Bonds has day off from batting practice

SAN FRANCISCO - Barry Bonds had a day off from taking batting practice Wednesday because of a logistical issue, the San Francisco Giants said.

Bonds continued his regular workouts in Los Angeles under the direction of renowned Angels orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum and physical therapist Clive Brewster, and the team is optimistic it could have the slugger back soon.

"It was not a setback and he will resume batting practice tomorrow," Giants spokesman Blake Rhodes said.

The seven-time NL MVP is recovering from three operations on his troublesome right knee since Jan. 31.

Manager Felipe Alou said he didn't want to predict anything until he could speak to Bonds when the team is in Los Angeles for a three-game series at Dodger Stadium early next week.

"I hope he feels better than he did," Alou said. "We saw him take batting practice in spring training, and he was launching balls over the back drop in center field. I want to wait until I actually see Barry practicing with the team."

Alou doesn't expect Bonds will need to face live pitching before playing in his first game of the season and resuming his chase of Hank Aaron's home run record.

"There are many ways to take batting practice," Alou said. "He wouldn't need live pitching to draw an intentional walk."

Last week, the 41-year-old Bonds began sprinting and cutting at the UCLA track. Bonds has 703 home runs, third on the career list behind Babe Ruth (714) and Aaron (755).

Carlton Fisk's 53 homers are the most any player has hit after turning 41, and that is exactly the number Bonds needs to break Aaron's record.

Bonds batted.362 last season with 45 homers and 101 RBIs and walked a major league-record 232 times on the way to his record seventh MVP award.

His most recent operation was May 2 to drain fluid and examine an infection.