sidestepped a peppering of steroids questions yesterday in the same way teams avoid pitching to him -- and did it with the same prickly demeanor that has defined him for years.
Bonds angrily avoided inquiries about his role in baseball's steroid scandal upon his arrival at spring training, pronouncing himself weary but ready to resume his pursuit of Hank Aaron's home run record.
He called reporters liars, and pointed to problems in the world he considers much more important than steroids, such as alcoholism and drug abuse.
In Bonds' first public comments since his grand jury testimony was leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle in December, he had nothing to say about it, citing legal constrictions. But he had harsh words for the media and fans still consumed by the circumstances of his record-setting home run binge.
The San Francisco Giants slugger has 703 homers, trailing only Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) on the career list.
Bonds was asked whether he thinks using steroids is cheating. "I don't know what cheating is," he said. "I don't believe steroids can help your eye-hand coordination, technically hit a baseball. I just don't believe it."
Bonds said the key to his continued success and strength, even in the later years of his career, has been "hard work, that's about it."
He isn't convinced any of this will affect his legacy. "All of you guys have lied," he said. "Should you have an asterisk behind your name?"
In talking about Jose Canseco's book, Bonds said, "I don't know Jose. I was better than Jose then, and I've been better than him his whole career. If he wants to go make money, go ahead. ... For somebody who brags about what he did, I don't see any of your records."
Bonds believes he's being scrutinized more since he's closing in on Ruth. "Because Babe Ruth is one of the greatest baseball players ever, and Babe Ruth ain't black, either. I'm black. Blacks, we go through a little more. ... I'm not a racist though, but I live in the real world. I'm fine with that."
Orioles
Baltimore reliever Jorge Julio has a strained right forearm, an injury that could force him to miss the regular-season opener and definitely hinders his chances of winning the closer's job out of spring training. The Orioles hope to have the right-hander back on the mound in the middle of their exhibition schedule, although there are no guarantees.
Tigers
Detroit reliever Ugueth Urbina reported to spring training, less than a week after his kidnapped mother was rescued in Venezuela after five months in captivity. Urbina didn't speak to reporters upon his arrival. He left the Tigers in September to travel to Venezuela after his mother's disappearance.
Diamondbacks
After six months of investigation and deliberation, commissioner Bud Selig has given his approval to former agent Jeff Moorad becoming a part-owner of the Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks raised eyebrows among other owners when they proposed making a man who was one of the most prominent player agents in the game a partner.
Nationals
Even though Terrmel Sledge wasn't punished by Major League Baseball when he tested positive for steroids two years ago, the damage to his reputation was more than enough to drive the point home.
"It hurt my family when that came out," the Washington outfielder said at training camp. "And I'll never put them through that again."
Sledge tested positive for a steroid found in an over-the-counter medicine during a training camp for the U.S. Olympic team in October 2003. He was banned from international competition for two years, but he was not sanctioned by Major League Baseball because penalties for steroid use did not take effect until last year.
Braves
Raul Mondesi showed up to Atlanta's camp early, which seems a good sign. Mondesi is on his seventh different organization since 1999. Last season Mondesi managed to get released twice -- first by the Pirates, then by Anaheim -- for going absent.
First Published: February 23, 2005, 5:00 a.m.