NATIONAL LEAGUE: AROUND THE HORN BONDS' RUN AT RECORD A HOT TOPIC.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

San Francisco left fielder Barry Bonds isn't much into talking about his chance of surpassing Mark McGwire's mark of 70 homers, but plenty of others are. And most in baseball believe Bonds, who entered Saturday with 32 homers, can do it.

``The scary thing is that right now, the best is still ahead,'' Giants manager Dusty Baker said. ``Barry is a second-half home run hitter, which most guys are.''

Two years ago, Bonds hit a career-high 25 home runs after the All-Star break. In his first 12 seasons, Bonds has averaged 19 homers after the All-Star break. He's already hit a major-league-record 17 homers in May.

When Bonds hit his 32nd homer Thursday in the Giants' 59th game, it made him the quickest to that mark.

``He's on pace,'' Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Mark Grace said. ``It's a legitimate conversation piece. Obviously, the odds are against him but he's the guy who has the ability to do it. No question about it.

``He's absolutely right on everything. He's the best all-around player I've ever played against. I've been playing against Barry since college. He's a guy that can single-handedly dominate a baseball game. There's not many guys that you can say that about.''

Bonds, who hit his 500th career homer April 17 against the Dodgers, is 11th on the all-time home run list with 526, the most by a left-handed hitter in National League history. However, even with his home run barrage, he finds the first week of June to be a bit early to discuss a run at McGwire's mark.

``You can do anything,'' said Bonds, who set a career high last season with 49 homers. ``but to talk about it (now) is ridiculous. You can get hit by a truck tomorrow and then what? `Well, he was on his way but, damn, he got hit by a car.' You guys need to do something else besides hyping up something that isn't even there.''

--Smoltz's future: It wasn't too long ago the Atlanta Braves had the best pitching staff in baseball - Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz - and the Cy Young was going to one of the three.

However, frustration is mounting for Smoltz, who is contemplating retirement because he's having problems with his surgically repaired right elbow. Smoltz, who missed last season, is experiencing tightness when he warms up, and it takes him as much as 30 minutes to loosen his elbow.

``Honestly, if this is as good as it gets, there won't be a next year,'' said Smoltz, who is 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA in four starts. ``If it only gets back to where it was before the surgery, I have nothing to prove. I'm not going to continue to pitch in the fashion I did before the surgery. I don't know how much longer I can go through it. There's a price, and you say, is it worth it?''

--Prime Time to be canceled: Washington Redskins cornerback Deion Sanders was the talk of the baseball world five weeks ago when he returned to baseball and went 3 for 3 with a home run for Cincinnati against the Dodgers.

Since then, though, he's been a dud. And he's also in jeopardy of either being released or returned to the minor leagues. Sanders is hitting .181, and he's hitting .145 since his debut.

--Dude, where's my car?: Chicago Cubs pitcher Jason Bere pulled into the team hotel in Milwaukee last week in his Porsche and left it with the valet. Shortly thereafter, a man asked the valet for the Porsche, was handed the keys and went for an hourlong joyride in the $112,000 auto. He brought it back in one piece, less a little gas, and walked away.