Grief Doesn’t Stop Bonds

A winter without his father beside him in the batting cage weighed more heavily on Barry Bonds’ mind this off-season than his connection to a lab at the center of an alleged steroid ring.

“It’s been difficult,” the slugger said Monday, sitting in the dugout at soggy Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona. “Just hard all the way around. I broke down a couple times in the batting cage just due to the fact he wasn’t with me. He’s been my coach my whole life.”

Bonds, surrounded by reporters on his first day at spring training, appeared in December before a grand jury probing the supplements lab accused of illegally distributing steroids to dozens of athletes. The six-time National League most valuable player has repeatedly denied using steroids.

“They can test me every day if they choose to,” said Bonds, who is right around his 228-pound playing weight.

After last season, Bonds seriously considered walking away from baseball for good, unable to imagine playing without his dad’s support. Bobby Bonds, who had been ill for nearly a year with lung cancer and a brain tumor, died in August at age 57.

But the Giant slugger pushed on, at the urging of his mother, wife and godfather, Willie Mays.

“I couldn’t hit. I didn’t want to go in the cage. I didn’t want to swing the bat,” Bonds said. “I really didn’t want any part of it for a while.”

Now, another important member of Bonds’ supporting cast, trainer Greg Anderson, won’t be around. Anderson was among four men charged this month in an alleged steroid-distribution ring that federal prosecutors said had supplied professional athletes with banned substances.

“I feel bad for him,” said Bonds, who turns 40 this summer. “I feel sad. We grew up together. We’re friends. It’s unfortunate what he’s having to go through.”

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Eli Marrero and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a contract extension through the 2005 season.

The catcher/outfielder, obtained from St. Louis in December, would have been eligible for free agency after the season. The deal could be worth as much as $6.8 million over two years. Marrero, 30, batted .224 with two homers and 20 RBIs in only 107 at-bats last season, sitting out 101 games because of a torn ligament in his right ankle.

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The St. Louis Cardinals claimed left-hander Luis Martinez off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers. Martinez, recently cleared in a shooting in the Dominican Republic, was the Brewers’ minor league pitcher of the year last season.

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Raul Mondesi passed his physical, and the Pittsburgh Pirates finalized their contract with the free-agent outfielder.

Mondesi, 33, hit .272 with 24 homers, 71 RBIs and 22 steals in 143 games with the New York Yankees and Arizona last year.

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Former major league umpire Al Clark pleaded guilty at Newark, N.J., to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with selling baseballs he falsely claimed had been used in memorable games.

The 56-year-old Clark had claimed some of the balls were used during games in which Cal Ripken Jr. tied and broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games record. Clark remained free on $50,000 bail and is to be sentenced June 3. He also must pay $40,000 restitution to victims of the scheme as part of his plea agreement.

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Esteban Loaiza passed on the chance to start the season opener for the Chicago White Sox to repay a favor to Mark Buehrle, who gave up his final start last season for Loaiza.

Buehrle, who will start his third opener in a row, gave up his final turn last year so Loaiza could bid to join Fernando Valenzuela as the only Mexican-born pitchers to win 21 games.

Loaiza beat Kansas City, finishing 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA.

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Minnesota Manager Ron Gardenhire has selected Brad Radke to start the opener against Cleveland on April 5.