PHOENIX -- Barry Bonds had a third operation on his injured
right knee, the latest setback in the slugger's rehabilitation.
Bonds underwent arthroscopic surgery Monday as doctors tried to
clean out an infection, first draining fluids from his knee,
according to a journal entry from Bonds posted on his Web site
Wednesday.
"The surgery went well. Dr. [Arthur] Ting cleaned out the
infected area and they are now treating me with antibiotics,"
Bonds wrote. "I know you have many questions regarding me playing
baseball but right now I have to spend the time focusing on getting
healthy. I've been through ups and downs before and I will be
back."
The surgery was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The newspaper reported Bonds would take antibiotics for at least
two weeks and could not resume his rehab until doctors are assured
the infection is gone.
"It's the third time that he's going to be out longer, so we
are accustomed to that now," Giants manager Felipe Alou said after
a 6-2 loss at Arizona on Wednesday.
San Francisco first baseman J.T. Snow said the team had adjusted
to playing without its superstar. The third-place Giants are 14-13
and entered the day leading the National League in runs scored.
"Go on without him," Snow said. "That's all we can do. The
last time I checked we were near the top in runs scored and our
batting average was up pretty good. Pedro [Feliz] has filled in for
him nicely. There's nothing we can do about it -- he'll be ready
when he's ready."
Bonds already had operations on the knee Jan. 31 and March 17 to
remove damaged cartilage.
The Giants' training staff has stopped giving medical updates on
Bonds, and his agent said Tuesday that Bonds would be back as soon
as possible.
"The day his knee is healthy, he will be back on the field in
uniform," Jeff Borris said.
Bonds has been giving his medical updates on his personal Web
site but did not mention the surgery until Wednesday.
"My original plans were to wait a week before reporting on my
condition so I would have a better idea on how my leg was
responding," Bonds wrote. "Due to informational leaks ... the
media has been contacting my PR firm asking about my status. So,
before any hearsay or false information is reported, I wanted you
to hear about my condition directly from me."
The operation will likely delay Bonds' return and the resumption
of his quest for baseball's career home run record even longer. In
an outburst during spring training, Bonds said he might not be back
for at least half the season, maybe the whole season.
"It hasn't got the same effect on us it had during spring
training, you know," reliever Jeff Fassero said. "We don't know
when he's coming back, and all we can do is play baseball."
The 40-year-old Bonds has 703 career home runs, 11 behind Babe
Ruth and 52 from tying Hank Aaron's career record. Bonds batted
.362 last season with 45 homers and 101 RBIs and also walked a
major league-record 232 times on the way to his record seventh MVP
award.
This is just the third time in his career he's gone on the
disabled list and the first since April 18 to June 9, 1999, as he
recovered from elbow surgery.
Bonds was also dogged by steroid allegations in the offseason.
According to the Chronicle, Bonds testified to a grand jury in
December 2003 that he used a clear substance and a cream given to
him by a trainer who was indicted in a steroid-distribution ring,
but said he didn't know if they were steroids. Prosecutors believe
the substances were two steroids at the center of the BALCO
scandal.