Bonds enjoying ASU's College WS run
06/22/2005 11:14 PM ETBy Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com
SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants slugger Barry Bonds hasn't been excited about much lately as he continues to rehab his right knee. But he's been riding an emotional roller-coaster this week as his alma mater, Arizona State University, continues to win in the College World Series. "I was screaming and yelling today as I watched the game at my house," Bonds told MLB.com on Wednesday after the Sun Devils won back-to-back games on consecutive days to move a win away from the championship round. "If they win it all, they're going to owe me a ring."
Arizona State officials are crediting a visit by Bonds to the campus stadium on March 8 in Tempe, Ariz., as a big reason for the team's success this season. The occasion was a ceremony to rename the field after former Sun Devils baseball coach Jim Brock, who mentored Bonds when the left-handed slugger played there from 1983 to 1985.
Bonds, who was recuperating from Jan. 31 arthroscopic knee surgery at the time, spent part of the afternoon around the batting cage working with ASU hitters, particularly Jeff Larish, the senior who hit three homers, including the one that tied the score in the ninth, on Tuesday as the Sun Devils came back to vanquish Nebraska.
Arizona State defeated Florida on Wednesday, and if it beats the Gators again Thursday, the Sun Devils will play Texas in the best-of-three championship round this weekend. Larish had a double and scored a run in Wednesday's game.
"I didn't think they had much of a chance to do this when I went over there during Spring Training," Bonds said. "They've got a good chance now. Those guys are going on a lot of adrenaline. I'm proud of them, man. I'm really proud of those guys. They're doing a great job. That school should be proud of them, too."
Bonds added that he enjoyed the afternoon giving ASU hitters some pointers.
"I've got to say that they were very receptive and listened very closely," he said. "But after I left, it was all up to them. They're the ones who followed my advice and put in the work. There's no way I can take any credit for that."
He doesn't have to. The Sun Devils are doing it for him.
Heading into Wednesday's game against Florida, ASU was hitting .326 since meeting with Bonds, had raised the team batting average from .278 to .311 and had hit 38 of its 49 homers. The Sun Devils are now 31-14 since then.
Larish said that the batting-practice session with Bonds was a mind-expanding experience.
"It was an honor to listen to and work with one of the best hitters in baseball history," Larish said Wednesday after the game in Omaha. "I picked up some things and it gave me some confidence. I've been lucky to have a good streak to finish up my senior season in a positive way, and Barry definitely played a part in that."