Tracy Ringolsby's weekly baseball notes

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Earth to Barry Bonds: There is no room at the inn.The seven-time National League Most Valuable Player Award winner and the game's all-time home run hitter has finally been thrown a curve he is having a hard time handling.For all that he has done, and as much as he and his representatives are letting it be known he wants to keep playing, there is no line of potential teams with interest.Spring training has begun, and Bonds is on the outside looking in.The only team that showed interest in Bonds was Oakland, and that was early in the offseason, before general manager Billy Beane came to the conclusion the A's needed to unload veterans and rebuild from scratch, meaning they had no reason to bring in Bonds.So why is Bonds suddenly a baseball nomad?Several reasons.If even the Giants marketing folks, who had forced Bonds onto the roster the past couple of years, have decided he no longer has value as a ticket salesman, why would anybody else feel Bonds could provide a sudden surge of interest?He is now a one-dimensional player who has to hit home runs to have value because he is a defensive liability and a base clogger if he doesn't hit the ball out of the ballpark.He has broken the home run record, so there is no reason to think he will boost attendance.And he is a full- time clubhouse distraction because of his arrogance, demands and the media circus that follows him.There was a thought an American League team might be attracted to him as a designated hitter, but they like versatility in DHs so they can rotate position players into the role occasionally to give them a rest.Oh, and he feels he is offering teams a bargain because he wants only around $10 million.OVERHEARD-- In addition to the $16.5 million Houston will pay second baseman Kazuo Matsui for three years, the Astros agreed to provide $55,000 annually for Matsui's translator and $75,000 for his personal physical therapist, both of whom travel with the team at the Astros' expense. The Astros also agreed to provide sushi in the clubhouse home and road. Matsui will pick up the expenses for his personal hitting coach and a personal aide.-- Center fielder Coco Crisp said he would rather Boston trade him than keep him as a backup to Jacoby Ellsbury. Crisp apparently hasn't been paying attention. The Red Sox have been looking to deal him since before last season, but a hang-up has been his contract, which guarantees him $4.75 million this year, $5.75 million in 2009 and includes an $8 million team option for 2010.-- Right-hander Jeff Weaver, a key part of St. Louis' pitching in the 2006 postseason, could be returning to the Cardinals.READERS' TURNBrian Maher writes, "I'm a fan of Josh Fogg's, and I think (the Rockies) will be hard-pressed to find a No. 5 guy who so consistently gives us a chance to win. Is the club convinced there are better candidates?"Brian, Fogg has wound up in Cincinnati for $1 million. The Rockies made an initial bid to talk to Fogg's agents late last season and then touched base again in December. They never made a formal offer but indicated they were looking at $5 million for one year and were told Fogg was looking for a three-year deal. As a result, the Rockies went another direction. It had an impact on their decisions to sign Kip Wells, Josh Towers and Mark Redman. Now, the Rockies feel they owe those three, in addition to Franklin Morales, a chance to battle for the fifth spot in the rotation. Fogg will be missed in the clubhouse, where he was easily among the most popular players in franchise history, but business decisions were made on both sides and the result was Fogg is elsewhere now.For responses to other questions or to ask questions of your own, check out the Rockies Inbox at RockyMountain News.com/sports.TWO CENTS' WORTHAndy Pettitte's apology for using human growth hormone seemed sincere. He did create a little confusion, though, when he said he was not trying to get an edge by using performance-enhancement drugs. If he wasn't looking to get an edge, why did he use them?NUMBERS GAME-- 359: Games missed by outfielder Rocco Baldelli of the past 486 played by the Tampa Bay Rays. Baldelli said he would take an easier approach to spring training in an attempt to avoid injuries.QUICK STARTA year ago, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki defied the odds by making the opening day lineup less than two years after being drafted.This year, Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria could follow the same path. It wouldn't surprise Tulowitzki, who knows Longoria from playing alongside him at Long Beach State in 2005."He's a smart player," Tulowitzki said. "He deals with failure in a good way. It's not like he has had a lot of failure, but you are going to have failure in the big leagues, and it is how you rebound."Longoria was a junior-college transfer who was converted from shortstop to third base at Long Beach State."I sort of took him under my wing a little," Tulowitzki said. "He really has a passion for the game."SWISHER IN CENTERThe word in White Sox camp is Nick Swisher, an offseason acquisition from Oakland, will be in center field, but there is growing speculation among scouts the White Sox might check out the trade market for first baseman Jim Thome, which would allow Swisher to move to first, his best position defensively.HE SAID IT"I don't think anyone in this room is going to tell you we're a championship-quality team."-- Jason Bay, Pirates left fielder, ending any pretense of hope for Pittsburgh.(Contact Tracy Ringolsby at ringolsbyt@RockyMountainNews.com.)(Tracy Ringolsby writes for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colo. E-mail ringolsbyt(at)RockyMountainNews.com.)