Padres Say They Will Not Discipline Whitson

The Padres will not take disciplinary action against pitcher Ed Whitson, who was arrested Sunday night on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, Padre President Chub Feeney said in a prepared statement Tuesday.

Feeney made the announcement after he met with Whitson Tuesday afternoon.

“(Whitson) has assured us that this is an isolated incident that will not occur again and that he has no other problem,” Feeney said in the release. “While we do not condone what has happened, we accept his explanation.”

Whitson, 32, has been free on $1,250 bond since his arrest Sunday night in Solana Beach. A date has not been set for a preliminary hearing in North County Municipal Court in Vista.

According to Sgt. Kim Carson of the San Diego County sheriff’s department, Whitson was stopped in the 200 block of Lomas Santa Fe Drive at about 11 p.m. Sunday for exceeding the speed limit.

Carson said Whitson was traveling 65 to 70 m.p.h. in a 35-m.p.h. zone, according to the arresting officer, deputy Brent Wagner. Believing that Whitson might be under the influence of alcohol, the officer administered a breath test, Carson said.

Carson would not reveal the results of the test except to say that Whitson’s blood-alcohol level was “well above” the .10 reading that can result in a charge of driving under the influence.

Whitson was taken to San Diego County Jail in Vista, where he was held about 75 minutes before he was released on bail.

Whitson’s arrest occurred several hours after the Padres returned from San Francisco, where they had gotten their first victory of the season in the final game of a four-game series. Whitson was the winning pitcher in the 6-4 win, his first victory since July 31.

Whitson had no public comment except to say, “I’ve talked to all the people I need to.”

Whitson also had separate meetings Tuesday afternoon with Jack McKeon, Padre vice president of baseball operations, and Manager Larry Bowa.

“Eddie told me he was speeding,” Bowa said. “He told me he had a couple of beers and didn’t eat anything. I said hopefully it won’t happen again and to slow down.”

Bowa said he did not believe Whitson’s arrest would lead to the Padres’ widening their clubhouse restrictions on alcohol. The Padres banned alcohol in their home clubhouse in May 1986. The ban, however, does not apply to road games or when the team is traveling.

Contributing to this story were staff writers Bill Plaschke and Anthony Perry.