Bonds goes through light workout day at Scottsdale Stadium
Monday Mar 13, 2006 1:29 PM
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Barry Bonds worked on keeping the ball in the park for a change.
The San Francisco slugger took several rounds of batting practice at Scottsdale Stadium on Monday, joining his teammates who didn't have to make the trip to Tucson to play the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Bonds hit his first home run of the spring Sunday against the San Diego Padres.
The seven-time NL MVP, who acknowledged his hands didn't feel quite right, used his several rounds of BP against former major leaguer Ross Grimsley, a pitching coach in the Giants' farm system, to focus on hitting low line drives to the gap. After that, he did some light running and agility exercises in right field with personal stretch man Harvey Shields, followed by a few all-out sprints.
All the while, he was trailed by a personal videographer, who shot pictures from behind the protective screen at third base before being told to get off the field. Major League Baseball security officer D.P. Davis looked on from the dugout steps with members of Bonds' entourage.
Bonds has appeared relaxed despite the latest steroids accusations. Excerpts were released last week from an upcoming book detailing his alleged longtime steroids regimen.
He joked around and leaned against the cage to watch others hit between his turns.
"You don't hit nothing down the left-field line - what are you talking about?'' quipped outfielder Steve Finley, who like Bonds is 41.
Bonds is third on the career homers list with 708 and 48 shy of breaking Hank Aaron's mark of 755, He likely will play in a home game Tuesday against the Texas Rangers. He has four spring training League at-bats after making his exhibition debut in last Thursday's loss to the Angels.
Bonds didn't hide his feelings about the controversial way the U.S. team won its second-round World Baseball Classic game against Japan on Sunday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Japan appeared to take a 4-3 lead in the eighth against Joe Nathan when Akinori Iwamura flied to left with one out and the bases loaded. Tsuyoshi Nishioka beat Randy Winn's throw home, and second base umpire Brian Knight ruled him safe when the Americans appealed the play. But plate umpire Bob Davidson overruled the call following a brief discussion with the other umpires.
"Dude, that guy tagged up,'' Bonds said to nobody in particular.
The United States went on to win 4-3.
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