Bonds Buzz: Part Deux

My last entry has gotten me thinking more about Bonds, and how many reports about the A's signing him have surfaced. This creates an interesting dichotomy in myself and many A's fans. A lot of us are big Bonds haters, and what interests me is how the fans will react to a Barry signing. A few things to think about:
1) Barry fans will start migrating to the Coliseum. I've always thought there are a number of fans who follow the Giants because they want to see Barry play. There's nothing wrong with that--if I'm going to casually follow a sport, I'd like to see the best current example of superior play when I do watch. Without Barry, there isn't much draw to watch the Giants play currently. If Sabean actually does dump Cain and Lincecum like the trade rumors seem to say, then there will be even less draw to Pac Bell Park then ever. The A's will see a rise in attendance regardless.
2) Adding Barry to the lineup makes everyone on the team better. How? Barry still gets walked an abnormal amount in games. In 2001, the year Barry hit 73 Home runs, he was walked 177 times in 153 games. Last year, in only 126 games he was walked 132 times. That's still more than a walk every game. If Barry gets up with a man on 2nd, and the opposing teams walk Barry, suddenly there's two men on with Jack Cust on rather than 1 man. Barry actually fits the moneyball mold--he gets on base and he can hit for power. I think his price will be pretty low too, since most cities are afraid to touch him.
3) Most cities in this situation tend to turn their attitudes around with success. Boston hated Randy Moss as much as anyone until he signed with them and is now approaching Jerry Rice's single season TD record as a receiver. While Oakland fans are known for being crazy jerks, Boston fans, I imagine, are just as opinionated. I think if Barry does sign, the fans will turn (assuming he plays well.)
4) There's no guarantee he'll be a jerk. Barry kept his mouth pretty well shut last year amidst a lot of stuff, and there's a good chance that with the steroid scandals recently, Barry will be more motivated then ever to let his talent speak for itself. Barry is in it this year to get his 3,00th hit, one of the few milestones he hasn't gotten to, and let it be done.

File this under scandals that I'd like to see happen just to see the reaction among sports, but this is also exactly the type of bargain that Beane loves. Nobody else will touch the guy, so he's an amazing talent just waiting to bust it open for the Green and Gold. While one may saw that there's no place for him (Jack Cust does about the same thing,) Barry plays marginally better defense than Cust, so he can still platoon the Left Field/DH spot with Cust as designated by Barry's health. Barring some big legal developments, I see this trade as very feasible.