Honesty Doesn’t Look Like Their Policy in Spring

Who needs the cinema? In the first week of spring, baseball produced a sequel to “Secrets & Lies.”

Consider:

--Barry Bonds, with two years remaining on his six-year, $43.75-million contract, accused San Francisco Giant owner Peter Magowan of lying about an extension, apologized by describing it as heat-of-the-moment frustration over the direction of negotiations, and soon got that $22.9-million extension--another self-inflicted blow to baseball’s claims of economic distress.

No secret to the Giants’ thinking.

In a rebuilding mode with a new park scheduled to open in 2000 and in the midst of selling personal seat licenses, the Giants needed to make a long-term commitment to their marquee player--particularly since they were drawing heat for trading Matt Williams.

“We’ve made a commitment to our fans to build a new park, but we also have a commitment to build a team in the process,” Executive Vice President Larry Baer said.

“It would have been difficult to put a program in place without the cornerstone of the club locked up. It’s a lot of money, but we continue to feel he’s the best player in the game, which creates a different equation.”

Baer added that the “major years of payoff” to Bonds will occur when the Giants are in a different economic situation in a new park.

“Cleveland is the model in that regard,” he said. “The Indians put a team in place timed to the opening of their new park.

“I mean, we’re not at all defensive about this contract. Things were said in the heat of negotiations with Barry, but in the four years since his initial signing, he’s definitely held up his end of the bargain. He’s missed five games in four years, and no matter what kind of impression he creates at times, he’s very emotional about playing in his hometown and wants to play on a championship team with the Giants.”

At a per-year value of $11.45 million in the extension, Bonds now holds the record. The extension also includes language committing Bonds to a stronger effort in community and media relations. That apparently took an additional $22.9 million--$43.75 million wasn’t enough.

--Mo Vaughn, the Boston Red Sox bellwether who has made no secret of his disdain for ownership’s direction, accused the club of lying about having a competitive team and being restricted by small-market economics.

“If we’re a club that’s rebuilding, then say that,” he said. “If we’re a club that’s on our way, then say that. But don’t lie. I mean, having been lied to all these years is probably tough to take for the fans of New England. [The fans] don’t want to be lied to and neither do the players.

“Everybody talks about the Red Sox being a small-market club . . . like we’re Milwaukee or something. . . . I refuse to believe the Red Sox are like the Milwaukee Brewers. The city of Boston’s got money that’s as old as dirt. They’ve got the old-fashioned money, and I know all the guys who got it. So when I hear that, those two things don’t come together for me.”

General Manager Dan Duquette refused to expand the debate, insisting only that the Red Sox have a “very credible program in place,” that a $40-million payroll is larger than last year’s and that it’s time to move on.

Responded Vaughn, “Sometimes you get mad, man. We’re not machines. We’re human. I want to win. That’s all. If they want to be mad at me because I want to win, then they’ll be mad at me.”

--Baseball hasn’t accused Albert Belle of lying when he claims he hasn’t bet on baseball, but it’s no secret that possibility is being investigated.

A trail of eight money orders apparently used by Belle to pay his $40,000 debt may provide the best clues, according to sources.

Suspended five times in the last six years, the man continues to find new ways to embarrass himself and the game that has made him a millionaire.

MOVE OVER, J.R.

Pitchers and catchers had barely reported when Cincinnati Red Manager Ray Knight put the motivational fodder on the bulletin board. St. Louis Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa provided it, telling a fan gathering, “I guarantee we will not relinquish the Central Division” and then, at a media luncheon the next day, saying, “I guarantee you will be covering a championship club.”

Said Knight, “That’s a whole lot of guarantee, isn’t it? I thought it was done on the field. That doesn’t show a lot of respect for the other teams. You better [show respect] or somebody is going to jump up and bite you.”

FAMILY TIES

The Reds avoided arbitration with second baseman Bret Boone, but it was costly. Boone received a four-year, $11.15-million contract. Sweeter yet for a player once considered a defensive liability was General Manager Jim Bowden’s justification: “With Barry Larkin and Bret Boone signed to long-term deals, we have the best double-play combination in both leagues locked up.”

Said Boone’s father, Kansas City Manager Bob Boone, “Bowden has taken the pressure off me. Now he can give Bret his allowance.”

REALIGNMENT

Both leagues may be reshaped in the near future, but clearing up some confusion regarding 1998: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will definitely start in the American League West, and interleague play will be geographical--East Division vs. East Division, West vs. West, etc.

One exception: The Yankees and Devil Rays have traded opponents. The Yankees will play the Dodgers and Giants in ‘98, their former New York rivals, with Tampa playing the neighboring Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves.

Strange business.

When clubs are permitted to make trades in the schedule, possibly setting up easier matchups, it might be something a commissioner should examine.

NO STOMACH

The Detroit Tiger pitching staff had the second-highest earned-run average in major league history last year--6.38. It wasn’t simply an absence of talent, General Manager Randy Smith said.

“Too many of our guys just didn’t have any guts,” he said. “You never saw any of our pitchers come inside aggressively, or knock someone off the plate, or knock someone down. It was very frustrating to look inside some of the people we had here, frustrating to realize they weren’t competitive, weren’t gamers.”

Smith is hoping the arrival of several young pitchers, led by Jason Thompson and Mike Drumright, will yield a new aggressiveness.

NO JUSTICE

Returning from the shoulder injury that sidelined him for all but 40 games last year, David Justice responded to rumors, saying he no longer feels the Atlanta Braves are his team and expects to be traded, relieving an outfield logjam.

“I still love all the dudes I came up with and all the guys I’ve been shaking hands with [since arriving in camp],” he said. “But I’m just concentrating on getting myself ready to play. Forget being a spokesman and being the one to get the guys all pumped up and ready to go. That’s not my job anymore.”

SWIFT, INDEED

Hoping to instill some mental toughness, Colorado Rocky Manager Don Baylor demanded that pitchers and catchers arrive ready to run a seven-minute mile.

Except for asthma-hindered Doug Million and rehabilitating Jamey Wright, all 29 did. Bill Swift won in 5 minutes 50 seconds and said, “I just hope I can throw as good as I can run.”

So do the Rockies. Swift has pitched only 124 innings in the first two years of a three-year, $13.15-million contract. He had more operations (two) than victories (one) last year.

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Big Money

Highest salaries per season in millions in the four major sports, including the top five in baseball:

* BASKETBALL: Michael Jordan, Bulls: $30.14

* BASEBALL: Barry Bonds, Giants: $11.45

* HOCKEY: Mario Lemieux, Penguins: $11.3

* FOOTBALL: Troy Aikman, Cowboys: $6.25

NEXT FOUR IN BASEBALL

2. Albert Belle, White Sox: $11

3. Ken Griffey, Mariners: $8.5

4. Roger Clemens, Blue Jays: $8.25

5. John Smoltz, Braves: $7.75