San Francisco Giants open to bigger relationship with Barry Bonds

Willie Mays took the field one more time Friday. Mays joined the San Francisco Giants’ four other living Hall of Famers — Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry — in a ceremony before Game 3 of the World Series.

Barry Bonds might have been there too. He broke Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record here in 2007 but, amid allegations of steroid use, the Baseball Writers Assn. of America so far has declined to elect Bonds into the Hall of Fame.

Commissioner Bud Selig did not attend Bonds’ record-breaking game, opting to issue a statement that started with the word “congratulations” and included the words “controversy” and “innocent until proven guilty.” With Selig set to retire in January, the Giants could expand their embrace of Bonds.

They took initial steps this year, inviting him to spring training as a guest instructor for the first time, then asking him to throw out the first pitch before Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. He was greeted with a standing ovation.

Bonds is not expected to participate in any World Series ceremonies, Giants spokeswoman Staci Slaughter said.

Aaron politely declined to discuss whatever role Bonds might have with the Giants.

“I don’t want to talk about that,” Aaron said Friday.

Giants President Larry Baer said the team has a “cordial” relationship with Bonds but has yet to discuss a possible role for Bonds next season.

“We’re open to more,” Baer said.

Mike Morse, who hit the game-tying home run in the NLCS clincher, said he had adjusted his mechanics based on a tip Bonds gave him before the game. Bonds drew raves for his work in spring training.

General Manager Brian Sabean said he expects Bonds to return next spring. Mays and other retired Giants greats visit the clubhouse often, and Sabean said he would be happy if Bonds wished to do the same next season. Bonds recently moved from Los Angeles to the Bay Area.

“He would be welcome if he’s available,” Sabean said.

Morse told a story this week of how he talked hitting with Mays, all the while casting an eye on the paper on which Mays was writing.

“All I could think about was saving the piece of paper,” Morse said, “but he crumpled it up after and threw it away. I was like, ‘ah, man.’

“To me, it’s amazing to see guys like that coming around the locker room. It’s just to me it makes such a winning tradition and a great atmosphere.”

Watered down

Did the Giants take a page out of their historical playbook?

The team that watered down the San Francisco basepaths to slow down Maury Wills and the Dodgers a half-century ago appeared to use the same strategy against the speedy Royals — according to the Royals, at least.

“It was watered down. It was sandy out there,” Kansas City outfielder Jarrod Dyson said. “When I took off, I left a big divot in the ground. They’re just trying to slow our running game down. Typical move. We’re not surprised by it.”

Outfielder Lorenzo Cain said the infield had “a lot of sand” and called the surface “soft.”

Said Cain: “It didn’t affect us at all. It’s their field. They can do what they want.”

Dyson said the Detroit Tigers have watered down the Comerica Park infield against the Royals.

The Royals have not stolen a base during the first three games of the World Series. They stole seven in the one-game wild-card playoff against the Oakland Athletics, five in the three-game division series against the Angels, and one in the four-game American League Championship Series against the Baltimore Orioles.