Recovering Bonds plans to play this season

NEW YORK (Reuters) – San Francisco Giants slugger Barry
Bonds says his ailing right knee has recovered enough for him
to plan to play this season but he does not know when.

“So far, so good,” Bonds told reporters on Wednesday at
Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles during his third day of workouts
with the Giants. “I hate to say anything just in case somewhere
down the road something happens, but at this stage and the way
I feel, I’ll play, definitely.”

The 41-year-old Bonds, who has not played this season after
undergoing three operations, said he would work out in a
practice game in San Francisco later on Thursday.

He was cleared on Wednesday by his doctor and trainer to
travel with the Giants and to continue his rehabilitation.

“I just feel like I want to go back to San Francisco and be
with these guys,” Bonds said . “I’m ready to go home.”

Bonds has been rehabbing his right knee in the Los Angeles
area since June.

The Giants have 24 games remaining this season. They begin
an 11-game homestand on Thursday and Bonds could be activated
at some time during that period.

“(His return) might be here before you know it or sooner
than you think,” Giants general manager Brian Sabean. “But I’m
not going to guess.”

Bonds ranks third on the all-time home run list with 703.
He trails second-place Babe Ruth (714) by 11 and all-time
leader Hank Aaron (755) by 52.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina)