SPRING TRAINING ’87 : PADRES : New Manager Larry Bowa Stresses Speed and Base Hits; Raines Still Highly Sought

An exciting off-season comes to an end Monday when Padre pitchers and catchers begin workouts in Yuma, Ariz.

This winter was a hot one. In less than four months, the Padres fired a manager (Steve Boros), hired a manager (Larry Bowa), put the team up for sale ($50 million), had a pitcher go to jail (LaMarr Hoyt), traded their power (Terry Kennedy and Kevin McReynolds), acquired three Mets (Stan Jefferson, Kevin Mitchell and Shawn Abner), chatted with two free agents (Tim Raines and Bob Horner) and had marital problems (team President Ballard Smith split up with his wife, Linda, who is owner Joan Kroc’s daughter).

But Yuma should bring tranquility, as long as Bowa stays cool and Smith somehow signs Raines. Only two years ago, Bowa was a Chicago Cub shortstop who was mad at his manager, Jim Frey. Now, suddenly, he is a manager himself and must deal with players who might fuss as he used to.

But if Raines signs, life improves immediately. Bowa, thinking ahead, says he would have Raines lead off, with rookie Jefferson batting second and Tony Gwynn third. Gwynn, thinking ahead, has begged Smith to sign Raines.

The Cincinnati Reds are favorites to win the National League West, but their all-star right fielder, Dave Parker, is starting to worry about San Diego.

“I’m not surprised Tony Gwynn asked Ballard Smith to sign Raines,” Parker was saying the other day. “Imagine the fastballs Tony (would) see with Raines batting in front of him. With the way Gwynn can already hit? Ooooooooh-weeeeeeee!”

That’s what Jack McKeon, the Padre general manager, is thinking. At his weekly radio talk show (which is open to the public), McKeon led the audience to cheers of “Sign Tim Raines! Sign Tim Raines!”

Bowa was sitting nearby.

“Yeah, I’ve been writing lineups with Raines’ name in it,” Bowa said. “But I finally told myself, ‘Don’t do this, Larry. Wait till it happens.’ I’ve sort of put it out of my mind.”

So with spring training upon us, Bowa must make do with a team nobody knows. In 1986, they ran slow; in 1987, they say they’ll run fast. In 1986, they hit home runs; in 1987, they say they’ll hit doubles. In 1986, they finished fourth; in 1987, they won’t even predict.

Bowa has spoken with his buddy Pete Rose, the Reds manager, and Rose advised him: “Larry, shut one eye and shut one ear because you could find something going wrong that you don’t like every day, if you want to be picky.”

And Bowa is saying he’ll take the advice.

“Pete says the ballplayer has really changed from five, 10 years ago,” he said. “He just says they’re more sophisticated. They want to know why. They take a lot of things for granted. He said their work ethics aren’t really good.”

And since Bowa’s life ambition is to hit a thousand fungoes a day, we’re heading for a collision.

“I don’t think players will like him (Bowa) at the start, but they will at the end, when we win,” McKeon said.

Bowa has been in Yuma for a week already. He and his fungo bat are ready. If the season opened today, he says his batting order could be as follows:

1. Jefferson, center field.

2. John Kruk, left field.

3. Gwynn, right field.

4. Kevin Mitchell, third base.

5. Steve Garvey, first base.

6. Benito Santiago, catcher.

7. Tim Flannery, second base.

8. Garry Templeton, shortstop.

But this could easily change if second baseman Joey Cora comes along, if left fielder/first baseman Carmelo Martinez comes along, if Tim Raines comes in and signs, and so on.

Nonetheless, here’s what Bowa is thinking on Yuma Eve:

FIRST BASE

Right now, it’s Garvey’s job, but not his alone. Garvey, 38, is projecting 150 games and 20 to 25 home runs for himself, but if he doesn’t come through, watch for Martinez and Kruk to fill in.

“When people ask me who’s the first baseman, I say, ‘Steve Garvey is,’ ” Bowa said. “But I can’t look another person in the eye and say if Garv goes through a month when he drives in just one run--like he did last year--and say I’ll stick with him. I can’t let that happen when I’ve got a guy like Martinez with great potential.

“Steve has the first-base job because he had a very good year last year power-wise. But everyone has to make concessions as they get older. I think it’s in the best interest of our team to play Martinez some at first base and play him some in left and get him some at-bats. We have to realize as a team, and it might be selfish, but Steve is in the last year of his contract. We’ve got to see who can play there.”

Martinez was the MVP of the Caribbean World Series this winter. At first, he’d gained a lot of weight this winter (he was as high as 230 pounds), but Bowa visited Puerto Rico and told him to report to spring training in the 200-pound range.

Martinez has already lost 15 pounds.

“If he comes in overweight, he’s telling me he could (not) care less,” Bowa said. “That’s fine with me. If that’s his attitude, great. He just won’t play. It’s as simple as that. . . . I’m willing to fluctuate 5, 6 or 7 pounds, but when you’re talking 25 or 30 pounds, that’s a joke.”

