Padre Notebook : Show Doesn’t Show Much in His Spring Finale

Maybe the best thing that happened Tuesday for the Padres was Eric Show’s poor performance in his final exhibition start.

Show, who will pitch the season opener Monday at San Francisco, allowed seven runs (five earned) on 11 hits in four innings against the Angels.

If history is any indication, that means Show will pitch well in the season’s opening game.

Consider:

In 1984, Show pitched poorly in his final spring start against the Angels. He beat Pittsburgh in the season opener, 5-1.

In 1985, Show had a bad outing in his final spring start against Minnesota. He won his first regular-season start against San Francisco, 3-0, pitching a four-hitter and striking out 11.

In 1986, Show pitched well in his final spring start against San Diego State. He did not win a game in April.

Show, who mentioned those instances Tuesday, was hoping they would be an omen.

“You don’t like to have a game like this,” Show said Tuesday. “I wish I would have had a better outing so (Manager) Larry (Bowa) wouldn’t be concerned. I’m glad this was in the spring and not during the season. That’s all I can say.”

Bowa wasn’t saying much about Show.

“He got his work in,” Bowa said. “That’s all I can say.”

Show pitched five shutout innings in his previous start against Milwaukee, allowing two hits and striking out nine.

However, whenever he pitches as poorly as he did Tuesday, questions resurface about his physical condition. He missed the last six weeks of 1986 with tendinitis in his right elbow.

“My arm was OK today, it really was,” Show said. “It wasn’t my arm, it was mechanical problems. I was up in the strike zone with my pitches and threw fastballs when I needed to change speeds. I was really tired. I didn’t have any energy at all.”

Show said he was affected by a cold, his second of spring training.

Overall, Show said he was happy with his spring performance. He has a 1-2 record and 5.33 earned-run average.

“We start clean Monday,” Show said. “That’s the way I look at it. That’s when I have to be clever.”

Show wasn’t so clever on one play during Tuesday’s 7-3 loss to the Angels.

In the first inning, Show failed to cover first base on a potential double-play grounder to first baseman Carmelo Martinez. During a 30-minute postgame workout Monday, the Padres had concentrated on having pitchers cover first on grounders to the right side.

“I didn’t think there was any reason for (Show) not covering first base,” Bowa said. “We have probably practiced it more this spring than they have in the previous 10 springs.”

Said Show: “I don’t know if it would have been a double play, but I should have covered first base.”

The Padres also muffed a pickoff play in the third inning. Show threw to second base, but neither second baseman Joey Cora nor shortstop Garry Templeton was covering.

“That’s a timing play,” Bowa said. “You can’t get on anybody for that. It’s going to happen.”

Said Show: “I guess I turned too fast. I might have rushed it, and no one could get there in time.”

The Padres’ lack of power has been evident this spring. Carmelo Martinez hit the team’s first home run in 11 games Tuesday.

“We don’t have the personnel to be a catch-up team,” Bowa said. “We just don’t have the personnel to hit three-run homers. For us to win, we almost have to play perfect baseball. It’s hard to play perfect baseball. It’s tough for a pitcher when he knows he almost has to throw a shutout to win.”

Tom Gorman may have secured the No. 10 spot on the pitching staff, pitching two scoreless innings Tuesday and allowing three hits.

Bowa said he is “about 90% sure” of his decision as to whether Ed Wojna or Jimmy Jones will be his No. 5 starter. Wojna has been more effective than Jones recently, but Bowa said he still needs to sleep on it. Bowa declined to identify the front-runner.

“One of those guys is going to Las Vegas,” Bowa said.

Center fielder Stanley Jefferson’s tolerance for pain is not making points with Bowa.

On Monday, Jefferson was carried off the field on a stretcher after he sprained his ankle when he tripped rounding first base. Jefferson didn’t play Tuesday, and he is on a day-to-day basis.

“It could be a day, it could be a week, it could be a month,” Bowa said. “His pain tolerance is not very high. When he was on the ground, I thought he had broken his ankle. He was five feet from the bag and he couldn’t get back. That must be what he considers pain.”

Said Jefferson: “I think I have a high pain tolerance level.”

Padre Notes

The Padres are deciding whether to sign infielder-outfielder Luis Salazar, said General Manager Jack McKeon. Salazar, who suffered a severe leg injury in 1986, was a nonroster player with the Chicago White Sox this spring. The Padres called Salazar to talk about whether he would sign a Triple-A contract. But Salazar requested that if another team inquired about signing him immediately to its major-league roster, he could sign with that team. Toronto expressed interest in Salazar Tuesday, and he could sign with the Blue Jays soon.

If not, it’s likely the Padres will sign him, McKeon said. Salazar was a member of the 1984 Padres but was traded to Chicago in the LaMarr Hoyt deal.