Former MLB slugger Barry Bonds knows plenty about being a polarizing figure in Major League Baseball, and he came to the aid of another one - New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
Bonds, the MLB's all-time home run king with 762 career long balls, defended of A-Rod from the backlash against him and the treatment of him by the Yankees.
"Anytime anybody in the game does something that's a great accomplishment, the game of baseball should celebrate that," Bonds told USA Today Sports. "No matter what. Baseball is benefiting from that person's hard work, so baseball should at least celebrate. Why the hate? Why hate on something you're paying to see? I don't understand it. He's entertaining us. I wish life wasn't like that."
A-Rod, 39, has 655 homers and is five behind of Bonds' godfather Willie Mays. Rodriguez has three years and $61 million left on his contract and is due a $6 million bonus if he ties Mays.
The Yankees, however, plan on disputing the bonus in the aftermath of Rodriguez missing the entire 2014 campaign due to the Biogenesis suspension for his use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Bonds, who has had his own problems with steroids and perjury charges, said he will be happy to see Rodriguez tie Mays.
"This guy is not running for president of the United States,'' Bonds told the publication "He's not running for commissioner. We're not running for political office. We're just ballplayers. We're not God. We're imperfect people. We're human beings. When Alex hits No. 660, I'll be happy for him. Willie will be happy for him. Everybody should be happy for him. ... And I can't wait to until he hits 660. I know I'll celebrate."
Rodriguez has been positioned all over the Yankees lineup on the young season, as high as No. 7 in the order and as low as No. 2, but he has been driving the offense.
A-Rod is batting .300 (6-for-20) with one homer, six RBI and four walks through six games, though he's also struck out nine times.
The Yankees are off to a 2-4 start to the season, and while he has plenty of work to do to catch Bonds, the former slugger said he'd be happy to see it.
"I told him he better get to work,'' Bonds said. "I'm not saying it's not possible. I just don't know if he can do it or not. But he's capable. And being a DH is a good situation so you don't have to beat your body up."
The Yankees continue the 2015 slate with a 10-game road trip -- their first of the season -- starting Monday against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.
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