SECOND BASE

Right now, Bowa thinks he’ll platoon Flannery and Randy Ready (McKeon calls Ready a “right-handed John Kruk”). But don’t rule out Cora, a speedy rookie who played Double-A ball last year.

This winter, Cora led the Puerto Rican League in stolen bases, and he is superb in the field. Most likely, he’s the heir apparent to Templeton at shortstop (with minor leaguer Roberto Alomar eventually moving in at second), but Bowa says Cora could be the regular second baseman this year if he has a great spring training. And if so, Ready and Flannery would become utility players.

But if Cora has just an average spring, he’ll play Triple-A. Bowa’s theory is that he’d rather start a kid at Triple-A and bring him up later in the season than start him in the big leagues and ruin his spirits by sending him down. Besides, he wants Cora to play every day in 1987--whether it be with San Diego or Las Vegas.

Bip Roberts, last year’s opening-day second baseman, is in camp as a nonroster player and probably will end up at Triple-A, though he’s added bulk in the off-season.

SHORTSTOP

It belongs, as usual, to Templeton, who has become a pet project of Bowa, a former shortstop.

“We’ve got to get a year out of Tempy offensively,” Bowa said. “It seems his concentration wasn’t too good at the plate last year. He’d go out and swing at anything the pitcher would throw up there. I didn’t see this, but I’ve been told this by three or four people. They said they don’t believe he’s lost it, but his concentration was low.

“Listen, he came out last year and said he’s the kind that needs to be kicked in the butt. If that’s what it takes, I’ll be glad to oblige.”

Flannery will be Templeton’s backup. But if Templeton gets hurt and misses a couple of weeks, Bowa said he’d bring up Gary Green--a smooth fielder from Triple-A--and play him every day. Green, frighteningly skinny a year ago, has put on 25 pounds in the off-season.

THIRD BASE

Mitchell, acquired from the Mets in the McReynolds deal, has the inside track, even though he played only seven games at third last season. He says he’s not comfortable at third base yet, but Bowa reminds everyone that Mitchell was a third baseman in the minors.

Mitchell, who grew up in San Diego, is fast and has power. The Padres are expecting 15 to 25 home runs, and he could replace Garvey as the cleanup hitter because Bowa says he’ll hit into fewer double play.

Randy Asadoor, who batted .364 when he was brought up from Triple-A last September, also will get a look at third. Ready and Flannery can play there too.

LEFT FIELD

If Raines signs, it’s his. If he doesn’t, it’s a battle between Kruk, Martinez and 19-year-old Shawn Abner.

Abner likely will end up at Triple-A. Kruk and Martinez are weak defensively, but one of Bowa’s coaches, Greg Riddoch, has been ordered to smack line drives to them all spring.

“The worst that can happen is I can platoon them there,” Bowa said. “But if one guy gets hot, I’ll go with the hot bat. I hate to say I’ll platoon those two guys because it’s not true. And one of the two will play some first base.”

CENTER FIELD

Another former Met, Jefferson, has the inside track. He’s a better fielder and baserunner than hitter, but he batted well this winter in Puerto Rico.

If he falters, there’s Shane Mack, Marvell Wynne or James Steels to fill in. Mack began last season at Double-A, but was moved to Triple-A and batted .362.

“Abner and Cora won’t stay up here as bench players,” Bowa said. “I’ll send them down to play every day. But I would use Mack off the bench. You know, I see an outfield in three years of Abner, Mack and Jefferson with Tony Gwynn playing first base. Nothing would get between those outfielders.”

RIGHT FIELD

Tony Gwynn. Enough said.

CATCHER

It will belong to lanky 22-year-old rookie Benito Santiago, he of the strong arm and streaky bat. He hit three home runs last September and once threw a guy out at second base from his knees.

But his attention span can be shorter than his wing span.

“I pulled him a couple games (at Las Vegas last season) after an inning was over,” Bowa said, “because he’d let his hitting affect his catching.

“Benny, I can yell at him anytime, even in front of everyone, and he’ll be OK. He’ll go out and get ‘em.”

Bruce Bochy will be the backup, as well as a key pinch-hitter.

PITCHING

Right now, Bowa says Eric Show, Andy Hawkins, Storm Davis and Ed Whitson will be starters. He expects Jimmy Jones and Ed Wojna, who both spent last season at Triple-A, to battle for the fifth spot.

Bowa would prefer to keep left-hander Dave Dravecky (a starter last season) in the bullpen. He hopes relief pitching will keep Dravecky’s arm from tiring late in the season. Then, maybe later in the year, Dravecky can go back to the rotation. In the meantime, he’ll work as a setup man.

Craig Lefferts is another left-handed setup man, and either Greg Booker, Jones or Wojna will be the long-relief man.

Either Lance McCullers or Goose Gossage will be the stopper, and--strangely--McCullers is the incumbent because he finished strong last season after Gossage was suspended for criticizing management.

