European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 13, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 40 stars and stripes july 2007 Bonds embracing drama As he closes in on 756 giants surge would add to record he by Janie Mccauley the associated press san Francisco Barry Bonds knows Hes going to enjoy his Home run Chase much More if the san Francisco giants Start winning for the slugger refuses to think about How hell feel As he closes in on Hank Aarons Mark of Hes four away from tying Aaron heading into a three game Home series against the rival los Angeles dodgers starting Friday Bonds acknowledges it still could take several or even More than a that Means it might take until after his 43rd birthday on july in really not there i think when you get to ill really feel Bonds said during the Allstar then it just depends How Many games Are but in not so i might make you wait til next you know in so Why not make it More drama the drama will certainly increase soon As in lots of additional National Media members who plan to join the travel ing tour following he last connected july 3 at his 17th of the sea after three games against the the giants head to Chicago for a fou game series at Wrigley Field starting monday Fol Lowed by a three game weekend series with the Brewers in Bonds recent Milestone Home runs have come in the warm confines of san Francisco waterfront where fans cheered him at every Chance during tuesdays Allstar he is be loved in the Bay area despite the steroid everybody expects hell break Aarons record at Pitcher Friendly you think i have that kind of time to do that Bonds this Ballpark int that they aint going to throw the Ball in his 22nd major league season and 15th with san played in 78 of the giants first 86 Hes been healthy except for a Short bout of Shin splints that sidelined him for two games at Arizona last month and some Normal sore Ness in his this is a far cry from the past two sea he appeared in 130 games in 2006 and Only 14 the previous year after three operations on his troublesome right in surprised at myself right Bonds to Only miss eight or nine games right now throughout the season is pretty and i dont feel drained and firs year giants manager Bruce Bochy who watched Bonds hit Many homers off his padres in 12 seasons As san Diego skipper called Bonds play the biggest Bright spot of a disappointing first it would have been a Surprise to say hed play 76 Bochy Hes played a his Knees have Felt Good for the most and his that Why Hes been out Ive been Able to play Barry a we cant just count on san Francisco is in last place in the no West at 10y2 games behind the firs place the giants Haven made the playoffs since one year after falling in seven games to the Angels in the world the bad thing is were 10 games Bonds the Good is were going to turn it around in the second Kevork Barry Bonds said it might take a month to hit five More Home runs and break the san Francisco will need a lot More from players other than Bonds to do the seven time no map is batting tied for tops on the team with Ryan Klesko with a team est 17 homers and 42 he also has drawn 91 30 of those the walks will probably keep no Pitcher wants to be the Guy who gives up the historic Homer and be attached to Bonds ill pitch to said dodgers Pitcher Brad scheduled to Start saturdays game in san but i Hope not to be in that i dont want it to be Hes taken me the treatment of Bonds was mixed in Louis last fans at Busch stadium booed each time 25 touched the Ball in left Field and whenever he stepped into the batters but they also hollered at their own pitchers when Bonds was there going to come to see the show no matter Bonds i went to go see Batman and i like the and wanted him to get i still went to see the Bonds has repeatedly said he will play beyond whether or not he catches hammering Hank this if i come up i come up and if i get past i get past Bonds but in going to give my honest Effort to my ability that gods Given he also has career hits on his and when Bonds puts his mind to he usually does if you Cut your sights you might As Well because now that desire in you is Bonds in not chasing my sights past Ive got some my skills aint that in going to you know if i walk away from the game know ing i can still play the i  have a Happy i have to walk away when i know i cant do it so i can be free with it major league baseball scoreboard american league East division w l pet of Boston 53 34 Toronto 43 44 10 new York 42 43 10 Baltimore 38 49 15 Tampa Bay 34 53 19 Central division