BASEBALL PLAYOFF NOTES : NATIONAL LEAGUE : Pirates’ Offer to Bonilla Angers Bonds

Asked about the Pirates’ recent offer to potential free agent Bobby Bonilla--$3.2 million per year, the salary paid teammate Andy Van Slyke--Bobby Bonds grew angry.

“Do you think Bonilla is worth more or less than Van Slyke? He is worth more. I think so.” Bonds said. “Everybody knows what is going on with this team right here. You know the contracts that have been given. So you know what the hell is going on in the organization.”

Asked whether he thought the club should re-sign Bonilla, Bonds said, “We have the best four-five (batting-order) combination in the National League. Why should somebody try to break that up? If Bobby does leave, I’m right behind him.

“I’m going to play out next year and go to free agency like Bobby. I’ve had the best years of my career with him. I cannot keep putting up my good numbers if he leaves.”

Bonds batted .292 with 25 home runs and 116 runs batted in this season. Asked about his controversial image, he said, “I just sell papers. I am the best newspaper seller in baseball. Everybody writes bad about me, and that sells papers.

“But sometimes controversy is good. I’ve have three years of it, and I’ve turned it around. I’ve gone from being a spoiled brat-idiot to just being Barry Bonds, a good player. That’s a good feeling.”