Miami Marlins

Barry Bonds has an idea on how to settle the Pete Rose vs. Ichiro debate

Published Jun. 15, 2016 11:22 a.m. ET

Aaron Torres

It's been quite a busy week for one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game, Pete Rose. Rose appeared on Fox's own "Outkick the Show" where he made a number of headlines, and also added more insight into his thoughts on Ichiro Suzuki.

For those who need some background, the story on Ichiro centers on this: The Japanese star is closing in on history, and if you combine his hits in Japan with those in the Major Leagues, he will soon surpass Rose's record of 4,256. Earlier in the week, it led Rose to jokingly say that the public is looking to demote him from "The Hit King" to "The Hit Queen."

Obviously Rose said it tongue-in-cheek, and obviously it was all said in good fun, but clearly the question of "Should Ichiro's hits from Japan count" has divided baseball fans.

And now, an unlikely man is ready to bring baseball fans back together, and Rose and Ichiro back together too. That man: Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds. Bonds was asked about baseball's latest pseudo-controversy by USA Today, and actually had some really interesting thoughts on the matter.

Hmm, I've got to say, Bonds' take is really interesting. In essence, he's saying, "let's not blame Ichiro, but instead the system that kept him in Japan all those years." Again, good stuff from Bonds.

But it gets better.

Here is Bonds on what should happen next.

I've got to say, for the negative press that Bonds got while he was a player (which was totally justified, by the way) it's incredible to see his evolution post-career. Just a few weeks ago he discussed everything he did wrong as a player, and seems like he really is trying to change the perception around him.

Now the naysayers of course will say that this is an all an act from Bonds, an attempt to get in good with the media. Maybe even a way to finagle himself into the Hall of Fame one day.

Maybe that's the case, and maybe it isn't.

But whatever the deal is, it's nice to see Bonds treating people with the respect they deserve, and adding a ton of good, interesting insight into baseball while he's at it.