Bonds unfazed by grand jury

Barry Bonds strolled into the clubhouse Saturday wearing a green shirt, black pants and a wide smile. Within months, his name could be preceded not by “major league home run leader” but by “criminal defendant.”

“Do I look concerned?” he said.

That is how Bonds answered the question of whether he was concerned that the grand jury investigating him might soon hand down an indictment. Asked to directly answer whether he was concerned, Bonds said, “No.”

The term of the grand jury, scheduled to expire this month, has been extended another six months, and a federal indictment on perjury and/or tax evasion charges could come as soon as September, the New York Daily News reported Saturday.

“You guys just want more stories about me,” Bonds said. “It’s unreal. It’s unbelievable I have to support my family this way.”

The home run story was put on hold for another day. Bonds struck out, grounded out and walked twice in the San Francisco Giants’ 8-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. He remains two home runs from tying Hank Aaron’s all-time record of 755.

On Friday, Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said Bonds would start two of the three games in Milwaukee. After Bonds started Friday and Saturday, Bochy would not categorically rule Bonds out of today’s game.

“It’s not etched in stone he’s off,” he said. “There’s a good chance.”

Bonds reportedly told a previous grand jury he had taken substances he did not know to be steroids. A perjury indictment would indicate federal investigators had persuaded the current grand jury they could prove Bonds lied in his testimony.

“I’m not discussing it,” Bonds said. “I have not been discussing it forever, and I will not discuss it.”

He was engaging in discussing other topics with reporters Saturday, turning on a tape recorder as usual and implying a libel suit could follow against anyone misquoting him. He explained himself with a curious choice of words, given the increasing possibility that he could be indicted.

“Let me get my tape out so you all can say what you want,” Bonds said, “and I can see you guys somewhere as the defendant.”

Bonds said he had no desire to talk with Commissioner Bud Selig -- “About what?” -- but said he would respect Selig whether or not he is in attendance for the record-setting home run.

“He’s always been nice to my father,” Bonds said. “He’s always been kind to me. So I like Bud.”

He said he expected his godfather, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, to show up for the milestone home run. If he sets the record and Alex Rodriguez eventually breaks it, Bonds said he would show up.

“I’ll be there, in the front row,” Bonds said, “as long as plane tickets ain’t too ... expensive by all the time that goes by and I still have some money left over.

“Other than that, he can give me some of his $200 million -- plus he’s going to get another couple hundred million -- and he can fly me out there.

“This is our fraternity. If we don’t stand for each other, who’s going to stand for us? And I will stand up for a fellow player regardless of anything.”

Bonds is batting .107 in his last 12 games, with three hits in 28 at-bats. All three hits, including two home runs, came on Thursday, after he did not start the previous three games.

The Giants are hoping Bonds ties and breaks the record at home, but Bonds says he prefers to catch Aaron “as fast as possible.”

“But nobody’s cooperating now,” Bonds said. “Not even myself.”

After batting practice, Bonds accepted a bouquet of flowers from a woman in the stands, then hugged and kissed her.

Mergee Donovan lives in Whitefish Bay, Wis. Eight years ago, after her son underwent open-heart surgery, she slipped a note to Bonds, asking if he might cheer up the boy. Bonds invited the boy to the ballpark the next day, then sent a limousine for the family when the Donovans visited San Francisco.

The boy is fine today. So is Bonds, in the eyes of Donovan. She calls him a “wonderful man” and said anyone portraying him otherwise is wrong.

“I’m a mother,” she said. “He was good to my child.”

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

CHASING AARON

Hank Aaron surpassed Babe Ruth’s home run record of 714 in 1974, and finished with 755. Barry Bonds is closing in on Aarons record:

- Home runs: 753.

- Saturday: 0 for 2, two walks.

- Projected date to break record: Aug. 6, vs. Wash.

- Next for Giants: vs. Brewers today (Claudio Vargas).

- Bonds vs. Vargas: .429 (3 for 7), 0 home runs.