Dodgers don't intend to serve it up for Bonds

Today, Bonds is back in Los Angeles within reach of what would be his greatest and most controversial milestone.

Bonds might not play tonight, but the nation's eyes will be set on Dodger Stadium over the next three days to see if the 43-year-old slugger dogged by steroid accusations can manage two more home runs to transform baseball's most cherished record into something far more ambiguous in meaning.

Whatever the long-term implications of Bonds belting No. 756 to pass Hank Aaron as the all-time home run leader, the Dodgers don't want to enable the process.

"I don't want to be on SportsCenter for the next 20 years," catcher Russell Martin said.

Said Luis Gonzalez: "I hope it doesn't happen at our place."

But if it does?

"I don't even want to go there," he said. "We hope he has another series like he did with us last time."

That was the first series after the All-Star break, when the Dodgers swept the Giants in San Francisco. Bonds was 0 for 12 in the three-game set, including 0 for 5 in the final game, and launched into a profane outburst in which he called himself "an embarrassment."

Dodgers Manager Grady Little said his team would be cautious with Bonds at the plate, but not because of the record.

"Our pitchers have done a really good job against him this year so far, but it doesn't take away the respect we have for him every time he steps into the park," Little said.

Mark Hendrickson, who Wednesday could be the first Dodgers pitcher to face Bonds, claimed he wouldn't let Bonds' nearing the record be a distraction.

But at least one Dodgers pitcher said that the particular set of circumstances might cause him to approach Bonds differently if he had to face him.

"I don't want any part of that

Seanez has been in the major leagues for 16 seasons, including at least parts of 10 in the National League, and hasn't given up a home run to Bonds. He hasn't even given up a hit to him, as Bonds is 0 for 4 against Seanez with a strikeout and two walks.

But Seanez, echoing Martin's sentiments, said he doesn't want to repeatedly see the image of him being made the victim of Bonds' most famous home run. It's bad enough, Seanez said, that the highlight clip of Nomar Garciaparra that is shown on the video scoreboard at every home game is of a home run that he served up last season while with the San Diego Padres.