Owner Chides Bonds

San Francisco Giant owner Peter Magowan wishes Barry Bonds had been less combative in his news conference earlier this week that dealt mostly with questions about steroids.

Magowan wasn’t in town for Bonds’ session with the media Tuesday in Scottsdale, Ariz., but he read about it while in Europe for a business meeting.

“I would have said some things maybe a little differently,” Magowan said Friday, speaking in the dugout at the club’s spring training complex.

“But we have to remember this is a free country. People have a right to say what they think. I’m not the one under that kind of pressure and scrutiny that he was.”

Bonds was defiant and called reporters liars in his first public comments since his grand jury testimony was leaked to the San Francisco Chronicle and reported in December.

Bonds reportedly testified to a grand jury in December 2003 that he used a clear substance and a cream given to him by a trainer who was indicted in a steroid-distribution ring, but said he didn’t know if they were steroids. Prosecutors believe the substances were two steroids at the center of the BALCO scandal.

Bonds, meanwhile, had no pain or swelling in his surgically repaired right knee after playing catch in the outfield at Scottsdale Stadium.

Bonds, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 31, completed his third day of rehabilitation work with a variety of mild activities, including a session on an exercise bike.

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St. Louis Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa doesn’t advise Mark McGwire to take legal action against Jose Canseco for accusations of steroid use in his book.

La Russa passed the bar in 1979, the year he got his first major league managing job with the Chicago White Sox, but has not practiced law. He said it would be a no-win situation for McGwire, who played for him in both Oakland and St. Louis.

“I vaguely remember law school, but I remember that when you start getting into libel and slander, that’s one of the toughest proofs in the world,” La Russa said. “It is so difficult.”

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Cardinal pitching coach Dave Duncan usually is a stoic observer behind the screen. But when Rick Ankiel threw to hitters for the first time in spring training, he had trouble containing his enthusiasm.

Ankiel, who has had major control problems, kept batters flailing during a 40-pitch outing, and Duncan said at one point, “Nobody can hit that pitch!”

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Curt Schilling felt fine one day after throwing off a mound for the first time since his November ankle surgery. Schilling threw 47 pitches Thursday and is scheduled to throw off a mound again today.

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Kerry Wood will make his third consecutive opening day start for the Chicago Cubs, Manager Dusty Baker said. The 27-year-old right-hander will be on the mound in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks on April 4.... Cleveland left-hander C.C. Sabathia will start on opening day for the third straight season. Manager Eric Wedge announced that Sabathia would pitch against the Chicago White Sox on April 4.