Updated: Sep. 1, 2005, 8:19 PM ET
Bonds: Workouts with Giants a possibility
Associated Press
Related Video:
Bonds May be Ready to Return in September
SAN FRANCISCO -- As long as his knee holds up, Barry Bonds believes there's "a good possibility" he could be taking swings with the San Francisco Giants when the club gets to Los Angeles next week.
Bonds, recovering from three operations on his troublesome right knee since Jan. 31, began taking light batting practice this week with no problems and is eager to resume his chase of the home run record and help the struggling Giants make things interesting in the season's final five weeks.
The slugger has been in Los Angeles for the past two months rehabbing his knee under the direction of renowned orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum and physical therapist Clive Brewster. He skipped hitting work Wednesday because of a logistical issue but planned to be back in the batting cage Thursday.
"If things look good and Dr. Yocum and Clive are satisfied in terms of how my knee is responding, then there's a good possibility I might be taking a few workout swings with the team when they come to Los Angeles next week," Bonds wrote in the latest update on his Web site, www.barrybonds.com.
"There are still a few things I need to work on before coming back, like baserunning, to see how my knee responds, as well as game situation drills. If I do get to work out with the team, it will be a nice step toward my return. I know that Dr. Yocum and Clive will be watching me very closely so we can assess what my next steps will be," he wrote.
The Giants hope the next move will be finally getting Bonds in a game -- even if it's initially in a limited role such as pinch-hitting. He has missed the entire season and at one point in spring training hinted that he didn't expect to play at all until 2006.
San Francisco general manager Brian Sabean spoke Thursday to Yocum, Brewster and Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, and received a positive update.
"All signs point to Barry working out with the team in some form on Monday in L.A.," team spokesman Blake Rhodes said.
If Bonds gets through that workout without a problem, he would be re-evaluated Tuesday and work out again that day if possible.
He has been more upbeat recently about a return. San Francisco opens a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday.
"During the past 15 days, my knee has been feeling great," Bonds wrote. "I was out on the track doing sprints, agility movements, throwing and exercises to help increase my stamina. Even with some fluid remaining, my knee has been handling the pressure and I've been able to work through it. My workouts continue to be positive and I feel that I'm getting closer to my goal of joining my teammates this season."
The 41-year-old Bonds has 703 home runs, third on the career list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755). Carlton Fisk's 53 homers are the most any player has hit after turning 41, and that is exactly the number Bonds needs to break Aaron's record.
Bonds batted .362 last season with 45 homers and 101 RBI and walked a major league-record 232 times en route to his record seventh NL MVP award. He still wants to win a World Series before he's through.
Last week, Bonds began sprinting and cutting at the UCLA track. Bonds, whose most recent operation was May 2 to drain fluid and examine an infection, said he enjoyed everything about his first workout with a bat in his hands Monday.
"Putting on my batting gloves, rubbing tar on my bat and stepping up to the plate made me start thinking about being in the batter's box again," he said. "Hearing the crack of the bat for the first time brought it all back to me. I took about 200 pitches from John Yandle, and with each swing I felt more and more comfortable in there.
"I hit for about an hour, worked up a good sweat, and I'd have to admit that I was satisfied with the results," he said.
Bonds: Workouts with Giants a possibility
Associated Press
Related Video:
Bonds May be Ready to Return in September
SAN FRANCISCO -- As long as his knee holds up, Barry Bonds believes there's "a good possibility" he could be taking swings with the San Francisco Giants when the club gets to Los Angeles next week.
Bonds, recovering from three operations on his troublesome right knee since Jan. 31, began taking light batting practice this week with no problems and is eager to resume his chase of the home run record and help the struggling Giants make things interesting in the season's final five weeks.
The slugger has been in Los Angeles for the past two months rehabbing his knee under the direction of renowned orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum and physical therapist Clive Brewster. He skipped hitting work Wednesday because of a logistical issue but planned to be back in the batting cage Thursday.
"If things look good and Dr. Yocum and Clive are satisfied in terms of how my knee is responding, then there's a good possibility I might be taking a few workout swings with the team when they come to Los Angeles next week," Bonds wrote in the latest update on his Web site, www.barrybonds.com.
"There are still a few things I need to work on before coming back, like baserunning, to see how my knee responds, as well as game situation drills. If I do get to work out with the team, it will be a nice step toward my return. I know that Dr. Yocum and Clive will be watching me very closely so we can assess what my next steps will be," he wrote.
The Giants hope the next move will be finally getting Bonds in a game -- even if it's initially in a limited role such as pinch-hitting. He has missed the entire season and at one point in spring training hinted that he didn't expect to play at all until 2006.
San Francisco general manager Brian Sabean spoke Thursday to Yocum, Brewster and Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, and received a positive update.
"All signs point to Barry working out with the team in some form on Monday in L.A.," team spokesman Blake Rhodes said.
If Bonds gets through that workout without a problem, he would be re-evaluated Tuesday and work out again that day if possible.
He has been more upbeat recently about a return. San Francisco opens a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday.
"During the past 15 days, my knee has been feeling great," Bonds wrote. "I was out on the track doing sprints, agility movements, throwing and exercises to help increase my stamina. Even with some fluid remaining, my knee has been handling the pressure and I've been able to work through it. My workouts continue to be positive and I feel that I'm getting closer to my goal of joining my teammates this season."
The 41-year-old Bonds has 703 home runs, third on the career list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755). Carlton Fisk's 53 homers are the most any player has hit after turning 41, and that is exactly the number Bonds needs to break Aaron's record.
Bonds batted .362 last season with 45 homers and 101 RBI and walked a major league-record 232 times en route to his record seventh NL MVP award. He still wants to win a World Series before he's through.
Last week, Bonds began sprinting and cutting at the UCLA track. Bonds, whose most recent operation was May 2 to drain fluid and examine an infection, said he enjoyed everything about his first workout with a bat in his hands Monday.
"Putting on my batting gloves, rubbing tar on my bat and stepping up to the plate made me start thinking about being in the batter's box again," he said. "Hearing the crack of the bat for the first time brought it all back to me. I took about 200 pitches from John Yandle, and with each swing I felt more and more comfortable in there.
"I hit for about an hour, worked up a good sweat, and I'd have to admit that I was satisfied with the results," he said.
