MLB.com:You talked to the Giants about possibly coming back as a coach. What do you envision your role might be for the organization?
Bonds:I’d just like to do what I’m trained to do, and that’s teach players how to hit. I’m an expert at it. I am one of the best experts you will ever find in this game, and I would love to teach professionals about something I’m an expert at doing. I’m not a computer person. I’m trained to do what I do and that’s what I deserve to do.
MLB.com:You don’t want to coach on a day-to-day basis do you?
Bonds:No, I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to be on the bus every day. I don’t mind doing it once in a while. I don’t mind going sometimes, but I don’t want to go on the day-to-day grind. My mind could change when I start doing something. Maybe the guys might need me more out there. It’s going to be based on how it is. I’m not begging for a job. If they don’t like what I’m doing then get rid of me. I’m just saying that it would be a shame for what I know, to what I can give, to what I can offer, to let it go to waste or for me to get too old so I can’t offer it anymore.
MLB.com:Where do the Giants stand in all this?
Bonds: We all basically agree on what we want to do. When you’re behind closed doors communicating you want to keep things private and personal. To me, that’s a good code of ethics. But we both have a good feeling about things. That’s where it stands. Now where it goes? We could’ve had a good feeling at dinner and that’s as far as it went. So there’s no timeline. I just want to get back involved as soon as I can. I just want to help before it’s too late. I can still hit. I can still show and tell. But that’s the way I am. My dad was like that. Willie was like that. I’m hands on. If I can grab a bat at 48 years old and still do it, than son, you better not tell me you can’t do it at 22 years old. If that’s the Giants’ choice not to hire me, it’s OK. I’ll still love them just the same.
Barry M. Bloom is national reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Boomskie on Baseball. Follow @boomskie on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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