WASHINGTON _ Giancarlo Stanton doesn't hold any hope of breaking the single-season record for home runs held by Barry Bonds.
"There's a long ways for that one," Stanton said.
But Stanton is thankful that he continues to receive advice from Bonds, his hitting coach with the Marlins last season.
"Barry's been huge for me," Stanton said. "We talk all the time. He's guided me along this year."
Stanton had 50 homers entering play Tuesday, well short of Bonds' mark of 73 set in 2001.
With 33 games remaining, though, he has his sights set on 62, which would give him one more than the Roger Maris' long-standing record of 61 set in 1961 _ before the "Steroids Era" in which Bonds and others set historic new standards.
Stanton carefully worked around the question of tainted records Monday, saying the great sluggers all enjoyed "advantages" distinct to their eras. Babe Ruth was the home run king before the color barrier was broken, for example.
And he praised Bonds, who has offered nothing but encouragement.
Stanton said Bonds tells him "you're going to get less pitches to hit, you've got to be ready for them, stuff like that."
"He likes it," Stanton said. "He's telling me to stay the course and make sure I'm ready to go every day."
Has Bonds gone so far as to tell Stanton he hopes he breaks his record?
"Uh, no," Stanton said.
