Bonds Vs. Griffey This Is More Like A Friendly Get Together Than A Rivalry As Two Of Baseball’s Best Square Off

It’s being billed as Bonds vs. Griffey when the Seattle Mariners visit San Francisco tonight for the Giants’ home interleague debut, and the hype definitely has sold some tickets.

The Giants expect more than 50,000 for a two-game, midweek series that concludes Wednesday afternoon. The Bonds-Griffey buildup has been going on for weeks, earning national attention.

But the only physical contact Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr. will make is when they shake hands.

The more mellow Bonds of 1997 isn’t complaining about the comparisons to the man they call Junior.

“He’s like Muhammad Ali,” Bonds said. “Junior is exceptional, man. I don’t mind the comparisons, but what’s there to compare?”

It is purely an apples-vs.-oranges situation because of the differences between the American and National leagues.

The Mariners’ lineup is conducive to abundant offense, so it may not be fair to compare statistics, especially during a season in which Bonds is struggling offensively and Griffey is threatening home-run records.

Bonds, 32, is regarded as the best left fielder in the game and Griffey ranks among the top center fielders. Bonds commands as much respect, leading the majors with 19 intentional walks. Griffey has nine.

“There are different styles, different situations,” Bonds said. “Junior wouldn’t have 27 home runs and 72 RBIs playing in the National League - maybe 72 walks.”

The 27-year-old Griffey, who leads the majors in homers and RBIs and is batting .301, seems less enthused to discuss the comparisons, but is also anticipating this series.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Griffey said. “It’s going to be a lot different than spring training, when we both get two at-bats and then we’re gone.

“I don’t get a chance to see him play like the fans in San Francisco do. Now, I get a chance to see what he does. You know he’s not going to be hitting .260 by the end of the season.”

Bonds is hitting .258 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs, but he and Griffey are as close as two superstars playing in different leagues can be. The common thread is their background as sons of ex-major leaguers Bobby Bonds and Ken Griffey Sr.

Because of the tie, Bonds made a point of contacting Griffey when Griffey started playing professionally. Griffey, a teenager at the time, was impressed … and cautious.

“I was in the Arizona Instructional League in 1987, and Barry called and invited me to dinner,” Griffey recalled. “I had to ask my dad for permission, and he said Barry was a good guy.

“I accepted, and I remember Barry picking me up in a white Acura Legend. I told myself I wanted one of those someday. We’ll probably go out again” tonight.

Bonds remembers that first meeting, too. “I called Junior because our families are close. He wasn’t hurting for cars, driving a Mercedes or a BMW. My parents gave me a van.”

Giants players, many with A.L. experience, weren’t asked to compare Bonds and Griffey. Most would be diplomatic and partial to Bonds.

John Burkett, formerly with the Giants and now pitching for Texas, corroborates Bonds’ contention that Griffey has a huge advantage playing in the hit-happy A.L.

“The A.L. is why you see such numbers for Griffey,” Burkett said. “I think Barry is every bit the player that Junior is. What a great pressure player Barry was in 1993.

“But I’d have to play with Griffey to make an accurate comparison. I played with Barry, and he’s the best. Plus, he doesn’t have all that help in the lineup.”

Griffey’s helpers include 1995 Silver Slugger designated hitter Edgar Martinez, a two-time batting champion; power-hitting outfielder Jay Buhner, who had 44 homers and 138 RBIs last season; and 1996 Silver Slugger shortstop Alex Rodriguez.

Bonds leads the majors with 61 walks. Griffey isn’t among the A.L. leaders. With all that power around him, he gets more pitches to hit.

One member of the Giants who favors Griffey is batting coach Gene Clines, who was Griffey’s batting coach with the M’s from 1989-92.

“You could tell Junior was special from the start,” Clines said. “He and Barry are similar in that they’re great pressure players. They thrive on those situations.

“They’re strong-willed. When you tell Barry or Junior they can’t do something, they want to prove you wrong. I saw Junior as a guy who could do whatever he wanted. I’ve only been with Barry a few months.”

Clines suggested that Bonds’ maturity has helped him accept his many walks. He’s not certain Griffey could handle such frustration.

“But I can’t compare Barry and Junior,” Clines said. “I was with Seattle, and Junior and Edgar are the best hitters I’ve ever worked with. And if you say he can’t hit 62 homers, you don’t know Ken Griffey.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PROFILES This is a glance at the matchup between the San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds and the Seattle Mariners’ Ken Griffey Jr. Bonds: Regarded as the best left fielder in the game. He is hitting .258 with 12 home runs and 35 RBIs. Many teams show great respect for Bonds by pitching around him in a weaker Giants lineup. He leads the majors in intentional walks with 19 and in walks with 61. He is the son of former major leaguer Bobby Bonds. Griffey: Regarded as the best center fielder in the game. He is hitting .301. He leads the majors with 27 homers and 72 RBIs. It is tougher to pitch around Griffey in Seattle’s powerful offense where he has Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, Alex Rodriguez and, now, Jose Cruz Jr. taking some of the heat off him. He has only nine intentional walks. Griffey’s father, Ken Griffey Sr., is also a former major leaguer.

THE SERIES Seattle starts a two-game series in San Francisco today at 7:05 p.m. It will be televised on KIRO-TV (TCI cable 25 in Spokane). Wednesday’s 12:35 p.m. game will be televised on Fox Sports Northwest (TCI cable 24 in Spokane).