Barry Bonds says he deserves Hall of Fame election

Barry Bonds certainly thinks he's worthy of election to the Hall of Fame.

"Without a doubt," baseball's home run king said yesterday at the San Francisco Giants' spring training camp, where he will serve as a hitting instructor for a week.

The 49-year-old Bonds spent his last 15 big-league seasons with San Francisco, finishing in 2007 with 762 homers.

But his final years were clouded by suspicions of performance-enhancing drug use, and the seven-time NL MVP was convicted of one obstruction count in April 2011 by a jury that found an answer he gave was criminally evasive during 2003 testimony before a grand jury investigating the distribution of PEDs.

And he didn't come close to election to the Hall in his first two turns on the ballot.

Advice for the writers who have not voted for him: "You guys are all adults. I have no advice for you."

One topic he wouldn't discuss: Alex Rodriguez, who is serving a season-long drug suspension. Bonds said he respects Rodriguez and will talk to him individually, "not in a press conference."

Bonds looked about 30 pounds lighter than his playing weight of 230 and was considerably more affable.

Meeting with about three dozen media for about 30 minutes on a patio overlooking the leftfield area at Scottsdale Stadium, Bonds wanted to put the controversy past behind him.

"It feels really good to be back," Bonds said. "It feels good to give back to the game that I love. Hopefully, I'll be a part of this longer . . . I'm enjoying it.

"I am more nervous at this than I was playing, because it was only my mind and me. Hopefully I can bring good value to the ballclub. We'll see how it works out," he added. "I don't even know if I'm good at it."