Selig Sets Review on Bonds

Amid further allegations that Barry Bonds took steroids for at least five seasons, including one in which he set baseball’s single-season home run record, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said Wednesday his office would review a new book that claims to detail Bonds’ use of performance-enhancing drugs.

At a news conference before a World Baseball Classic game between the United States and Canada, Selig refused to specifically answer questions raised in “Game of Shadows,” an excerpt of which ran in this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated. He also did not say when he would start the investigation, or speculate on his authority to discipline Bonds if the allegations prove to be true.

But baseball officials already have begun their inquiry into the new allegations, according to sources, and Selig could exercise his best-interests-of-the-game powers to suspend Bonds.

The investigators -- Selig mentioned Major League Baseball chief operating officer Bob DuPuy and executive vice presidents Rob Manfred and John McHale Jr. as candidates -- probably would be asked to present their findings by opening day, when Bonds would continue to advance on legendary home run hitters Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron.

“I will review all the material that’s relative in every way,” Selig said. “And, obviously, we’ve only seen parts of things.”

Bonds was absent from San Francisco Giant camp in Scottsdale on Wednesday to attend a custody hearing in Redwood City, Calif. He said Tuesday he had not read the excerpted portion of “Game of Shadows” -- written by San Francisco Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams -- and did not comment on the contents. He previously has denied using steroids.

His attorney, Michael Rains, issued a six-paragraph statement Wednesday in which he questioned the integrity of the book’s sources, including Bonds’ former girlfriend, Kimberly Bell.

“Some of the other prominent but ‘anonymous sources’ surfaced during the BALCO investigation, and we understand that reporting their identity would also expose their lack of credibility,” Rains wrote in the statement. “The exploitation of Barry’s good name and these attempts to eviscerate his sensational accomplishments in all phases of the game of baseball ... may make those responsible wealthy, but in the end, they need to live with themselves. Beyond this -- Barry has no further comment now nor in the foreseeable future.”

Selig stood by baseball’s rigorous steroid policy, and said thus far there was little hard evidence against Bonds, who has never tested positive for steroids. Baseball began testing for steroids in 2003.

“Until all the facts are known, until I’ve really been thorough and looked at everything -- after all, he’s denied, [and] continues to deny,” Selig said. “And so, therefore, I really believe it’s inappropriate for me to comment on any of that in any way, shape, form or manner.

“I understand the concern of trying to pass judgment ... but I just am not going to do that until we know everything there is to know.”

Selig said he had no plans yet to meet with Bonds, and it is unclear what role -- if any -- the players’ association would have in such an inquiry.

“Given everything that’s come out, I can’t sit here and tell you today, ‘Well, that’s fine,’ ” Selig said. “This is interesting. I believe, as I would do on every subject that I felt in any way involves the game, reflects the game, I would do this. And that’s what I’m doing.”

The immediate impact of the allegations remained hazy, given Bonds’ and San Francisco Giant officials’ reluctance to address the allegations in the book. But Bonds is expected back in camp today, where he will continue to rehabilitate a chronically sore right knee. Giant Manager Felipe Alou said he expected Bonds to play for the first time this spring “very soon,” presumably over the weekend, with his early at-bats as a designated hitter.

Giants’ players, even new ones, have become immune to the near daily commotion around Bonds.

“It’s easy for us to go about our business every day,” Mark Sweeney said Wednesday morning. “We go out there and do our job. It’s not a big deal.”

Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, whose book, “Clearing the Bases,” is due out Tuesday, said he would continue to give Bonds the benefit of the doubt, both in terms of his records and Hall-of-Fame candidacy.

“I’m like everybody else,” Schmidt said. “I read it and hear it, and I have to control myself on how I react to it, because he’s a fellow baseball player.

“Anything else would be an opinion we’ve formed based on what someone else wrote.”

Asked whether Bonds belongs in the Hall of Fame, he said, “Uh, yeah, at this point in time I want to be consistent.... Barry Bonds is a serious Hall of Famer. I don’t know of any evidence other than some stuff that’s been in a book.”