Barry Bonds remains "optimistic" about playing this season, though he has no idea if his ailing knee will allow it. The San Francisco slugger took a slightly more upbeat approach Thursday in a posting on his Web site, www.barrybonds.com, three days after saying he didn't expect to resume his quest for the home run record until 2006 because of his troublesome right knee. He's had three operations on the knee since Jan. 31. "I'm still unsure of if and when I'll be able to come back this year," Bonds wrote Thursday. "This has not changed in the past couple of weeks. I'm working hard on the bike and the elliptical machine, but I'm just not there yet. While I continue to progress, I do not want to push myself to come back sooner and ultimately jeopardize the health of my knee and suffer a setback. However, I still remain optimistic." Giants manager Felipe Alou said he hasn't had any contact with Bonds, though the team said general manager Brian Sabean had been in touch with physical therapist Clive Brewster, who is working with Bonds in Los Angeles along with renowned Angels orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum. "Do you have his number?" Alou joked with a reporter.