Bonds Back in Bay Area

San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds returned to the Bay Area on Thursday to continue rehabilitating his surgically repaired right knee because the Giants say SBC Park is better suited for him than the team’s spring complex in Scottsdale, Ariz.

There is no timetable for Bonds’ return. The seven-time National League most valuable player said Tuesday he could miss half or all of this season while recovering from the surgery, though the Giants are hoping he’ll be coming back sooner.

“Anybody who thinks Barry Bonds is going to quit doesn’t know Barry Bonds. There’s no way,” trainer Stan Conte said. “When somebody has a second surgery, it’s a little discouraging. And that’s called being a human being.”

Bonds, who has had two operations on his right knee in the last two months and also had surgery on his left knee in October, flew to San Francisco with assistant trainer Dave Groeschner.

Bonds will work in a therapeutic pool at SBC Park that will allow him to do cardiovascular training without putting pressure on the knee.

“You have to appreciate the fact he’s had three knee surgeries since the end of last season and two in the last seven weeks. That takes a lot out of you,” Conte said.

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Sidney Ponson says he hurt his pitching hand fending off a restaurant patron in a shoving match, the second time in three months the Baltimore Oriole right-hander has been involved in a fight.

Ponson’s hand was swollen Thursday, but the injury was not serious.

“I’m good, no problems at all,” he said.

The pitcher said police responded to the scene, but he declined to press charges. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department said it could not comment because charges were not filed.

Ponson, the ace of the Orioles’ staff, spent 11 days in an Aruban jail after a Christmas Day fight at the beach. He apologized and reached a settlement that involves community service and a charitable contribution.

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Texas Ranger reliever Frank Francisco was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right elbow.