The key subjects for Bonds are health and history

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Looking thinner, happier, and certainly healthier than in the past two seasons when he fought off knee and elbow injuries, Barry Bonds didn't reveal much in his first day of workouts with the San Francisco Giants yesterday.

But one thing is certain. After all the finger-pointing and accusations he's dealt with over the government's BALCO probe, if the 42-year-old slugger could still put up Bonds-like power numbers -- at an age at which no major leaguer has ever hit more than 18 homers -- that would be his sweetest revenge.

"I know I can do better than that," said Bonds.

Putting aside the steroid allegations, Bonds has been a special athlete, in his prime a five-tool player. He needs 22 homers to break Hank Aaron's all-time mark, and he kidded yesterday about possibly playing until he's 100. Bonds, who began his press conference joking and upbeat, grew increasingly agitated by questions regarding the government's case.

"That's all right," he said. "Let them investigate. They've been doing it this long. I'm not concerned about it. I leave it up to you guys to make those assessments."

Bonds has been outright defiant on the subject, and this offseason came word that he'd tested positive for amphetamines. At first he said he had taken something from teammate Mark Sweeney's locker. Bonds later apologized to Sweeney.

But those stories will be in the background; the story will be the home run record.

Bonds said that once spring training games begin, he'll be better able to assess his physical status and how much he'll be able to do. Bonds worked out 5-6 hours a day at UCLA this offseason, and as one Giants official put it, "This year isn't just about Barry breaking the home run record. It's about Barry showing everyone he can be a great player again without steroids hanging over his head."

All the working out, the good health, and the good karma Bonds seems to be enjoying (he said he felt "very happy") doesn't overshadow the fact that the Giants tried desperately to rid themselves of the headache; they were willing to trade for Manny Ramírez.

But when that didn't happen, the Giants had little choice but to bring Bonds back, putting major provisions in his $15.8 million deal, including language that would relieve the team from paying him if he should be imprisoned and instructions for him to keep his entourage out of the clubhouse.

None of it will matter if father time has caught up to him before the feds.

Bonds wants to age gracefully, unlike his godfather, Willie Mays, who was a shadow of himself in his last days with the New York Mets.

The Giants have made a lot of changes around Bonds, bringing in Rich Aurilia, who will bat third ahead of him, and adding former Red Sox outfielder Dave Roberts as the leadoff hitter. Second baseman Ray Durham will hit fifth, behind Bonds. That doesn't constitute major protection for him in the lineup, but when healthy, Bonds tends to hit the only mistake a pitcher makes out of the ballpark.

"I feel a lot better, I feel good," said Bonds, who gave a 12-minute interview after a batting practice session in which he brought out a folding chair so he could sit between sets of swings.

"I did a lot more running. My knee started to feel better. Toward the end of the season last year, I started to feel better and got back to a more normal routine. I had to calm down my knee to help my legs."

He had elbow surgery right after last season. The knee is better. He still has aches and pains, and there's no telling how much he can play in left field. The Giants would be thrilled if he appears in 130 games.

As for his pursuit of Aaron, he said, "What's gonna happen is gonna happen. I'm going to go out there and play hard.

"I'm going to go out there and play baseball like I always have. Go out there and work hard. Hopefully everything works out. If the record gets in the way, it gets in the way."

Bonds has found a new friend in $126 million man Barry Zito, whose locker is next to Bonds's. They worked out together this offseason. Zito said part of the reason his locker is next to Bonds's is so he can deflect some of the media attention.

"There are a few reasons I'm here," said Zito, "but dispersing the load [of media interviews] is a big part of it."

He went on to say what a "good guy" Bonds is and how much the Giants want Bonds to go out on top if this is his final season.

Bonds even went forward with an idea for T-shirts, which he and Zito sported yesterday. The backs read, "Don't ask me . . . ask Barry," with arrows pointing to each other.

It was unusual to see Bonds without his entourage, but he said it will be with him outside the clubhouse during the season to help him stretch before games.

Bonds said he is focused on making sure he's on the same page with new manager Bruce Bochy.

"Right now, I'm just looking to jell with the team we have and to get a good rapport with our manager and start from there because that's where it all starts," he said. "Once we're able to jell together and do things together and figure out what our manager's expectations are for us, we'll be on the right path."

And so the Bonds watch begins. The home run record appears a formality. A great season? Don't bet against it. Bonds has enough revenge stored up for a lifetime.

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com.