SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Barry Bonds chastised Rockies reliever Turk Wendell on Wednesday for accusing him of using steroids.
A day after Wendell said it was "clear just seeing his body" that Bonds was taking steroids, the Giants slugger said the remark should've been made directly to him, not a reporter.
"I heard about his comments. If you've got something to say, say it to my face," Bonds said. "Don't talk through the media.
"I'm not worried about him. I'm not worried about anyone. I have a lot of respect for Turk Wendell. I have a lot of respect for every baseball player in this game. You got something to say, you come to my face and say it and we'll deal with each other. Don't talk through the media like you're some tough guy."
Tuesday in Tucson, Wendell criticized Bonds to the Denver Post.
Bonds, who says he doesn't use steroids, appeared in December before a grand jury probing a supplements lab accused of illegally distributing steroids to athletes.
His trainer, Greg Anderson, was among four men charged this month. All have pleaded innocent and no athletes have been charged.
Steroid testing was among the hot topics when the players association staff began its annual tour of spring training camps.
Cubs camp in Mesa, Ariz., was the first stop, and the steroid issue came up several times.
"We just went through with the players and reminded them what the procedures are," said Michael Weiner, the union's No. 3 official.
Union head Donald Fehr missed the opening of the tour because of minor surgery but is expected back when the meetings shift to Florida.
PUERTO RICO WANTS MORE: The promoters who brought the Expos to San Juan in 2003 and 2004 may try to attract other major-league teams, including the Devil Rays, for 2005. Puerto Rico is among the candidates to become the permanent home for the Expos. Antonio Munoz Grajales, the son of lead promoter Antonio Munoz, said the Rays, Marlins and Pirates were candidates to play games there if the Expos relocate elsewhere.
OSPREY KILLER WANTED: An arrest warrant has been issued for Cubs minor-leaguer Jae Kuk Ryu, who hasn't fulfilled the requirements of his probation for fatally beaning an osprey in Daytona in April. The South Korean pitcher was supposed to serve 100 hours of community service during his six months of probation. But the probation office charged with monitoring the former Daytona Cub could not confirm receiving documentation of Ryu's work, said Shirley Spargur, program manager for Maximus, the private company that handles probation for Volusia County.
ANGELS: Showing no sign of the back injury that limited him to 112 games with Montreal last season, rightfielder Vlad Guerrero swung smoothly and made solid contact as he joined his new teammates for their first full-squad drills. "It feels good. I've been working on my back, so everything's okay, " Guerrero said through an interpreter.
METS: Tom Glavine was picked to start his second straight opener for New York. The left-hander is scheduled to face his old team in Atlanta on April 6.
RED SOX: Boston still prefers renovating Fenway Park to building a new stadium, team president Larry Lucchino said. Minority owner Tom Werner said a decision will have to be made "in the near future." Lucchino doesn't want a major expansion that would affect the park's intimacy, but additional capacity would provide extra revenue.
ROYALS: Outfielder Juan Gonzalez will arrive at spring training today, behind most of his new teammates. General manager Allard Baird said Gonzalez was delayed by family issues. ... Right-hander Kyle Snyder will miss the season after surgery to repair torn cartilage in his pitching shoulder.
WHITE SOX: DH Frank Thomas still doesn't agree with the way the team handled his contract after the 2002 season, when it invoked a diminished-skills clause in his previous agreement. "I think it was embarrassing. I told people I was the first player ever last year to have a guaranteed contract taken away," he said after Chicago's first full-squad workout. "I was bitter about it, but you know what? I got over it."
