A Way Out

Is an elbow injury the way MLB can sidestep the entire issue of Barry Bonds breaking the home run records set by Ruth and Aaron? Based on the way baseball has hoped that Bonds would simply go away in light of all the problems with steroids, it wouldn't surprise me that everyone from Selig on down has been praying to jobu that Bonds would quit before breaking the all time home run record set by Henry Aaron.

In the MLB.com interview, Bonds said he has "10 to 12 bone chips floating" in his left elbow, which he revealed is swollen "almost twice the size" of his other elbow.

"If I have to have a procedure, then I'm done. Finished. That would be it."

Bonds told MLB.com he felt his elbow pop during a spring training batting-practice session at Scottsdale Stadium last month. He underwent an MRI and was examined at the Giants' and Angels' orthopedic specialists.