BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : NATIONAL LEAGUE : Bonds Issues a Challenge to Opposing Baserunners

Barry Bonds, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ flamboyant left fielder, issued a warning to all postseason opponents who would attempt to stretch a single into a double against him.

“That’s my house out there, and you better be careful when you come into my house,” he said before the start of the National League championship series. “You may get me once, but you will not get me twice. You better think twice before even trying.”

Bonds, who won a Gold Glove last year and recorded 13 outfield assists this season, said he is the league’s best left fielder.

“You can’t even compare me and (Pirate center fielder) Andy (Van Slyke). We don’t even match up, no way,” Bonds said. “Is there a left fielder in this league who compares to me? Nobody. That’s speaking just defensively.”

Bonds paused.

“Now offensively . . . well, there’s nobody that compares to me either,” he said.

With Wednesday’s loss, the Braves remain the only National League team that has not won a postseason game. They are 0-7. . . . Since the league has used a best-of-seven format for the playoffs in 1985, only two Game 1 winners have won the series, St. Louis in 1987 and San Francisco in 1989. . . . The Pirates were so sure the Dodgers were going to win the National League West, the section in their postseason media guide about Pirate history begins, “The Pittsburgh Pirates are making a record eighth appearance in the National League Championship Series, a number shared by only this year’s opponent, the Los Angeles Dodgers.” Also, in the table of contents, one listing reads, “Pirates Statistics vs. Los Angeles” and another listing reads, “Pirates-Dodgers 1991 Box Scores.”

The Dodgers, who upset many baseball people with their comments during the NL West race, improved their image by taking out a quarter-page ad in Wednesday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution congratulating the Braves on their title.

“We congratulate the Atlanta Braves and their fans on a great season,” the ad read. “Best of luck in the National League Championship Series! Los Angeles Dodgers.”

The H on the Pirates’ right sleeve is in honor of John Hallahan, Pittsburgh’s equipment manager since 1956, who died Sept. 11. . . . This is the first time since 1980 that none of the four championship series teams is from California. . . . The Braves are the only team in history to finish first the year after having the worst record in the majors.