Baseball world eagerly awaits Bonds' spring arrival

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Few spring training arrivals compare to the day Barry Bonds shows up at Scottsdale Stadium.

It's when the San Francisco Giants superstar holds his annual state-of-Barry address -- and more often than not, it's the most he says to reporters all season.

When he arrives Tuesday, it's sure to be quite an event. Over 100 media members are expected to attend, and they'll be looking for answers from the slugger that aren't sealed.

Bonds will be peppered with questions about the steroid controversy that constantly surrounds him.

Will it affect the legacy he leaves?

Will his records be tainted?

Does he care at all what fans think of him?

He might not answer any of them, or could choose to be candid.

On Tuesday, Barry Bonds will let reporters know what's on his mind -- or maybe he won't. (Getty Images)

This will be the first time the 40-year-old Bonds has spoken publicly since his grand jury testimony was leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle and reported in December. Bonds testified in December 2003 that he used a clear substance and a cream given to him by a trainer who was indicted in a steroid-distribution ring, but said he didn't know they were steroids.

"Ever since I've been here, no matter what happens off the field or what he's dealing with, once he gets on the field, he's always focused and able to be the best player in the game," Giants pitcher Kirk Rueter said. "That just shows you how he focuses and how much he concentrates once he's on the field."

But Bonds isn't expected to do a lot on the field until at least the middle of March.

He had arthroscopic surgery on both knees since last season ended, including an operation on his right knee Feb. 1 that will limit him for much of the spring. Bonds will be rehabilitating the knee under the direction of team trainer Stan Conte.

"What I have heard so far is early in the camp he's not going to be doing much," manager Felipe Alou said Monday. "I don't see any anticipation here except that one of the best players to ever play the game is coming in. ... We're used to that (fanfare) here a lot. It would be kind of strange if we didn't have it now."