Normally in any post regarding either of these gentlemen I would be discussing why I couldn't care less about either of them, but in this case I have to say I'm glad to see them performing at the level they are right now.
Barry Bonds was and is under such intense scrutiny that I'm sure even he wanted to just fade away and not break the home run record he will inevitable break in the coming weeks. Instead of being a coward like he usually is with the media regarding every off the field topic imaginable, he has just decided to say "Screw It!" and be the slugging Barry he can be. Although I think he used performance enhancing drugs in the past, I would imagine that it would be difficult to still be using them given the microscope he is under and his natural ability (which would have been good enough to get him into Cooperstown by itself) is again on display. Instead of whining and hiding, he has busted out and just wants to get past the HR record as soon as possible. I truly wish Aaron's record would remain intact, but I just want Bonds to stop delaying the inevitable and get it over with already. I'm certainly tired of hearing about it.
A-Rod on the other hand was under intense pressure from the people who were supposed to be supporting him; Yankees fans. Rodriguez in recent years has been whiny and has walked on egg shells when dealing with the media when you know he just wanted to say that he wishes the fans would lay off. Now, instead of worrying what anyone thinks, he just said "Screw It!" and decided to ravage AL pitching and just be the player he is. You can just see that he is more relaxed, focused and having fun again and perhaps for the first time since he has been a Yankee. His career will be over one day and he doesn't want to look back at his time in pinstripes (which I feel will end after this year) as years where he wasn't padding his stats because his mood was reflecting the fickle fans' disapproval.
Both of them have decided to stop caring what everyone is thinking and it is evident in their recent stats and confident dispositions. So yes, I am reluctantly tipping my hat to these two historic (for better or worse) ballplayers. They have finally turned off their heads and turned on their focus. Although I really can't stand either of them, it's good to see them just getting back to baseball. Now if David Wright and even more so Carlos Delgado can snap out of it, I'll be a happy camper.
