Padres Give No. 2 Spot to Hawkins

Padre Manager Larry Bowa filled in the three blanks in his starting rotation Monday, sending the odd pitcher out to the bullpen and leaving only one question.

How long will his setup last?

Amid increasing talk that the Padres would not mind trading pitcher Andy Hawkins to clear the path for prospects, Hawkins was named the No. 2 pitcher, behind opening day starter Ed Whitson, and in front of Eric Show, Jimmy Jones and Mark Grant.

This means that left-hander Eric Nolte, who impressed late last season with a 3.21 earned-run average in 12 starts, is headed for the bullpen. And that means the starting rotation will have all right-handers, something of an oddity in a baseball world that believes every rotation should have at least one left-hander to confuse opponents.

“I don’t have problems with that, as long as you are using your best five pitchers,” said Bowa, who said he did not arrange the starters according to stature. “But this rotation is also not set in stone. I mean, a lot can happen. Hey, there could be a trade tomorrow.”

He was speaking hypothetically, but realistically, that brings up Hawkins. Both club and league sources say the Padres would deal the five-year veteran for the right offer.

Hawkins is coming off shoulder tendinitis that made 1987 his worst year ever--3-10, 5.05 ERA, with nearly a two-month layoff. And he is one of four veteran Padres who will be free agents after this season, meaning he could leave then and the Padres could get nothing more than a draft choice as compensation. (Eric Show, Garry Templeton and Tim Flannery are the other Padre free agents).

With pitchers Nolte, Candy Sierra and eventually Greg Harris of triple-A Las Vegas all looking for space, the Padres would like to somehow make room, and trading a pitcher would make the most sense.

But Hawkins will not be traded for just anyone, and for understandable reason.

Just 28, he remains a pitcher with a career 3.97 ERA, and five career shutouts. And few in San Diego will forget his 1984 playoffs and World Series, when he allowed just one run in 15 innings against the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers, including three scoreless appearances in the playoffs.

He remains a fan favorite, having been with the Padre organization as long as any player, since 1978, when he broke in with Flannery and Show. He even quietly became the only Padre to take a pay cut this season, a 20% drop that put him down to around $425,000.

Hawkins says he has pondered the trade rumors. “I’ve thought about it quite a bit,” he said.

And he has decided, he doesn’t want to think about it.

“I don’t want to go anywhere, I love it in San Diego,” he said. “I have given 10 years of my life to this organization. I would like to see us make a serious commitment to winning, and be part of that.

“I’ll never forget 1984, and all we had, and I want to be around for that again. Everybody out here has been good to me. I would like to stay.”

After a slow start this spring, allowing 10 earned runs in his first 9 innings, Hawkins has come back to pitch comparatively well, allowing 9 earned runs in his last 17 innings.

Three of those recent earned runs came when he tried to go too many innings too quickly against Oakland last week, falling apart in the seventh. And Monday, in a 6-4 victory over the Angels, he struggled with his control in allowing 4 runs over 5 innings in giving way to Jimmy Jones, who threw 3 scoreless innings for the win.

“It isn’t like Hawkins hasn’t earned his starting job,” pitching coach Pat Dobson said. “The numbers don’t always show it, but he’s thrown well, he’s shown us what we want to see.”

Nolte lost his shot for a spot on Saturday, when he allowed six walks in 4 innings against the Giants. Opening night will mark only the second time in his life that he has watched a game from the bullpen.

“I did it once in Class A, and it was interesting what happens down there,” said Nolte, who still has a respectable 3.80 spring ERA. “Like, spit your gum out and see who can kick it the farthest.”

But seriously . . . . “I know I need to work things out, so I’ll go anywhere they say,” Nolte, 23, said.

Padre Notes

As the Padres broke a five-game spring losing streak Monday, Shawn Abner was at it again. The rookie went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a diving catch in left field. The heat is increased on Shane Mack, who may no longer have a lock on the final backup outfield final job. In the Padres’ last five games, Abner has 10 at-bats, Mack has only four. Overall, Abner has 44 spring at-bats, Mack has 37. “Shane will get some at-bats before the spring is over,” promised Manager Larry Bowa, who will leave the loser of the battle in triple-A Las Vegas when the club plays there this weekend. . . . According to Bowa, injured third baseman Chris Brown should play today or Wednesday in the Palm Springs finale against the Angels. Brown’s left upper arm is healing well after being struck with a Rick Reuschel pitch against the San Francisco Giants Saturday. . . . On Thursday, after the Padres return to San Diego, Bowa will give them their first day off since February 21. Friday, the Padres play San Diego State at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, and then play at triple-A Las Vegas the next two nights before flying to Houston Sunday night. They will work out at 1 p.m. Monday on the brand new Astrodome turf, and then open the season against the Astros Tuesday night. . . . The probables for the opening series: Tuesday, Ed Whitson (10-13) vs. Mike Scott (16-13); Wednesday, Andy Hawkins (3-10) vs. Bob Knepper (8-17).