Don't expect Barry Bonds, shown here taking batting practice at Giants camp yesterday, to retire before resuming his pursuit of Hank Aaron's all-time home run record. AP

SI.com: Even if baseball wanted to launch its own investigation, would it be fair to single out Bonds or would it have to be more comprehensive?

Verducci: There are so many players, hundreds who used steroids, that it is somewhat unfair to single out one player. We have more evidence on this one player than anybody else. But it is problematic to target one person when so many others were also using.

SI.com: How much do you think it bothered Selig that this story broke on the same day the World Baseball Classic debuted here in the States?

Verducci: It's a great question, because for some strange and unknown reason, Selig was not at the WBC yesterday when it opened in the U.S. This really is his baby and no one has been a bigger champion of this tournament than Bud Selig. For him to be in Milwaukee yesterday, I don't understand it. In some ways, deep down, I think MLB and Bud Selig would love Barry Bonds to go away. In terms of timing, I'm sure he wasn't happy. I wish that was a question the commissioner was around to answer yesterday.

SI.com: Will you cast a vote for Bonds on your Hall of Fame ballot?

Verducci: No. Not in any good conscience could I vote for someone who used performance-enhancing drugs for so many years. We're not going to have to vote on Bonds for at least five or six years, and I'm certainly open to any new information that is presented until then, but with the evidence we have now, there is no way I could vote for him.

For those who argue that Bonds was a Hall of Fame-quality player before he started using drugs, I don't think in baseball you can build up a resume to a lofty point and then do anything you want to the game. Cheating the game is nothing that can be forgiven, whether it happens in your first year of baseball or your last year, like with Rafael Palmeiro. The 411 home runs, which is what Bonds had through 1998, don't give you carte blanche to do anything you want in baseball, including being a drug cheat.

SI.com: Is there a chance Bonds will retire before reaching Aaron?

Verducci: Zero chance he will retire right now. First of all, he's not going to walk away from the money. Second of all, he seriously wants to take down Babe Ruth in the No. 2 spot. But Bonds' other big issue is his health. If I were the Giants, I'd be pessimistic to think he'll play in more than 100 games this year. His pursuit of Hank Aaron looks more like a 2007 happening than 2006, and nobody knows if he'll be able to play next year.