Football
Associated Press 18y

Bonds still the buzz even when not in starting lineup for Giants

HOUSTON -- Barry Bonds remained the buzz of the ballpark a
day after being plunked by Astros reliever Russ Springer -- and the
San Francisco slugger wasn't even in the starting lineup.

Springer? He was out of the state.

Major League Baseball on Wednesday had already begun reviewing
Bonds' at-bat leading off the fifth inning Tuesday night against
Springer, in which the pitcher's first offering sailed behind
Bonds' back to draw a warning from plate umpire Joe West.

The next four pitches all came inside, including one that hit
Bonds' bat handle on the third delivery for strike one. On the
fifth pitch, Springer hit Bonds in the right shoulder as he turned
to protect himself.

After being ejected, Springer left to a standing ovation --
something that deeply disturbed Giants manager Felipe Alou.

Bonds, meanwhile, barely reacted to being hit, calmly taking
first base without a word or a glance toward the right-hander.
Springer took off immediately after the game to be with his wife
when she underwent surgery Wednesday morning in Louisiana.

"It's under investigation. That's all I'll say," Bob Watson,
baseball's vice president for on-field operations, said in a phone
interview. "I've had 45 calls today to see what I was going to
do."

Bonds didn't address it with the media after the game or again
beforehand Wednesday, when he entertained himself by playing cards
with trainer Greg Oliver -- perhaps a brief distraction from the
pressure surrounding his pursuit of Babe Ruth.

The seven-time NL MVP was stalled at 713 homers, one shy of
tying Ruth for second place on the career list behind home run king
Hank Aaron's 755. Bonds is homerless in eight games and 26 at-bats
since a 450-foot shot to right at Philadelphia on May 7.

Bonds had played eight straight days, his longest stretch in the
starting lineup without a break since playing 10 consecutive days
from June 18-27, 2004, though he was available to pinch hit in the
finale of a three-game series with Houston. Alou expects Bonds to
play designated hitter in all three interleague games of a weekend
series at Oakland.

"I've never seen anybody miss that bad on five straight
pitches," Giants reliever Steve Kline said. "If Barry goes out
and throws a punch, then he gets suspended and goes out for a long
time, too. You've got to do the best thing for the team. You're not
going to trade a relief pitcher for an everyday left fielder.

"Barry knows the game. He knows anything he does is under the
microscope. Maybe (commissioner Bud) Selig would suspend him 50
games. Everybody else is after him."

There was added drama when the posted lineup didn't get hung
until more than an hour after it usually goes up, raising suspicion
perhaps Bonds would play after all. Alou said he'd written it much
earlier but bench coach Ron Wotus was outside exercising and that
explained the delay.

Alou expressed disappointment in the Astros' fans who jumped to
their feet in a standing ovation for Springer when he hit Bonds. He
understands that pitchers plunking batters is part of the game, but
thought many in the crowd of 35,286 disrespected the game.

"It bothered me a lot, because a lot of children were
watching," Alou said, noting how Giants fans back in the Bay Area
were two hours behind so children were likely still awake.

"Even the kid who says 'Play ball!' I don't believe that's
playing ball what we saw last night," Alou added. "I'm not
talking about the guy getting hit. I'm talking about the people
giving a standing ovation for that action. ... They've got to be
respectful of the event, too, respect for the show. Find another
way to express your feelings, whatever they are -- not in front of
millions of people."

Astros manager Phil Garner said he didn't expect the Giants to
retaliate and reiterated that he believes Springer did not
intentionally hit Bonds.

Matt Morris, the Giants' starter Wednesday, received a fine last
month along with pitching coach Dave Righetti for their actions
during a game at Colorado a day after Jose Mesa plunked San
Francisco shortstop Omar Vizquel.

Morris was fined for intentionally throwing at Matt Holliday in
the first inning. The right-hander was ejected after throwing only
eight pitches and plunking two of the five batters he faced.

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