Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Judge rules Barry Bonds jury can't listen to tape - ESPN


"It's barely intelligible and what can be heard is irrelevant."

That about sums up the government's case in a nutshell as the prosecution rests after ten days of testimony.

Let's review.
The governments own witnesses seem to contradict each other (Ting and Hoskins) in a bizarre display. Talk about shooting yourselves in the foot.

So we have at least one witness lying in an attempt to prove the governments case that Bonds lied. Might have wanted to check and double check the testimony before you send your witnesses to the stand. You only had eight some odd years to prepare.

What seemed like the most damning evidence from the mistress and former players still leaves more loose ends than one of grandmas quilts. I'm not sure how the government expects all twelve jurors to make the formidable leap required to prove their case.

So maybe now this demonstrates why the case took eight or so years to bring to court. These guys might end up making the O.J. prosecutors look competent by comparison. Somewhere in Texas, Roger Clemens and his legal team have to be ROFLTAO. Perhaps not though, his case has some different dynamics attached to it. But maybe if this one goes down in flames, the government will decide to get out of the game of policing baseball.

It will be interesting to see if the defense puts up any more than a token defense. Maybe try to impeach one or two pieces of testimony it deems damaging. But it doesn't sound as if they have to do much more than go to closing arguments, throw up their hands and say "We waited eight years and wasted x number of taxpayer dollars, FOR THIS?"

We shall see.

Judge rules Barry Bonds jury can't listen to tape - ESPN:

"SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge has barred the jury in the Barry Bonds' perjury trial from hearing a newly discovered tape recording prosecutors say bolsters their case that the slugger knowingly took steroids.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled the recording inadmissible because 'it's barely intelligible' and what can be heard is irrelevant."

The tape was a conversation between Bonds' orthopedic surgeon Dr. Arthur Ting and his former business partner, Steve Hoskins. Hoskins secretly recorded the conversation in 2003.

Prosecutors had hoped to use the tape to win back some of the momentum they lost when Ting severely damaged Hoskins' credibility.

Ting last week flatly denied Hoskins' testimony that the pair had about 50 conversations about Bonds and steroids. Ting said the two never discussed that topic.

Two transcripts of the tape released by the prosecution and defense indicate Hoskins brings up newspaper articles about a federal raid on a Bay Area lab, and the possible implications for Bonds. Ting replies with mostly short answers to Hoskins' statements.



No comments:

Giants Top Minor League Prospects

  • 1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
  • 2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
  • 3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
  • 4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
  • 5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
  • 6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
  • 7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
  • 8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
  • 9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
  • 10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
  • 11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
  • 12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
  • 13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
  • 14. Garett Cave 6-4, 200 RHP He misses a lot of bats and at times, the plate. 13 K/9 an 5 B/9. Wild thing.

2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects

  • 1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
  • 2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
  • 3. C.J. Abrams 6-2, 180 SS Blessed Trinity HS (GA) High-ceiling athlete. 70 speed with plus arm. Hitting needs to develop as he matures. Alabama commit.
  • 4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
  • 5. Daniel Espino 6-3, 200 RHP Georgia Premier Academy (GA) LSU commit. Touches 98 on FB with wipe out SL.

2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects

  • 1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
  • 2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
  • 3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
  • 4. Matt Wallner 6-5 OF Southern Miss Run producing bat plus mid to upper 90's FB closer. Power bat from the left side, athletic for size.
  • 5. Nick Lodolo LHP TCU Tall LHP, 95MPH FB and solid breaking stuff.