03/31/2006 12:55 AM ET Giants voice support of Bonds Slugger won't comment on investigation, but teammates will By Rich Draper / MLB.com Barry Bonds acknowledges the crowd as he steps to the plate during the second inning Thursday. (Ben Margot/AP) SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds' reaction to Commissioner Bud Selig's authorization of an investigation into past use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball started with a smile, then a joking reiteration of his intentions. "I'm going to jump off the Empire State Building," Bonds said to reporters at AT&T Park on Thursday night as he sat in his clubhouse chair. "Flat on my face." Asked to comment about the investigation, the outfielder replied, "No comment, " then shook his head and said, "No, no, no" when the question was repeated. The Giants issued a statement earlier on Thursday, declaring, "As we have said all along, the Giants support the Commissioner's decision to review all aspects of what is obviously a serious matter. We commend the selection of George Mitchell to head up this investigation and we pledge our full support to the Commissioner, Senator Mitchell and his team." Several Giants have spoken out in support of Bonds this spring, with veteran center fielder Steve Finley especially becoming close to the slugger. The two have talked frequently about playing the outfield and are now good friends. Earlier in camp, Finley said that the team has "embraced" Bonds and wouldn't make negative comments about him. On Thursday he took exception to the timing of the Commissioner's office investigation and the release of "Game of Shadows ," a book alleging that Bonds and several other athletes used performance- enhancing drugs. "I don't think it's right -- you didn't hear anything about this until the book came out," said Finley, also miffed that the book's publication, on March 23, came during the World Baseball Classic and shortly before Opening Day. "There's nothing players can do about it," he said of the probe. "It is what it is. What's new? There's nothing in [the book] that anyone in baseball or in the media that reads the newspapers didn't already know." Finley said that he can look in the mirror with a clear conscience regarding performance-enhancing drugs, stating that he never saw players take anything illegal, and only heard rumors. "I never took anything," he said. "In this country, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty. I think the stats will start to prove the game is cleaned up. I don't think anybody wants to see suspensions. Baseball is going to move on." Second baseman Ray Durham said that he has been impressed with Bonds' demeanor during the spring despite the controversy swirling about him. "I told him probably 2 1/2 weeks ago I was impressed," Durham said. "You've got to have tough skin to put up with the scrutiny and stuff he has to go through. I would have been ready to fight somebody. Trying to drag his name through the mud is unfair to a guy." Though Bonds would not comment on the investigation, all baseball-related questions were fair game, and he reported that the mild strain of his left elbow was "OK" before playing against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as a designated hitter in a Spring Training game at AT&T Park. Bonds hadn't seen action since March 24 in Scottsdale, Ariz., when he played seven innings in the Giants' 6-4 victory over Colorado. The next day he pulled out of batting practice because of the elbow injury. Giants' fans were certainly in Bonds' corner on Thursday night at cold and windy AT&T Park, giving him a standing ovation before he flied out in his first at-bat, in the second inning. Bonds walked in the fourth frame and was then taken out of the game. "He had two at-bats and saw some pitches," said manager Felipe Alou. "It was not enough, but better than nothing. Maybe he'll get four at-bats in one of the [weekend] games. But it's still better than last year -- no at-bats." Rich Draper is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. -- MAKING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER MACOTO BANK --

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