“I don’t really think it’ll be a battle between them,” Bowa said. “Just hypothetical, let’s say McCullers is the stopper when we leave here April 5 and say he runs into trouble. What’s to say there can’t be two stoppers? I think that’s good. There will be a point in time when one of the guys goes cold.

“You try to keep one guy hot and when he cools off, you try to get the other guy going.”

The success of the entire pitching staff probably hinges on the health of Dravecky and Show, who each had elbow problems last season.

“If Show and Dravecky are hurt, we’ll be in deep trouble,” Bowa said.

And one more thing: Bowa will make the pitchers better bunters. Last year, the pitchers spent most of batting practice trying to hit tape-measure homers, but it won’t happen again.

“Starting Monday, the pitchers will start to learn how to bunt,” Bowa said. “We’ll start from scratch. And if they don’t learn Monday, we’ll do it again Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. . . .”

1987 PADRE SPRING TRAINING ROSTER PITCHERS

No. Name B T Age Ht. Wt. W L ERA 52 Joe Bitker R R 23 6-1 175 7 7 3.53 2 0 3.29 51 Greg Booker R R 26 6-6 223 8 9 5.25 1 0 1.64 34 Storm Davis R R 25 6-4 200 9 12 3.62 43 Dave Dravecky R L 29 6-1 200 9 11 3.07 49 Rusty Ford R R 30 6-4 200 2 9 3.72 54 Rich Gossage R R 35 6-3 226 5 7 4.45 40 Andy Hawkins R R 27 6-3 223 10 8 4.30 25 Ray Hayward L L 25 6-1 190 9 11 4.63 0 2 9.00 45 Jimmy Jones R R 22 6-2 175 9 10 4.40 2 0 2.50 37 Craig Lefferts L L 29 6-1 190 9 8 3.09 41 Lance McCullers S R 22 6-1 215 10 10 2.78 30 Eric Show R R 29 6-1 184 9 5 2.97 53 Candy Sierra R R 19 6-2 190 4 5 4.86 50 Ed Vosberg L L 25 6-1 190 7 8 4.72 0 1 6.59 32 Ed Whitson R R 31 6-3 195 5 2 7.54 1 7 5.59 26 Ed Wojna R R 26 6-1 185 12 7 3.59 2 2 3.23

No. ’86 Club 52 Beaumont-AA Las Vegas-AAA 51 Las Vegas-AAA San Diego 34 Baltimore 43 San Diego 49 Beaumont-AA 54 San Diego 40 San Diego 25 Las Vegas-AAA San Diego 45 Las Vegas-AAA San Diego 37 San Diego 41 San Diego 30 San Diego 53 Beaumont-AA 50 Las Vegas-AAA San Diego 32 New York (AL) San Diego 26 Las Vegas-AAA San Diego

CATCHERS

No. Name B T Age Ht. Wt. HR RBI Avg. 46 Sandy Alomar Jr. R R 20 6-5 200 4 27 .240 15 Bruce Bochy R R 31 6-4 234 8 22 .252 27 Mark Parent R R 25 6-5 215 5 40 .288 0 0 .143 16 Benito Santiago R R 21 6-1 180 17 71 .287 3 6 .290

No. ’86 Club 46 Beaumont-AA 15 San Diego 27 Las Vegas-AAA San Diego 16 Las Vegas-AAA San Diego

INFIELDERS

12 Randy Asadoor R R 24 6-1 185 13 52 .280 0 7 .364 11 Tim Flannery L R 29 5-11 180 3 28 .280 6 Steve Garvey R R 38 5-10 190 21 81 .255 20 Gary Green R R 25 6-3 175 0 40 .249 0 2 .212 NA Kevin Mitchell R R 25 5-11 210 12 43 .277 5 Randy Ready R R 27 5-11 180 1 4 .190 0 0 .000 0 8 .368 17 Ed Rodriguez R R 26 5-11 175 4 32 .301 1 Garry Templeton S R 29 6-0 192 2 44 .247

12 Las Vegas-AAA San Diego 11 San Diego 6 San Diego 20 Las Vegas-AAA San Diego NA New York (NL) 5 Milwaukee San Diego Las Vegas-AAA 17 Las Vegas-AAA 1 San Diego

OUTFIELDERS

47 Randell Byers L L 22 6-2 180 11 50 .266 19 Tony Gwynn L L 26 5-11 199 14 59 .329 NA Stan Jefferson S R 24 5-11 175 2 37 .290 1 3 .208 NA Shawn Abner R R 19 6-1 190 14 76 .266 8 John Kruk L L 26 5-10 190 4 38 .309 0 9 .464 14 Carmelo Martinez R R 26 6-2 210 9 25 .238 44 Scott Parsons R R 25 6-5 190 13 63 .401 5 42 .350 21 James Steels L L 26 5-10 180 8 64 .307 7 Marvell Wynne L L 27 5-11 176 7 37 .264

47 Beaumont-AA 19 San Diego NA Tidewater-AAA New York (NL) NA Jcksn, Tex.-AA 8 San Diego Las Vegas 14 San Diego 44 Reno-A Beaumont-AA 21 Las Vegas-AAA 7 San Diego