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As Major League Baseball approaches the halfway mark of the 2005 season, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds has yet to make a single appearance in a game. The 41-year-old outfielder has been on the disabled list since spring training, after having undergone several knee operations during the past offseason. The question I would like to ask is, does anyone miss him?

Ok - at first glance this might be a bit harsh. Bonds has, after all, won the National League Most Valuable Player award an incredible 7 times, and is the current home run king with 73 (2001 season). He also has 8 Gold Glove awards to go with his MVP trophies, and even a couple of ESPY awards, one for sports Moment of the Year, and one for Male Athlete of the year. But even with these credentials backing Bonds up, I just don't like him.

Sure, I admit it: I'm speaking from a biased viewpoint. After all, I am a diehard Chicago Cubs fan, and I don't like very many players from opposing teams. This is especially true when that opposing player does well against the Cubs, which Bonds seems to always do. But am I alone in missing Bonds? I don't think so. Of course I am sure that Giants fans are counting down the days until Bonds returns to the lineup.

The Giants are a dismal 12 games under the .500 mark so far this season and are 9.5 games behind the San Diego Padres in the NL West division. The Giants rank 22nd in the Majors in team batting, with a combined average of .273. Perhaps more tellingly, the Giants are a lowly 26th (out of 30 teams) in the league in team home runs with just 62. Only 7 home runs separate them from the last place Seattle Mariners. The Texas Rangers lead the league with 120 home runs, which is almost twice the Giants' total. So there's no doubt that the fans at SBC Park are missing Bonds' big bat.

But the absence of Bonds this year has allowed baseball's spotlight to shine in other places. Fans around the country now have a chance to appreciate emerging hitters like Brian Roberts and Derrick Lee. Atlanta Braves veteran Andruw Jones is leading the league in homers with 25, and Lee, Cliff Floyd, and Alex Rodriguez are right behind him. I am enjoying the closer batting competition as far as home runs and average goes. I think a lot of fans are with me on this.

Bonds' future for this season remains uncertain. He has had a few setbacks as far as his rehab schedule is concerned, and no one seems to want to predict when he will be ready to play ball again. He was recently asked about whether or not he would play beyond the 2006 season, when his contract with the Giants expires. Bonds replied that if he were close to Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, he would probably try to play. Right now, Bonds trails Aaron by 52. We'll see if he can get there.