MLB roundup: Bonds believes he belongs in Hall of Fame
Barry Bonds strongly believes he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
"Oh, without a doubt," Bonds told MLB.com before Tuesday's fifth anniversary of his 756th home run, which broke Hank Aaron's longstanding record. "There's no doubt in my mind."
There are, of course, some doubts among voters. His reputation has taken several hits since he retired in 2007 as baseball's all-time home run king with 762. This is the first time his name will appear on the ballot, but writers who elect members of the Hall of Fame have ignored players tied to performance-enhancing drugs, including Mark McGwire, in previous votes.
McGwire wasn't a seven-time Most Valuable Player, either.
"I respect the Hall of Fame, don't get me wrong. I really, really, really respect the Hall of Fame. And I think we all do," Bonds told MLB.com. "I love the city of San Francisco and to me that's my Hall of Fame. I don't worry about it because I don't want to be negative about the way other people think it should be run. That's their opinion, and I'm not going to be negative.
"I know I'm going to be gone one day. If you want to keep me out, that's your business. My things are here in San Francisco. These are the people who love me. This is where I feel I belong. This is where I want to belong. If (the voters) want to put me in there, so be it, fine. If they don't, so be it, fine."
---The Miami Marlins activated outfielder Giancarlo Stanton from the disabled list and manager Ozzie Guillen inserted him into the starting lineup Tuesday against the Mets.
Stanton has been out since July 8, the day before he was to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby but instead had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
In 80 games, Stanton is hitting .284 with a team-high 19 home runs and 50 RBIs.
---Tampa Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was placed in the starting lineup for Tuesday game against the Blue Jays after being activated from the 60-day disabled list earlier Tuesday.
To make room on the active roster, infielder Will Rhymes was optioned to Triple-A Durham.
The Rays have been shut out over their last 21 innings, so they need the offensive punch provided by Longoria, who has been out since April 30 with a partially torn left hamstring,
