Despite the three operations on his 41-year-old right knee, despite almost a year without a plate appearance, despite the fact that Barry Bonds hasn't even set foot between the lines in a Giants uniform since last September, not much has changed for those who would face him.

When Bonds is in the batter's box, caution will remain the favored approach.

Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley, whose pitchers will be facing Bonds in his 2005 debut series at SBC Park starting Monday, says all those factors don't change much about how they'll look at Bonds. The Padres head into the series leading the NL West by six games over the Dodgers and seven over the Diamondbacks and Giants, and they do so well aware that the game's most dangerous hitter over the last several years is back.

To them, Barry Bonds is still Barry Bonds.

"We're going to approach him the way we have the last few years," Balsley said. "I believe we've pitched to him more than most teams, even if that's not a lot. We look at him exactly the same."

Does that mean they should cue up the "Chicken Dance" complete with the rubber chickens to display at SBC Park for each intentional walk? Perhaps. Does that mean the Padres and other teams still have Bonds in the category of hitters you simply can't let beat you? Absolutely.

Whatever the circumstances leading up to his return to action, there's no one player who gets your attention quite the same way once he's on that lineup card for the Giants, either in the starting nine or on the bench.

"Not like Barry -- with full respect to other studs in the league," Balsley said. "You always have to think about him. You have to think about where he is in the lineup, or if he's not in the lineup you have to think about when he might pinch-hit. It's still going to be that way when he comes back."

With Bonds back, the dynamic of what has been a strange NL West race already gets a new twist. The Padres are 71-71 and should have the race in hand with 20 games to play, but the return of Bonds to the Giants certainly adds a different dimension to the race at this late stage.

"You're talking about one of the greatest hitters of all time coming back," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "I'm sure it means a lot to the Giants."

No question about that. By extension, it means a lot to the division, too.

"Certainly, he's a force," said Arizona manager Bob Melvin. "Whether or not he's in the lineup, he'll make you think about what you're going to do anywhere he could potentially pinch-hit.

"Whether he plays, pinch-hits, or does whatever, he's certainly going to be a force. I think emotionally it could be a big lift for them."

Dodgers manager Jim Tracy, meanwhile, agrees that Bonds' return will be hard to ignore. But he makes the point that Bonds' status isn't the only factor for the Giants right now.

"He could make an impact, no question," Tracy said. "But I also look at what transpired here last week, when Jason Schmidt had to come off the mound in the middle of a game. That's something that affects the picture, too, because you're talking about one of the best starting pitchers in the game there.

"Barry's not going to pitch, but Barry can make it easier to pitch."

Unless, of course, you're facing him. Then he makes it very difficult.

Whatever Bonds does, he will have injected some energy into a division that has been maligned for its mediocrity this year.

Truly, one of the best stories coming out of the NL West is that the Giants somehow have managed to persevere and stay in contention this late without their slugger.

That hasn't gone unnoticed by the team leading the chase.

"We play those guys seven times, and they're playing good baseball right now even without him," said Padres leadoff man Dave Roberts. "Bringing back the best player in baseball obviously makes a difference for them.

"If there's any team that could have handled this situation, it was the Giants. They've got a good core of veteran players, a lot of players who have won before. There's no quit in them."