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Tuesday, September 11
Updated: September 13, 1:38 AM ET
 
Bonds' quest takes backseat to attacks

Associated Press

HOUSTON -- Barry Bonds was hitting home runs at Enron Field on Wednesday on a beautiful day for baseball.

Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds' pursuit of Mark McGwire's home run record remains at a standstill.

But there was no game and the homers didn't add to Bonds season total of 63 in his pursuit of the major league home run record on a day when the talk was more of terrorism than of baseball.

"If you could pull off hijacking four planes in one day, I imagine you could bomb a stadium," Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell said.

Instead of playing the second game of their scheduled three-game series, the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros held workouts as baseball remained on hold by terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Bonds, who needs seven home runs to tie Mark McGwire's record 70 homers, hit several towering homers, including two beyond the upper deck in right-center.

He declined to talk after the workout, but Giants manager Dusty Baker recognized the threat of terrorism at sports venues -- especially with a marquee player like Bonds.

"There are always concerns but you can't live your life in fear either," Baker said. "You have to live your life and if someone wants to get you, they'll get you."

Baker doesn't like the idea of terrorism stopping baseball.

"You hate to have something like this," Baker said. "It's already stopped Wall Street, shut down the economy and put a little paranoia and fear in people.

"You hate to give them the satisfaction of shutting everything down."

Bagwell agreed with the game cancellations. At least, for now.

"Here in Houston when you see something like that happen you don't feel a part of it because you're not there," Bagwell said.

"If I was a Yankee taking the field tonight or tomorrow night, I'd feel nervous not only for myself but all fans, that's a prime target. Those people (terrorists) have problems, taking out innocent people like that."

Astros reliever Billy Wagner also felt concern for fans.

"After seeing what went on, how can you not be concerned?" Wagner asked. "They targeted the Pentagon. If they aren't afraid of that, then they aren't scared to come after Enron Field."

"We are not rocket scientists. We're not doing anything for the greater good. We're just baseball players. But there are people who come to these games that do make a difference."

Players have been languishing at their hotel since the attacks. Getting into Enron Field for a workout was a treat.

Astros manager Larry Dierker would like to see the game schedule resume as soon as possible.

"I can't imagine being held hostage by potential terrorism and doing away with football, basketball and everything that draws a crowd," Dierker said.

"Everybody has their own feelings how to react. I don't want to seem cold or uncaring but anytime I have a problem, I want to get beyond it and move on. How long is appropriate? I don't know the answer to that."

Baker isn't sure when the season should resume.

"You don't know until you get there and besides, they didn't ask me," Baker said. "I'm just the foreman of the shop. If it's Friday, that's what we'll do."





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