SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - While Barry Bonds fought off a dangerous bacterial infection in recent weeks, the San Francisco Giants slugger gained a new perspective on his health - and a renewed desire to get back in uniform as soon as possible.
Though the Giants transferred Bonds to the 60-day disabled list Friday, he was optimistic about his recovery from three recent knee surgeries when he made a rare public appearance at SBC Park as San Francisco prepared to open the Bay Bridge interleague series against the Oakland Athletics.
He's finished with two weeks of intravenous antibiotics to treat the infections, apparently contracted from bacteria in a whirlpool during his rehabilitation. Bonds isn't ready to put a date on his return, but he still hopes to be back this season.
"Baseball leaves your mind real fast when you get sick like this," Bonds said. "I still have a lot to live for. There's still a lot I can do in baseball, but the situation is for me to get better and then get myself back in shape."
Bonds misses baseball acutely these days. He was in the Giants' locker room before the series opener, chatting with his teammates and even expounding on his feelings to a small group of reporters.
About 30 minutes before the first pitch, he went behind home plate for an impromptu autograph session with dozens of young fans.
"I want to finish what I started here," Bonds said. "I have a contract, and I have an obligation to the team, the city and the fans here. I'm being an optimist. I'm looking at the positives of this, and I'm going to do the best I can now that this infection is gone."
Bonds, who has undergone three arthroscopic surgeries on his right knee since Jan. 31, is eligible to return from the DL on June 2 - but there's almost no chance he'll be back until well after the All-Star break.
That's just fine with Bonds, who was more concerned about his long-term health when the infection required him to receive regular IV treatments. He's getting regular blood tests to watch for any signs of a recurring infection, and he'll begin physical rehab shortly.
When asked if he expects to return this season, Bonds said: "I believe I can. I definitely believe that. I don't have an idea when I'll come back. I really have no idea. I want to get through this step, and then on to the next step. That's key. Whatever those steps are, I'll take any challenges that come."
Bonds has 703 career home runs, 11 behind Babe Ruth and 52 from tying Hank Aaron's career record. Bonds batted .362 last season with 45 homers and 101 RBIs and also walked a major league-record 232 times on the way to his record seventh MVP award.
Though Bonds prefers to release information about his recovery through his Web site, Giants trainer Stan Conte still has been inundated with home remedies and treatment suggestions - everything from yoga to potato applications. That's why Conte won't name the bacterial problem Bonds apparently contracted, though it isn't a staph infection.
"We're going to rehab him, but it's just easy stuff, and we'll take it from there," Conte said. "Infection is still the primary concern. Even just one particle of it can restart the whole thing. ... There's still a possibility to see him this year. We're still proceeding to fight the infection."
The Giants' struggles this season have nagged at Bonds, the centerpiece of a veteran roster designed to give him a good shot at playing for his first World Series championship. All three of San Francisco's veteran outfielders have struggled with injuries, while ace Jason Schmidt and closer Armando Benitez are on the disabled list.
Bonds knows the Giants are a collection of talented role players without his star abilities holding them together, and it dismays him.
"I've been watching games on television, and I wish I was up in certain situations," Bonds said. "And then I get annoyed and upset, and I have to walk away. I want to be there, but it's not a baseball situation I'm in, it's a life situation. ... My 6-year-old daughter can run faster than me."
Associated Press
Though the Giants transferred Bonds to the 60-day disabled list Friday, he was optimistic about his recovery from three recent knee surgeries when he made a rare public appearance at SBC Park as San Francisco prepared to open the Bay Bridge interleague series against the Oakland Athletics.
He's finished with two weeks of intravenous antibiotics to treat the infections, apparently contracted from bacteria in a whirlpool during his rehabilitation. Bonds isn't ready to put a date on his return, but he still hopes to be back this season.
"Baseball leaves your mind real fast when you get sick like this," Bonds said. "I still have a lot to live for. There's still a lot I can do in baseball, but the situation is for me to get better and then get myself back in shape."
Bonds misses baseball acutely these days. He was in the Giants' locker room before the series opener, chatting with his teammates and even expounding on his feelings to a small group of reporters.
About 30 minutes before the first pitch, he went behind home plate for an impromptu autograph session with dozens of young fans.
"I want to finish what I started here," Bonds said. "I have a contract, and I have an obligation to the team, the city and the fans here. I'm being an optimist. I'm looking at the positives of this, and I'm going to do the best I can now that this infection is gone."
Bonds, who has undergone three arthroscopic surgeries on his right knee since Jan. 31, is eligible to return from the DL on June 2 - but there's almost no chance he'll be back until well after the All-Star break.
That's just fine with Bonds, who was more concerned about his long-term health when the infection required him to receive regular IV treatments. He's getting regular blood tests to watch for any signs of a recurring infection, and he'll begin physical rehab shortly.
When asked if he expects to return this season, Bonds said: "I believe I can. I definitely believe that. I don't have an idea when I'll come back. I really have no idea. I want to get through this step, and then on to the next step. That's key. Whatever those steps are, I'll take any challenges that come."
Bonds has 703 career home runs, 11 behind Babe Ruth and 52 from tying Hank Aaron's career record. Bonds batted .362 last season with 45 homers and 101 RBIs and also walked a major league-record 232 times on the way to his record seventh MVP award.
Though Bonds prefers to release information about his recovery through his Web site, Giants trainer Stan Conte still has been inundated with home remedies and treatment suggestions - everything from yoga to potato applications. That's why Conte won't name the bacterial problem Bonds apparently contracted, though it isn't a staph infection.
"We're going to rehab him, but it's just easy stuff, and we'll take it from there," Conte said. "Infection is still the primary concern. Even just one particle of it can restart the whole thing. ... There's still a possibility to see him this year. We're still proceeding to fight the infection."
The Giants' struggles this season have nagged at Bonds, the centerpiece of a veteran roster designed to give him a good shot at playing for his first World Series championship. All three of San Francisco's veteran outfielders have struggled with injuries, while ace Jason Schmidt and closer Armando Benitez are on the disabled list.
Bonds knows the Giants are a collection of talented role players without his star abilities holding them together, and it dismays him.
"I've been watching games on television, and I wish I was up in certain situations," Bonds said. "And then I get annoyed and upset, and I have to walk away. I want to be there, but it's not a baseball situation I'm in, it's a life situation. ... My 6-year-old daughter can run faster than me."
Associated Press
