Insider | Short Hops | Love Letters
SAN DIEGO -- Step right up and take your shot at becoming a Carny. We've got a slot open right here in the Fortune Teller's booth. When will
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| Bonds is in good physical shape thus far in the young season. (Getty Images) |
Failing that, he can always schedule a haircut or a teeth-cleaning -- those are convenient ways to duck out of a pseudo-obligation, too.
The beautiful thing about the ever-classy Aaron's response, of course, is that nobody knows when the magic -- cynical? -- day will arrive. Bonds* remains 21 homers away from passing Aaron and yet, people's schedules already are filling up.
Ask commissioner Bud Selig if he is planning to watch No. 756 fly out of the yard and the reaction is akin to asking your neighbor if he intends to be in the room to watch the plumber snake his plugged-up toilet. The feeling of responsibility -- 'Maybe I should be there' -- mixes with the need for fresh air.
So many people are looking to distance themselves from Bonds* for so many reasons -- the Human Growth Hormone and steroid allegations, the federal government investigation, years of an oddly growing head, a couple of decades of churlish behavior -- it's as if an asterisk should be attached to everything the guy touches.
Bonds* is on deck to shatter what once was considered baseball's greatest record, and he's not even on the cover of San Francisco's own media guide. New manager Bruce Bochy and free-agent pitcher Barry Zito are.
Nevertheless, it's a new year, a new start, and Bonds* so far is taking the high road. His troublesome knees are as solid as they've been in at least three years -- which helps explain both the smile and why it's not too early to crank up the Aaron watch.
"He has a right to do what he wants to do," Bonds* said the other day regarding Aaron. "There's no reason to be disappointed. If he has other plans, other things to do, then I respect that. He's his own man. No hard feelings."
Now, as for his emergence from spring training this year compared to the previous two ...
"One-hundred percent different," he said. "Way better. A lot different than last year. My knee is really good right now. Like I say, right now. My hamstrings get a little tighter now, but that's an age thing. Nothing I can do about that.
"The (degenerating) knee is still there, it's just not as bad."
The telltale sign is he's moving around more easily. Last year at this time, Bonds* in the batter's box was all upper body, with no oomph in his legs. People who saw him regularly this spring in Arizona are predicting he will shatter Aaron's record.
