Nats' Pitchers Know History With Bonds

Not so.

"If you are the guy, it means you're going down in history, too," Cordero said. Yet for Cordero, the Nationals' closer, the homer could mean more than just No. 756. "For me, it might suck, because I'd probably be giving up the lead or a tie," he said. "But still, you're in the record books, too."

Odds are that Brian Schneider will be the catcher when Bonds comes to the plate against this rag-tag staff, the guy who could call the fateful pitch. Schneider is a baseball history buff, a collector of jerseys and memorabilia and cards. He was the catcher both times Bonds homered against the Nationals since baseball returned to Washington in 2005, once off of John Patterson on a low-and-inside slider, once off Livan Hernandez on another low-and-inside pitch. Both came at RFK Stadium. Both landed in the upper deck.

"It just proves how tough he is to pitch to," Schneider said. "I know he's scuffling a little bit now, and we'll get our reports on what he's been scuffling on. . . .

"But in the past, it's been pitch away, and when you come in, make sure you get it in there."

Nationals Manager Manny Acta said he will not bow to pressure either way, whether it be to pitch to Bonds or to walk him. "We're not going to change anything because we don't want to be part of the record," Acta said.

So if, as Acta said, the Nationals "allow the situation to dictate what we do," expect to see King at some point. Of those 31 times up against the current Nationals' staff, 18 have come against King. The 33-year-old has pitched in the majors since 1999. Each year, he is hired for one reason: Retire left-handed hitters, be they feeble or fearsome.

"I take pride in it," King said.

On Aug. 19, 2003, while pitching for Atlanta, King said he started Bonds with a breaking ball. The approach didn't work out. Leading off the bottom of the 10th inning , King fell behind in the count, and Bonds hit his fourth pitch for a game-ending home run.

"So I try, mostly, sinkers in," King said, "and fastballs away. And if I get ahead, then I'll go to the breaking ball."

That approach has worked remarkably well. King has walked Bonds twice. He retired him the other 15 times.

"Knock wood," King said, reaching behind him for his locker and tapping twice.

That, then, might be the Nationals' best approach. They have four games to deal with the chaos that goes along with Bonds's pursuit. And after they leave town, they'll know -- if he hits it -- who among them will be on that videotape for perpetuity.

"We know whoever gives it up," Acta said, "it's probably going to be the only thing they're remembered for."