Tampa Bay Rays Infielder Calls Out 'Cheater' Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds was one of the best baseball players of all-time. The San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates great was must-see tv for the way he conducted himself on the baseball field. He could hit, hit for power, run the bases, field, Bonds literally could do it all. Off the field however is where the debate begins as he's been labelled a cheat of the game. While the Hall of Fame argument has been ongoing for over a decade, current Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls recently chimed in and blasted the long-time great.

He cheated! If not getting into the HOF is a consequence to cheating, then sorry bout it. Work your ass off and play the game the right way. If he is arguably one of the best hitters ever, then why cheat? It's not right to the guys that go about their business the right way.

Walls is certainly not the only person that feels this way. Tuesday night the announcement will be made on who is among the 2022 hall of fame class, and Bonds is in his 10th and final year of eligibility. The 14-time All-Star requires 75% of the vote from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. 

While the public appears to be on the side of Bonds this time around in his last hooray, the private votes are what really matters. In 2021, the seven-time MVP received just under 62% of the votes, and while it may be the end all for some, Bonds has mentioned in the past it's not even close to the back of his mind.

Bonds has denied knowingly taking steroids or cheating and pleaded not guilty to four charges of lying to a grand jury in 2003. 

Photo credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports