Barry Bonds makes strong statement regarding Hall of Fame status

Saturday was a highly anticipated day at Miami Marlins camp. New manager Don Mattingly and new hitting coach Barry Bonds held an introductory press conference for the media in Jupiter, Fla. to discuss their new roles and field whatever other questions might come their way.

Of course, everyone knew going in that much of the focus would be on Bonds as he begins a new chapter in his baseball life and puts on a major league uniform for the first time since 2007. That proved to be true. Everyone also knew that the topic of Bonds' Hall of Fame status would inevitably come up. And once it did, Bonds took it in stride and answered firmly.

“I don't really have an opinion about it,” Bonds told reporters. “I know that I'm a Hall of Fame player. I don't really need to get into that. I'll leave that to you guys to make that determination. That's not my fraternity. But in my fraternity, in Major League Baseball, there's not one player that can sit there and say that I'm not one. There's not a coach that's ever coached me that says I'm not one.

“Until you guys decide to make that final decision then that final decision will be made on your terms. But in my heart and soul, and God knows I'm a Hall of Famer.”

Strong, but not at all surprising words from Bonds. He's made it clear in the past that he feels he belongs in the Hall of Fame despite the long list of steroids allegations levied against him. And he's certainly not wrong to feel that way.

Everyone knows the numbers. His 762 career home runs are the all-time standard. His 2,558 career walks, 688 of which were intentional, are both all-time records. His 1,996 RBIs rank fourth all-time. And right on down the line is impressive number after impressive number.

There's also the argument that Bonds established Hall of Fame credentials long before the steroids allegations began and his numbers started soaring to record heights. That on talent alone, he was simply one of the best to ever play the game. That opinion is not wrong either, but chances are he'll never be solely judged on that talent.

For perspective, Bonds received 44.3 percent of the vote on the 2016 Hall of Fame ballot, and that represented his highest mark so far during his four years of eligibility. It represents progress, but he's still a long ways away from the 75 percent required for election. And now he only has six years to make up the ground.

As he correctly stated, it's out of his hands now. It's up to the writers to decide if what he did on the field is good enough, or what most think he did off the field was bad enough to offset it. And at this point he knows there's nothing he can really say or do that will sway those opinions.