Bonds campaigns, then hits 757th

SAN FRANCISCO -- Bonds Watch gave way to Campaign 2008 on Wednesday, when baseball’s newly crowned home run king declared he intends to play next season because his statistics are “good enough.”

After hitting the record 756th home run Tuesday, Bonds was back in the lineup Wednesday, his first step toward persuading the San Francisco Giants or any other team to sign him for next season. In his first at-bat, he hit home run No. 757, into McCovey Cove.

Bonds said he would like to reach 3,000 hits -- he needs 84 more -- and win a World Series championship ring. Yet, the motivation for continuing his career, he said, is simpler.

“My numbers are good enough to play,” Bonds said. “When I feel my numbers are not good enough, when I can’t compete on this level, it’s time to shut it down. My numbers are still in the top whatever of baseball.”

Bonds, 43, is batting .279, ranks first on the Giants and eighth in the National League with 23 home runs, with a ratio of home runs to at-bats second only to defending most valuable player Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies. He leads the league in walks and on-base percentage, and has played in 99 of the Giants’ 112 games.

Manager Bruce Bochy said he wants Bonds back.

“He’s been solid on the field and as a teammate,” Bochy said. “Barry’s been great. He’s done everything I’ve asked. At the end of the year, he’ll probably have close to 30 home runs. Any manager likes guys with 30 home runs.”

Yet, Giants General Manager Brian Sabean was decidedly noncommittal Wednesday. The Giants could let him go and focus on rebuilding their last-place team.

“He’ll be evaluated by what he does over the course of the year and how he finishes,” Sabean said. “If we have a chance to get younger, we’ll pursue that too.”

If the Giants pass, Bonds might have to look for work far from his Beverly Hills home. Owners of other teams could be wary of signing him, for reasons far beyond his statistics.

Bonds remains under federal investigation for perjury and tax evasion. Even if prosecutors choose not to indict him, Bonds would bring along the baggage of reported steroid use and a history of getting booed everywhere outside San Francisco.

The Dodgers and Angels have no interest in Bonds. The San Diego Padres needed a slugger last winter but passed on Bonds for fear he would become the face of their franchise, General Manager Kevin Towers said last week.

The Oakland Athletics considered Bonds when they needed a designated hitter last winter.

“We discussed it briefly among ourselves but thought Barry should and would want to reach his record as a Giant,” A’s owner Lew Wolff said. “I do not think we would be considering him next year, as we want to enhance our team with players who will be with us for an extended period.”

Bonds pronounced himself “exhausted” Wednesday. He did not get to sleep until 1 a.m. after celebrating with friends and family, he said, and then his daughter woke him in the middle of the night.

He said he got about 80 congratulatory calls and spoke with, among others, President Bush, Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees and his first major league manager at Pittsburgh, Jim Leyland, now with the Detroit Tigers.

The pitcher who gave up No. 756, Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals, said he got a lot of calls too.

“None of them from anybody famous,” he said.

He had hoped, he said, to hear from Al Downing, the pitcher who gave up No. 715 to Hank Aaron.

“Obviously, we’re both part of some history,” said Bacsik, who has 10 major league victories to Downing’s 123. “I hope to have as good a career as he had. I know there’s that big moment everyone knows him for, but he was a good pitcher.”

Bacsik graciously endured some good-natured ribbing from his teammates, including infielder Robert Fick, who asked him for an autographed baseball.

“It’s for my sister,” Fick said.

And so he signed: Mike Bacsik, 8-7-07, #756.

--

bill.shaikin@latimes.com