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Loss of Bonds dulls season for San Francisco Giants

Posted on: Tuesday, 23 August 2005, 14:14 CDT

By Leonard Anderson

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The Barry Bonds buzz is missing this term at SBC Park, the cozy bayside home of the San Francisco Giants.

The 41-year-old outfielder is sidelined, rehabilitating his surgically-repaired knees, and his pursuit of home run sluggers Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron is on hold until he is regains health.

With 703 home runs in the bag, Bonds is third on the all-time list. Aaron holds the record with 755 followed by Ruth on 714.

This was the season when San Francisco fans were expecting Bonds to overtake Ruth, but they will have to wait a little longer.

Even the BALCO steroid scandal and embarrassing revelations that Bonds may have taken steroids unknowingly did little to diminish Giants fans' anticipation for plenty of trademark towering "splashdown" home runs into the waters of McCovey Cove this season.

However, his creaky knee scuppered those hopes. He has had surgery three times since January and has not played this season.

San Francisco were the early favorites to win the National League West this year but, in the absence of Bonds, the team lies fourth in a weak five-team division with a losing record in their home park, their first since 1996.

Bonds has kept the Giants guessing as to whether he will return to action this season or delay his comeback until 2006. He posts regular "Hello Fans" updates on his medical and training rehabilitation on his personal website.

"There is a good possibility that I could be back in September with the team, but, if not, I will definitely be in the 2006 line-up," Bonds wrote in his most recent report two weeks ago.

TOP DRAW

The Giants and Bonds are among the leading attractions in baseball, selling out almost all of their home games and drawing more than 3.2 million fans a year since their new privately-built park opened in 2000.

There has been speculation in San Francisco, however, that the seven-times National League Most Valuable Player may be traded to an American League team where Bonds could continue his home run assault without having to play in the field.

He is under contract to the Giants next season for $18 million.

"I don't think the Giants would trade him because the business of going after the home run record may be the only thing that sells tickets next season," said Art Spander, a veteran Bay Area sports writer for the Oakland Tribune.

"The Giants don't want to see Bonds breaking the home run record in the uniform of another team."

Bonds remains a big part of the Giants' plans, their executive vice president and chief operating officer Larry Baer said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

"Bonds is making good progress and returning this season is possible. There is no reason why he won't be on the team in 2006," Baer told Reuters.

"We see him as our left fielder but how much he plays will be a question of his condition," he said, adding that the Giants have not talked to any American League teams about a Bonds move.

Baer said the loss of the slugger and injuries to other leading pitchers has hurt the Giants but HE would not rule out a late-season rally: "We have 39 games to play and we're only six games out of first place."

Source: REUTERS

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