ALL EYES ON BARRY ANGELS RESPECT BONDS, DON'T FEAR HIM.

Byline: Joe Haakenson Staff Writer

ANAHEIM - Barry Bonds is coming. Barry Bonds is coming.

The Angels took down the mighty New York Yankees and the upstart Minnesota Twins to win the American League pennant. Now they are preparing to take on the San Francisco Giants, starting with Game 1 of the World Series on Saturday.

And much of the focus seems to be on the Giants' clean-up man and how to pitch to him. Or not pitch to him.

The one pitcher who has had more success against Bonds than anyone else in the Angels' clubhouse has his left arm in a sling, so it's doubtful Dennis Cook will be much help other than to offer words of wisdom.

Cook had surgery to repair his left shoulder a couple weeks ago and won't have the opportunity to continue the success he's had against Bonds in his career. Bonds is 2 for 14 (.143) with no extra-base hits, one RBI and four walks against Cook.

Jarrod Washburn, who is starting Game 1, will be the first Angels pitcher to face Bonds. He hasn't faced him in a regular-season game but said he gave up a home run and struck him out once in spring training.

``We haven't been scared of anything all season long, and we're not scared of Barry Bonds,'' Washburn said. ``But you have to be smart about it. I don't think you'll see us walk him with the bases loaded or the bases empty.

``But if there are men on base and first base is open, is he going to get a pitch to hit? Probably not.''

Scott Schoeneweis is the only left-hander in the Angels' bullpen and has done well against the left-handed Bonds in the past. Bonds has just one single in seven career at-bats (.143) against Schoeneweis, with no walks and four strikeouts.

``I got him last year,'' said Schoeneweis, who struck out Bonds three times in a game June 13, 2001, at Pac Bell Park. ``The only difference, obviously, is it's the World Series, instead of June.''

Schoeneweis could be called upon in a close-game, late-inning situation to face Bonds, much as he was with Jason Giambi in the division series against the Yankees. And though it seems pitchers are pitching around Bonds more than ever, Schoeneweis said he won't change his approach.

``He's a prolific hitter with unbelievable talent,'' he said. ``But we've got some pretty tough hitters here in the American League. There are hitters on a lot of teams you pitch around in certain situations. We can talk about A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez), Giambi, Bernie Williams, Rafael Palmeiro, Edgar Martinez. On this team Garret (Anderson) and Troy (Glaus) get pitched around.

``I think the emphasis on how we pitch Barry is getting overanalyzed. He's a great hitter. We're going to be careful with him, but situations dictate how we pitch him.''

One factor will be how Benito Santiago, the Giants' No. 5 hitter, is swinging the bat. Santiago was named the NLCS MVP because he made the Cardinals pay for pitching around Bonds.

``There are keys to the series that jump out at you,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ``How effective Santiago is hitting behind Bonds is one. And the guys in front of Bonds, how effective are they at getting on base, is another key.''

Angels closer Troy Percival has faced Bonds on four occasions, walking him three times and retiring him once. He said he won't be intimidated by Bonds.

``My goal is to throw quality pitches and attack hitters,'' Percival said. ``I don't care who the batter is. Will I be careful? Yeah, but I'm careful to a lot of hitters.''

Scioscia said there is no one way to pitch Bonds, and that the game situation will determine how to approach him.

``I'm sure there will be times we walk him, and I'm sure there will be times we challenge him,'' Scioscia said. ``We're trying to beat the San Francisco Giants, and they are more than just Barry Bonds.''

BARRY GOOD YEAR

Barry Bonds this season might have had a better year than his 73-homer season of 2001. A look at some of his accomplishments in the 2002 regular season:

--At 38, he became the oldest player to win the National League batting title (.370). Honus Wagner, who was 37 when he batted .334 in 1911, had held the mark. Bonds also was the oldest first-time batting champ.

--He walked a record 198 times, shattering his own mark of 177 set last year. Babe Ruth is next at 170.

--He was walked intentionally a major-league-record 68 times.

--He had a .582 on-base percentage, which destroyed Ted Williams' mark of .553 in 1941. Manny Ramirez was second in the major leagues at .450.

--He led the major leagues in slugging percentage, .799, No. 4 all time and well ahead of runner-up Jim Thome, who was at .677.

--He became the fourth player - joining Hank Aaron, Ruth and Willie Mays - to reach the 600-homer milestone. He has 613.

--He hit 46 homers, one for every 8.76 at-bats, which ranks eighth all-time. Last year, that figure was a record 6.52 at-bats.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 3 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) San Francisco's Barry Bonds has been a pitcher's nightmare all season long, but he hasn't faced the Angels' pitching yet.

Ric Feld/Associated Press

(2) Intentional walks were a familiar sight for Barry Bonds this season. Angels pitchers said circumstances will dictate whether they decide to follow the same strategy.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Box:

(1) BARRY GOOD YEAR (see text)

(2) ANGELS AT A GLANCE: 2002 GAME-BY-GAME

(3) ANGELS vs. SAN FRANCISCO

World Series: Best-of-seven games