Padres Notebook : Hoyt’s Problem Is More Than Alcohol: Attorney

Padre pitcher LaMarr Hoyt definitely had been drinking alcohol before his admittance to a rehabilitation center last Thursday, but his attorney said Sunday that Hoyt’s problems are “more than just alcohol.”

“Alcohol is all that I’m sure of, but it goes deeper than that,” said Ron Shapiro, Hoyt’s Baltimore-based attorney. “Nobody will know what his real problems are until later this week when they finish the evaluation. I would not limit his problem to just alcohol. His problem is still being analyzed.”

News surfaced on Friday that Hoyt was stopped at San Ysidro border Feb. 10 for failing to declare small personal use quantities of marijuana, Valium and Quaaludes. Shapiro said he had heard nothing of it, but said he knew Hoyt had been drinking.

“There has been some concern that he was on drugs, too,” Shapiro said. “Well, I’m pretty sure it’s not hard drugs. . . .

“In his family, there’s some history of alcohol. And once I hear that and once I know that someone’s under a lot of pressure like LaMarr was, well, you or I may not see him drinking, but I think that’s what started to happen. He didn’t have anyone. He didn’t have Sylvia (his wife, who he’s recently separated from). I know I was talking to him every couple days and I was concerned. I think he was doing his drinking at night and losing control.”

New Padre Manager Steve Boros, whose outside interests include writing a novel, said Saturday: “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life managing. I may want to get out of managing after two, three, four years. Of course, the Padres may want me out before then. What I’m saying is I don’t see myself managing too long. I’ll say maybe five years.”

Padre major leaguers played an intrasquad game against Padre minor leaguers on Sunday, and the major leaguers won, 7-6.

Shortstop Mario Ramirez hit a two-run homer for the big league team, and Jerald Clark hit a homer for the minor leaguers.

Who else stood out? Boros particularly liked the play of shortstop Gary Green (on defense), first baseman John Kruk (at the plate) and second baseman Bip Roberts (on the bases).

Roberts, who has a chance to start this season, stole second and third base and made every play that came his way in the field.

“I’m still learning how to steal bases,” Roberts said. “. . . But it was nice to make plays on defense. That’s the main thing I’m concerned with--defense. I know I can get on base. But this is just the first day.”

Roberts wore a chain around his neck, one with a panther connected to it.

“Yeah, a panther,” he said. “I try to be as smooth as I can.”

Shortstop Garry Templeton didn’t play in the intrasquad scrimmage after he bruised his right index finger, fielding a ground ball during morning workouts. He later took batting practice and the injury is not considered serious.