BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Indians Won’t Train in Homestead

Because of the damage left by Hurricane Andrew in Homestead, Fla., the Cleveland Indians announced Thursday night the team will not hold spring training there next year.

Homestead needs time to recover, Indian President Rick Bay said.

“Provided that the area’s physical facilities, such as housing and related amenities, and its economic base have recovered sufficiently to support our operations, we envision that Homestead will be our spring training home for 1994,” Bay said.

If the baseball park in Homestead is ready by March, the Indians and the expansion Florida Marlins will play exhibition games there March 6 and 7 with proceeds going to the Homestead Relief Fund.

“While it is totally unrealistic to expect Homestead to play host to a full-scale, eight-week spring training operation so soon after Andrew, it is possible that the ballpark could be ready for two games,” Bay said. “If so, we would welcome the opportunity to christen the stadium with major league baseball in 1993, and the Marlins have generously offered to join us in this endeavor.”

Homestead City Manager Alex Muxo said preparing the ballpark for the two fund-raising games can be accomplished “while maintaining our rebuilding priorities.”

Indian spokesman Bob DiBiasio said Thursday night the Indians are searching for a new spring training location in Florida. Team officials have been looking at possible sites in Orlando and Winter Haven.

National League President Bill White has ordered umpires to honor players’ requests that they adjust their positioning on the field to keep from interfering with a batter’s line of vision. The directive is an outgrowth of the situation that developed Saturday involving New York Met first baseman Eddie Murray and second base umpire Terry Tata.

Murray came to bat with the bases loaded in the ninth inning of the Cincinnati Reds’ 6-5 victory. Batting right-handed against Norm Charlton, Murray asked Tata to shift to the third base side of second base so Murray could see the left-handed delivery.

Tata declined, shifting instead to his left. Murray protested what he considered a lack of courtesy afforded other players. The situation got worse and eventually prompted the ejection of Murray, New York Manager Jeff Torborg and third baseman Chico Walker.

The Mets discussed the situation with White, who made his decision. “Basically, it says ‘Get out of the way,’ ” White said Thursday. “It should be a courtesy. I don’t like issuing directives. But the players should be able to play the game. It’s no longer up to the umpire’s discretion.”

Murray, contacted Thursday in Montreal, said: “It should be a common courtesy. They’ll move for a second baseman or a shortstop or a center fielder, but if a hitter asks they say no, and we’re confined to a little box. We can’t move very much.”