Detroit 52 34 Cleveland 52 36 1 Minnesota 45 43 8 Chicago 39 47 13 Kansas City 38 50 15 West division los Angeles 53 35 Seattle 49 36 2vi Oakland 44 44 9 Texas 38 50 15 wednesdays games no games scheduled thursdays games Toronto at Boston Chicago White sox at Baltimore Yankees at Tampa Bay Oakland at Minnesota Detroit at Seattle fridays games Toronto Marcum 43 at Boston Tavarez 57 Kansas City Perez 48 at Cleveland West Brook 14 Chicago White sox Buehrle 64 at Balti More Bedard 74 Yankees Clemens 23 at Tampa Bay Kazmire Oakland Haren 103 at Minnesota Tana 106 Detroit Bonderman 91 at Seattle Wash Burn 86 Texas Millwood 67 at Angels saturdays games Toronto at Boston Kansas City at Cleveland Chicago White sox at Baltimore Yankees at Tampa Bay Oakland at Minnesota Texas at Angels Detroit at Seattle sundays Kansas City at Chicago White sox at Baltimore Yankees at Tampa Bay Toronto at Boston Oakland at Minnesota Texas at Angels Detroit at Seattle National league East division w l pet go new York 48 39 Atlanta 47 42 2 Philadelphia 44 44 4v4 Florida 42 47 7 Washington 36 52 12v4 Central division Milwaukee 49 39 Chicago 44 43 Louis 40 45 7tt Pittsburgh 40 48 9 Houston 39 50 1016 Cincinnati 36 52 13 West division san Diego 49 38 los Angeles 49 40 1 Arizona 47 43 Colorado 44 44 5vi san Francisco 38 48 10v4 wednesdays game no games scheduled thursdays game Cincinnati at mets fridays games Houston Jennings 14 at Chicago cubs Zambrano 107 Washington Bergmann 15 at Florida Wil Lis 77 Louis 311 at Philadelphia mover 77 Cincinnati Belisle 56 at mets Maine 104 Pittsburgh Snell 75 at Atlanta 85 Colorado Francis 85 at Milwaukee sheets 104 san Diego Maddux 76 at Arizona Davis 510 dodgers Lowe 88 at san Francisco Cain 39 saturdays games Houston at Chicago cubs dodgers at san Francisco Louis at Philadelphia Pittsburgh at Atlanta san Diego at Arizona Pittsburgh at Atlanta Washington at Florida Cincinnati at mets Colorado at Milwaukee Houston at Chicago dodgers at san Francisco san Diego at Arizona St Lou sat Philadelphia on deck most division races Are tight on from Back Page Star Albert Pujols was upset that la the no didst use him in the Allstar the 2005 map merely watched when Aaron Rowand flied out with the bases loaded to end the Pujols and the cardinals beat Detroit last year in the world be and the tigers Are Back in the Hunt Detroit leads the Al regarded by Many As the Best Divi Sion in the and Sec on place Cleveland is in front for the wild which charged to the division title last is eight Back of the to aces Sabathia of Cleve Justin Verlander of Detroit and Johan Santana of Minnesota also Are Strong contenders for the by Young we treated water pretty said tigers manager Jim whose team could get a boost when injured relievers Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya we need to get some things ironed out in the Sec Ond they went through a lot in the first but this stuff is just revving up the second half you can smell it september is coining up and its toward the finish John Mclaren mariners manager Seattle won three of four at Oak land to close out the first half and is just Iva games behind Cleve land for the wild new Man Ager John promoted when Mike Hargrove abruptly re tired july Doest see Why his team cant be a Factor late in the the second half you can smell it he september is coming up and its toward the Fin ish i look Forward to going the and doing what you have to do to get into the play our goal is to make the play offs and go from All three races in the no Are with just games total separating the first two teams in each the West features four teams All within 5v2 games of the with Giles and the padres leading the dodgers by one weve got a Tough everybody beating up on every so its really Tough for peo ple to distance but its nothing the past couple of so Well be ready to Giles the who ran away with the no East last have weath ered some Early season struggles to take a sum two game Lead Over Atlanta at the they could get a lift from the return of Pedro who had rotator cuff fall and is just two strikeouts shy of for his Ca several hitters Are eyeing big Griffey will get to 600 homers with 14 in the second Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez also could get to 500 with big second and then theres batting with 17 homers and on the Brink of baseballs most revered look at his numbers and there pretty giants manager Bruce Bochy there still walking what would his numbers be it Hast been a great first half for but barrys done a Nice his num Bers at 42 Are pretty