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Bonds' week as coach 'a lot of fun'

Barry Bonds discusses his participation in Giants camp, his persona during his playing days and how he thinks he can help hitters

By Barry M. Bloom and Tyler Emerick
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MLB.com |

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Barry Bonds' one-week stint as special Giants hitting coach ended on a positive note, and he's available to continue at the largess of manager Bruce Bochy.

"You have to take baby steps," Bonds said before the Giants played the Indians at Scottsdale Stadium. "You can accomplish a little bit in seven days. But Rome wasn't built in a week. It's up to Bochy. He needed to see how I responded to the guys, how the guys responded to me.

"It's not what I think, it's what they think. I've hadmy time. I've had my career. Those days are gone. It's about what contribution they think I bring to the organization."

Bonds returned Monday to a well-attended press conference and has spent the rest of the week blending into the fabric of spring camp. It was the first time since Sept. 26, 2007, his last game as an active player, that Bonds donned the Giants uniform in an on-field capacity.

Bochy said Bonds had the anticipated impact this past week. On Monday, Bochy said the Giants would "always have a welcome mat out there for him." He reiterated that Sunday.

"He did great," said Bochy, who managed the now 49-year-old Bonds during his final season and has guided the Giants to a pair of World Series titles since he left. "The