Recent MRI showed more swelling in right kneeAssociated Press
SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds doesn't expect to play this season because of his injured right knee, putting the San Francisco slugger's quest for the career home run record on hold until at least 2006.
Bonds
"I don't think you're going to see me out there this year," Bonds told MLB.com on Monday. "That's the reality of the situation. I'm improving. I'm happy with the progress. I'm working out hard on the exercise bike and the elliptical machine, but I'm just not there yet. The last thing I want is to get back on the field and be out again a week later."
Bonds said a recent MRI showed some fluid building up in the knee that has been operated on three times since Jan. 31. He said his doctors advised him to wait until next year to return to the Giants.
"He has not informed the Giants of that decision," assistant general manager Ned Colletti told The Associated Press.
Bonds has been rehabbing at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles under the care of physical therapist Clive Brewster and longtime Angels orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum.
Giants spokesman Jim Moorehead said general manager Brian Sabean spoke to Brewster as recently as last Friday and was given no indication that Bonds had a setback that would keep him from returning to action this year. Moorehead said Sabean would have no further comment until he heard otherwise from doctors.
A phone message left for Bonds' publicist, Rachael Vizcarra, wasn't immediately returned Monday night.
Bonds has 703 home runs, third on the career list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755).
Just last month, Bonds was more optimistic when he joined the team for a road trip in Los Angeles, where he has been rehabbing the knee. On his personal Web site two weeks ago, Bonds wrote that he was hopeful he could return in September.
But Bonds told MLB.com on Monday that an MRI performed last week by Dr. Arthur Ting showed more swelling in the knee.
"The doctors say it's wise for me to work out hard this winter and be ready to go next season," Bonds said. "I want to be out there and play the whole year.
"I'm just going to listen to what the doctors tell me. The doctors are telling me to let it heal, so I'm going to let it heal."
The 41-year-old Bonds now hopes to be ready for Opening Day in 2006, the final season of his contract with the Giants.
"That's what my goal is right now and I expect to be ready," he said. "But the doctors are telling me playing this year might put that in jeopardy, that I could undo any gains I've already made. No matter how much I want to play, I'm not going to let that happen."
The Giants (45-59) have struggled mightily without Bonds, but are still only 5? games behind Arizona and San Diego in the weak NL West. The Giants hoped their star slugger could return in time to help them make a playoff push.
"I know I could help if I was out there," he said. "This is my life. This is my career -- on the baseball field. But right now, I can't help and it's killing me."
Bonds batted .362 last season with 45 homers and 101 RBI and walked a major league-record 232 times on the way to his record seventh MVP award.
His most recent operation was May 2 to drain fluid and examine an infection.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds doesn't expect to play this season because of his injured right knee, putting the San Francisco slugger's quest for the career home run record on hold until at least 2006.
Bonds
"I don't think you're going to see me out there this year," Bonds told MLB.com on Monday. "That's the reality of the situation. I'm improving. I'm happy with the progress. I'm working out hard on the exercise bike and the elliptical machine, but I'm just not there yet. The last thing I want is to get back on the field and be out again a week later."
Bonds said a recent MRI showed some fluid building up in the knee that has been operated on three times since Jan. 31. He said his doctors advised him to wait until next year to return to the Giants.
"He has not informed the Giants of that decision," assistant general manager Ned Colletti told The Associated Press.
Bonds has been rehabbing at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles under the care of physical therapist Clive Brewster and longtime Angels orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum.
Giants spokesman Jim Moorehead said general manager Brian Sabean spoke to Brewster as recently as last Friday and was given no indication that Bonds had a setback that would keep him from returning to action this year. Moorehead said Sabean would have no further comment until he heard otherwise from doctors.
A phone message left for Bonds' publicist, Rachael Vizcarra, wasn't immediately returned Monday night.
Bonds has 703 home runs, third on the career list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Hank Aaron (755).
Just last month, Bonds was more optimistic when he joined the team for a road trip in Los Angeles, where he has been rehabbing the knee. On his personal Web site two weeks ago, Bonds wrote that he was hopeful he could return in September.
But Bonds told MLB.com on Monday that an MRI performed last week by Dr. Arthur Ting showed more swelling in the knee.
"The doctors say it's wise for me to work out hard this winter and be ready to go next season," Bonds said. "I want to be out there and play the whole year.
"I'm just going to listen to what the doctors tell me. The doctors are telling me to let it heal, so I'm going to let it heal."
The 41-year-old Bonds now hopes to be ready for Opening Day in 2006, the final season of his contract with the Giants.
"That's what my goal is right now and I expect to be ready," he said. "But the doctors are telling me playing this year might put that in jeopardy, that I could undo any gains I've already made. No matter how much I want to play, I'm not going to let that happen."
The Giants (45-59) have struggled mightily without Bonds, but are still only 5? games behind Arizona and San Diego in the weak NL West. The Giants hoped their star slugger could return in time to help them make a playoff push.
"I know I could help if I was out there," he said. "This is my life. This is my career -- on the baseball field. But right now, I can't help and it's killing me."
Bonds batted .362 last season with 45 homers and 101 RBI and walked a major league-record 232 times on the way to his record seventh MVP award.
His most recent operation was May 2 to drain fluid and examine an infection.
