Fehr Calls the Padres’ Actions ‘Astonishing’

The Major League Baseball Players’ Assn. predictably has sided with Padre second baseman Alan Wiggins and its executive director Don Fehr said what the Padres have done with Wiggins is “astonishing.”

According to Fehr, the Padres had no right to call a news conference last Saturday to say Wiggins, who entered a drug treatment center on April 27th, would not play with the team this season. Fehr also said the decision should have been left to Wiggins’ doctors. He said that San Diego “has gone out and made statements totally out of accord with the (drug) agreement” and that Wiggins should be able to play this season if doctors say he is able.

So it is becoming more likely that Wiggins will play with some other major league team this season. And if the Padres won’t trade him, they likely would be forced to play with a 24-man roster.

Fehr, reached in his New York City office Monday, said: “What we have got is emotionalism on behalf of the Padres. I’m sure calmer heads will result . . . It’s a medical decision, so the Padres aren’t entitled to make this decision.

“And I’m confident they won’t (stand by their decision) . . . If he’s ready to begin playing, I assume he’ll return. If not, we’ll do something about it . . . I’m rather confident when that time comes, they (the Padres) will comply with the (drug) agreement because reasonable people comply with the agreements they make.

“We (the player’s association) are not out of it. We’re in contact with the agent (Tony Attanasio) and the player. When it’s appropriate , we’ll be in contact with San Diego, Lee McPhail (of the Player Relations Committee) or someone else (presumably commissioner Peter Ueberroth).”

It’s assumed a final step would be the filing of a grievance.

Under terms of the recently signed joint drug agreement, the Padres and Wiggins’ lawyers had to agree what to do with Wiggins (since he volunteered to enter a rehabilitation center) or else a joint review counsel, made up of three doctors, would become involved.

At this point, Wiggins and his lawyers differ with the Padres, Wiggins preferring to play this season. Attanasio and Wiggins’ lawyer Roy Bell expect to meet with team president Ballard Smith this week.

Smith naturally defended the Padre position on Monday, responding to Fehr’s statements. He said it’s possible that the team could be forced to play with 24 men.

“That may be,” he said. “We’ve considered that possibility.

“We think we’ve acted responsibly. He (Fehr) is entitled to his opinion, but it’s easy for someone sitting in a New York office to say that. He doesn’t know what it takes to run a ballclub and the responsibility to the community. He doesn’t know.

“The reaction from the public has been supportive. I think we’re doing what’s best for the ballclub and for Alan.

“It’s up to the doctors to determine whether we are right or wrong . . . I don’t think they will (say they’re wrong). We’re not exactly novices at this. While Alan may be a first time offender under the drug agreement, I’d sure like Don Fehr to say with a straight face he’s a first-time offender (Wiggins was arrested in 1982 for cocaine possession).

“Unfortunately, the drug agreement doesn’t deal with the situation as it really is (each players was granted amnesty from past drug involvement when it was signed). We the Padres have to deal with the situation in reality.”

Fehr said he was confused as to why the Padres were so quick to announce their position on Wiggins, not waiting for the doctors’ evaluations.

“I guess the publicity was more important to them,” Fehr said. “There was no hurry for them to make the announcement.”

Smith finally explained his reasoning, saying he’d gone to Chicago on Friday to tell the team of Wiggins’ status and that he felt it was his responsibility to clear the air immediately.

“We thought Alan Wiggins should devote his mind to getting better, not to playing baseball in 1985,” Smith said.

Meanwhile, Wiggins’ market value can’t be too high, now that he’s had a relapse. And General Manager Jack McKeon said Monday he has not talked to any other teams about Wiggins.

“We haven’t even discussed those things yet,” McKeon said. “We’re concerned with him getting back to being himself and taking care of his problem.”