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04-12-2004, 05:14 AM
MILWAUKEE -- Matt Kinney spent the weekend rooting for Barry Bonds.
That's because Kinney, the Brewers right-hander, is slated to start Monday's SBC Park opener against Bonds and the San Francisco Giants. Going into the weekend, Bonds had 659 home runs, one shy of tying his godfather Willie Mays for third all-time, and Kinney would hate to be the guy on the wrong side of history.
"Hopefully, he'll just hit one today, and nobody has to worry about it," said Kinney, about seven hours before the Giants and Padres were to play in San Diego.
Why root for Bonds to tie the mark when you can pull for him to pass it?
"That would be even better," Kinney said.
Kinney made one start against the Giants last season and took the loss after surrendering five runs, four earned, in six innings. He walked Bonds twice and induced one double-play grounder.
In his first full season as a Major League starter, Kinney surrendered 27 home runs in 190 2/3 innings.
"It's unbelievable how he can make a really good pitch look really bad," Kinney said. "I'm going to try and get him out, basically. I'll move the ball around. You don't want to throw him anything over the dish, but you go for the corners and try to make good pitches."
Kinney, a native of Maine, was watching the University of Maine play Denver University in the NCAA hockey national championship on Saturday night. The network broke into its coverage to show of each of Bonds' at-bats against Padres pitchers.
"It's unbelievable," Kinney said. "Whatever they're showing, if he comes up to hit, they show his at-bat. ... I'm just trying to not get caught up in it."
Bonds went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored on Saturday and entered Sunday's game in a 2-for-13 slump since hitting No. 659.
That's because Kinney, the Brewers right-hander, is slated to start Monday's SBC Park opener against Bonds and the San Francisco Giants. Going into the weekend, Bonds had 659 home runs, one shy of tying his godfather Willie Mays for third all-time, and Kinney would hate to be the guy on the wrong side of history.
"Hopefully, he'll just hit one today, and nobody has to worry about it," said Kinney, about seven hours before the Giants and Padres were to play in San Diego.
Why root for Bonds to tie the mark when you can pull for him to pass it?
"That would be even better," Kinney said.
Kinney made one start against the Giants last season and took the loss after surrendering five runs, four earned, in six innings. He walked Bonds twice and induced one double-play grounder.
In his first full season as a Major League starter, Kinney surrendered 27 home runs in 190 2/3 innings.
"It's unbelievable how he can make a really good pitch look really bad," Kinney said. "I'm going to try and get him out, basically. I'll move the ball around. You don't want to throw him anything over the dish, but you go for the corners and try to make good pitches."
Kinney, a native of Maine, was watching the University of Maine play Denver University in the NCAA hockey national championship on Saturday night. The network broke into its coverage to show of each of Bonds' at-bats against Padres pitchers.
"It's unbelievable," Kinney said. "Whatever they're showing, if he comes up to hit, they show his at-bat. ... I'm just trying to not get caught up in it."
Bonds went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored on Saturday and entered Sunday's game in a 2-for-13 slump since hitting No. 659.