"We need Barry so much," said relief pitcher Felix Rodriguez, part of the bullpen crew that handed the New York Mets a six-run eighth inning Wednesday in an 8-2 loss. "He is the key. The other pitchers think differently without Barry in the lineup. He can change things with one at-bat. For us, he makes a lot of difference."

Bonds said he was feeling much better after battling the infection with medication and rest.

Barry Bonds  /   LF
		Born: 07/24/64 Height: 6'2" Weight: 230 lbs Bats: L / Throws: L More info: Player page Stats | Splits Gallery Team Site | Shop

But he wasn't feeling much better about intentional walks, which have become an at-bat curse for the 39-year-old slugger. In his 44 walks this season, 22 have been on purpose, and last week Florida manager Jack McKeon strolled the big man intentionally a Major League-record four straight times in one nine-inning game.

What's going through Bonds' mind when he walks? He's worried more about his weary legs, actually.

"Walking is harder than hitting because you're on your feet all day. I never sit down. I'd go on the base, stand up, go to get my glove and stand out there, except for a few minutes, go and hit, go to first, grab my glove, run a base, score, whatever, grab my glove go out there.

"That's the hardest thing to do, shoot," said Bonds. "That's hard. That's not easy. Let somebody do that and see how it feels; then you have to figure out how to hit. You got to practice more than anybody else, hit in the cage more than anybody, hit off pitching coaches more than anybody else just to stay focused."

Bonds entered Thursday night's contest leading the National League in hitting (.463), on-base percentage (.704) and slugging percentage (1.111) while tied for first with 10 homers.

San Francisco desperately needs Bonds in the lineup, especially after slipping back into the NL West cellar with a 12-16 record and two straight losses.

Setting the record straight: Giants pitcher Brett Tomko went on the Sporting News Radio Network on Wednesday, commenting on his involvement in the A.J. Pierzynski controversy, with several teammates making unflattering, anonymous statements about his work ethic in a published report last week.

Brett Tomko  /   P
		Born: 04/07/73 Height: 6'4" Weight: 215 lbs Bats: R / Throws: R More info: Player page Stats | Splits Gallery Team Site | Shop

Tomko said the catcher continued to play cards instead of joining him to go over opposing batters before a game. Later, Pierzynski apologized for his actions.

"I just think it's lack of communication; I think that's the bottom line," Tomko reported on-air. "I'm taking a lot of heat for a lot of the comments. I made a couple of comments that weren't really on the record that showed up. A lot of the comments I did not say [such as Pierzynski was a "cancer" on the club], and I'm still taking some of the heat for it."

Tomko said Thursday the issue has been long over. "It's the same stuff over and over, but we're fine with it. It won't be a problem in the clubhouse any more. We've got to work together and have jobs to do."

Coming up: The Giants travel to Cincinnati for a three-game series against the Reds at the Great American Ball Park starting Friday night at 4:10 p.m. PT. Kirk Rueter will seek his first victory of the season for the Giants in his seventh start.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.