Bonds Primed for a Special Year

After belting his 735th homer and first of the year on Wednesday night, Barry Bonds finds himself only 21 homers away from breaking Hank Aaron's record of 755.

The nightly ESPN ticker of the "Barry Bonds Home Run Chase" has begun with a bang. On a 2-2 count, Bonds sent a shot to left-center just over the wall off Padres pitcher Chris Young on Wednesday night.

Bonds' opposite field shot proved that his knees are good to go and will be knocking on Hammerin' Hanks' door sooner than later this year. With the support of the city of San Francisco, Bonds will be sure to hear the chants of "Barry! Barry!" all season long on his chase.

If that isn't proof enough that Bonds is healthy and ready to rock n' roll then his hustling, sprawling catch down the third base line to rob Marcus Giles of a double does. The catch also saved a run and a Giants lead at the time. Although the Giants fell, their star, and the biggest Giant of them all showed he's back.

Coming into this season, Bonds was coming off a tough year surrounded by scrutiny, constant steroid controversy including the ongoing government investigation by George Mitchell, and reestablishing power in his knees. Bonds went through a trio of knee surgeries in 2005 and only accumulated 42 at bats and 5 HRs. Last year, he returned with 26 bombs and 77 RBIs in 367 AB. However, in his last 30 games, Bonds was on a torrid pace. He launched 10 long balls, knocked in 26 runs, and hit .368.

With an off-season to get back into shape, the 7-time NL MVP used it wisely by rehabilitating his knee to 100 percent. Bonds even dominated spring training hitting seven clouts in only 45 AB.

If anything is clear, it is that the slugger of San Francisco is back, and back to break a sacred record. Hammerin' Hank Aaron's record-breaking homer to past Babe Ruth was celebrated throughout baseball and America. The only thing that scares me is that MLB and commissioner Bud Selig fail to recognize this historic achievement. For everyone's sake, it would be perfect if Bonds hit the record-breaker in his protective bay.

Whatever steroid allegations and controversies surround Bonds must be left as allegations and nothing more. There still has been no proof and until there is, Bonds must be celebrated. He holds single-season records in some impressive categories: 73 homers in 2001, 232 walks in 04', 120 intentional walks in '04, .609 on-base percentage in '04, .863 slugging percentage in '01, and a 6.52 HR ratio in '01. Bonds also has 18 seasons of at least 20 clouts in his 21-year career. On top of all that, Bonds led the Giants to the NL penant in 2002 and his 1st World Series apperance. In the 2002 playoffs, Bonds hit a jaw-dropping eight homers with four coming in the World Series.

The numbers speak for themselves, so when Bonds' hits 755 and 756 be sure to say congratulations because regardless of speculation, Bonds is the greatest hitter of all-time and arguably the greatest player.

Barry Lamar Bonds I salute you for your accomplishments now and into the future. I've been a fan of Bonds since my childhood, when I traded all my Ken Griffey Jr. baseball cards to my oldest brother Steve, for all his Barry Bonds'.

Without this steroid controversy, those could have been the greatest trades ever. Both are Hall of Fame bound, but I would rather have close to a hundred cards of the home run King.

Oh hell, "Barry!Barry!"