SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds told KGO Radio in San Francisco that he is receiving death threats as he prepares to make a run at breaking Henry Aaron's home run record.

He didn't mention details of the threats during the 90-minute interview.

"There's a lot of times I want to say I'm sorry to some of the fans. You're only strong to a point and then you get nervous," Bonds told the radio station. "I'm kind of standoffish and stuff and you can't really explain that."

"I'm mostly gun-shy of what can happen. Once this is all over and done, whether I get lucky enough to do it or not, I'll be able to release just a little bit of the anxiety and fear of what can happen.

"You don't want anything to happen to yourself. You don't want anything to happen to your family," Bonds told KGO.

Bonds says he is trying to tune out the criticism.

"If I don't keep a level head, how's the next person going to handle it? If Hank didn't keep his head clear, how was I going to deal with it?" Bonds told KGO.

"If someone doesn't deal with it the right way, it sets up a very bad ending for anybody else who comes along and tries to do this."

Bonds also told KGO he's not trying to concern himself with the racial overtones of his record pursuit. He is 22 home runs shy of Aaron's record of 755.

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"I never get mad at things I can't control. There's nothing you can do about it anyway. You've got less than 8 percent of African Americans in the game of baseball. That's scary," Bonds told KGO.

Bonds will not play in San Francisco’s Cactus League opener Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.

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The slugger rarely treks to road ballparks — as close as they are around here — during the exhibition season. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Monday he is opting to keep Bonds back at Scottsdale Stadium to get his work in despite how healthy and strong the San Francisco star has been feeling so far.

“Does it matter?” Bonds said with a smile after his workout Monday. “It’s the same question every year. ... I’m exhausted.”

Reminded that he is Barry Bonds — and 22 homers shy of breaking Hank Aaron’s home run record — and most everyone is interested in his schedule, he chuckled and quipped, “I’m changing my name.”

Bonds’ first chance to play at home in Scottsdale will be Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Sometimes in recent springs, a reeling Bonds had the chance to be the designated hitter even against National League teams when the opposing club agreed to it. Bochy doesn’t see that being necessary this year.

“He’s not going to Mesa. We’ll see where Barry’s at,” Bochy said. “We need to get him ready for the season. I don’t think it takes Barry long to get ready. We need to get him the at-bats he needs.”

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If Bonds had been set to play, the game would have featured three of the biggest free agents from the offseason. Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano signed an eight-year, $136 million deal; Bonds received a $15.8 million, one-year contract; and left-hander Barry Zito will take the mound for the first time since the Giants gave him a $126 million, seven-year deal in late December.

Yes, Zito vs. Soriano still will pique fans’ interest.

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