BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Leyland Shouts His Displeasure at Bonds

MVP or no MVP, Pittsburgh Manager Jim Leyland decided Monday to lay down the law to Barry Bonds.

In an obscenity-laced tirade, Leyland ripped into the outfielder who was National League most valuable player last season. “I don’t give a damn what his problems are,” the manager shouted. “He’s not going to run this camp. He can just go home.”

Bonds, angry over losing his salary arbitration and being forced to settle for $2.3 million instead of the $3.25 million he sought, recently said he wouldn’t re-sign with Pittsburgh after 1992 “if they offered me $100 million.”

The pressure cooker popped when the outfielder and manager shouted at each other after Bonds and instructor Bill Virdon, a former major league player and manager, yelled at each other and traded ugly glances during a routine fly ball drill.

Leyland raced over from an adjacent field and started screaming at Bonds.

“One player’s not going to run this club,” Leyland said, loud enough to be heard over the Pirates’ four practice fields. “If you don’t want to be here, get the hell out of here. Let’s get the . . . show over with or go home.

“If guys don’t want to be here, if guys aren’t happy with their money, don’t take it out on everybody else.”

Leyland was at his angriest when Bonds seemed to question his authority, with the manager yelling, “I’m the manager of this team. That’s who . . . I am.”

Earlier, Bonds and publicist Jim Lachimia shouted at each other when the player asked several photographers to quit taking pictures of him. Bonds has been sullen and moody this spring, repeatedly cursing TV cameramen and declining all interviews.

Bonds said he didn’t care if the incident further damaged his public image. Later, Leyland tried to defuse the incident, calling it “a family squabble that just boiled a bit.”

Teams prepared to renew a number of unsigned players who are not eligible for salary arbitration. New Atlanta General Manager John Schuerholz said he would use that tactic on pitcher John Smoltz, infielder Jeff Blauser and outfielder-first baseman Tommy Gregg if they are not signed by Thursday.

“The negotiating process will come to a natural end March 7,” Schuerholz said. “Then we will work together to win baseball games.”

Cincinnati renewed catcher Joe Oliver, pitcher Jack Armstrong, first baseman Hal Morris and pitcher Tim Layana.

Cincinnati second baseman Bill Doran said the Reds are in good shape to defend their World Series championship.

“I don’t think most of the players here have hit their prime yet,” he said. “And yet, it is a hungry group. You could tell that by the large number of guys who came down early on their own to work out. It’s hungry, young with unlimited potential.

“This team won the world championship last year without really having one guy having a career year. All these guys are capable of putting up better numbers than they did last year.”

Dr. Richard Caspari confirmed the earlier diagnosis that showed the presence of four bone spurs--three small and one large--in Frank Viola’s left elbow. Dr. James Parkes, the New York Mets’ team physician, will be in camp today, and team officials along with Viola will discuss the the former Cy Young Award winner’s options for treatment, including surgery.

Baltimore’s Jim Palmer threw batting practice for the second time in spring training, but said the real test of his comeback attempt will come later this week. “My theory is--and it’s quite simple--that nothing means anything until I face hitters,” he said. “BP is for conditioning.”

Shortly before noon Monday and only 11 days late--that’s PST, as in Pascual Standard Time--the New York Yankees and their wayward pitcher were finally reunited. Pascual Perez, Mr. Visa Problems of spring training, showed up at Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and genuinely seemed surprised there was so much made of his whereabouts.

All it took to deliver him from the Dominican Republic was a search-and-rescue team of four, a legal settlement in a paternity suit, a new passport and, of course, a visa.