this game or be a part of a special moment” and “I didn’t want to give up the homerun but I’m lucky enough to be apart of a very special moment in sports history.” Bacsik knew what he was doing and did everything in his power to make sure he was the one that gave up the homerun. After the celebration, Bacsik then tried to become Bonds’ best friend by congratulating him; he stated that he told Bonds “He’s the best I’ve ever faced and probably the best of all time.” Let’s face it, Bonds is a jerk; unless you make the effort to become his friend, there’s no way he’s doing autograph sessions with you. No autograph sessions, no money…
Barry Bonds would have eventually hit number 756 barring an unlikely injury during the next week or so. However, the fact that a pitcher actually helped him out just so he could make money off of it is disgusting. Bacsik said, “Giving it up to Barry Bonds is nothing to be ashamed of.” Maybe so, but trying to be that pitcher that gives up 756 is something certainly to be ashamed of. Mike Bacsik is a sleezball that doesn’t deserve any profit from his ability to play poorly. He should not be linked to Barry Bonds, but rather as a guy with no integrity and no self respect.
