Slump Just Gets Worse for Padres

There was Tony Gwynn, his arms folded behind his head Sunday afternoon, staring blankly into his locker. Across from him was Rob Nelson, wishing he still had a locker. Down the way was Carmelo Martinez, hoping one day that his locker will be elsewhere.

Three diverse athletes. Three varieties of frustration. The same feeling of emptiness.

Their moods were provoked by their roles in the Padres’ 3-2 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals, and when each departed the clubhouse, their outlooks were understandably unique.

Gwynn, the Padres’ all-time hit leader, had a chance to be the hero in front of the 16,901 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, but instead he remained thoroughly entrenched in the deepest slump of his season.

Nelson, the 24-year-old first baseman who desperately wants to stay in the big leagues and help the Padres in any role they ask, was told that he’d be playing the rest of the season at their triple-A team in Las Vegas.

Martinez, who envisioned this season as the one that would launch his career into stardom, was left sitting on the bench again, and now believes that the only chance of his career prospering is playing elsewhere.

“It was just a rotten day for everybody,” Gwynn said, “it’s that simple.”

The most encouraging aspect of the Padres’ day was seeing the Cardinals board their team buses for the airport. In one fell swoop, the Cardinals wiped out the Padres’ illusions of climbing back into the pennant race, humbled any player holding a bat, and left the Padres wondering why in the world they ever thought they were that good in the first place.

Just how devastating was the Cardinals’ four-game sweep, the first visiting team to do so since the New York Mets in 1988?

Well, considering Padre Manager Jack McKeon’s fondness of quoting Shakespeare of late, it’s only apropos to say, let me count the ways:

--The Padres were outscored 20-5, never scoring more than one run in a single inning.

--The Padres were outhit, 43-21, with 16 of those hits being singles.

--The Padres batted .167 during the series, including .136 with runners in scoring position.

--The Padres never led in a single inning during the series. The Cardinals owned leads in 31 of the 36 innings.

--Take a peek at the heart of the Padre offense: Gwynn (two for 17 with no RBIs), Marvell Wynne (three for 12), Jack Clark (one for 13 with one RBI), Chris James (three for 16 with one RBI), Benito Santiago (zero for 10 with five strikeouts).

“I don’t know what it is about those guys,” McKeon said. “I don’t think they pitched all that good, but they sure as hell had our number.”

The Cardinals, facing a team which had scored 26 runs with 32 hits in their last two games against the Pittsburgh Pirates, cut off the artery to the Padre offense by stopping Gwynn.

Gwynn managed to hit just five fly balls the entire series, and when provided the opportunity to drive in Bip Roberts in the ninth inning, Gwynn lined out to left, culminating four days of anguish.

“I’m not going to hide it,” Gwynn said. “I’m not going to deny it. I stink.

“They kicked our butts. In four days, we didn’t have even one big inning. And I didn’t even have one good at-bat. Not one.

“I told myself I wouldn’t do it, but I’m ready to start breaking bats and throwing helmets.”

Despite his post All-Star slump which has dropped his batting average (.338) to its lowest level since June 4, Gwynn at least has the comfort of knowing that there are 10 weeks remaining to have a gratifying season.

It’s a luxury that is not afforded Nelson or Martinez.

Nelson, who has been Jack Clark’s backup at first base since being recalled May 7, was rudely informed of his demotion when he entered the clubhouse in the fifth inning. His travel bag, which he was packing for the Padres’ trip to Cincinnati, was opened with his road uniform taken out. He got the official word after the game.

“They gave me some excuse that they wanted me to play more,” he said. “What does that mean? I realized from the beginning that Jack Clark is the first baseman and I wouldn’t be playing a lot. I never complained.

“But now they tell me this. It stinks.”

Martinez, on the other hand, begrudgingly accepts his role as a part-time player, but refuses to hide his bitterness. Didn’t he lead the club in homers last season with 18? Wasn’t Gwynn the only player on the team who had more than his 65 RBIs? And didn’t he also get off to a slow start last season, hitting .196 as late as July 4?

This season, the Padres’ patience waned much earlier, resulting in just 10 starts since the end of May. It’s becoming quite apparent that Martinez is vanishing from the Padres’ plans. Martinez, eligible for free agency at the end of the season, wonders why the Padres even bother waiting.

“I had a chance to play every day, I know that,” Martinez said, “and I blew it. But I don’t think I should be hanging around the bench now. I’m too good of a ballplayer for that.

“You know what they say, it’s not over ‘til it’s over. Well, it’s about over for me.”

Padre Notes

Padre Manager Jack McKeon shuffled his lineup Sunday with Tony Gwynn batting leadoff for this first time since May 14, and Mike Pagliarulo batting cleanup. They managed to put a runner in scoring position in seven of the nine innings, but went just one for 10 in those hitting situations. . . . Padre pitcher Eric Show, eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday, said he’s probably at least weeks away from returning to action. He has bulging disks in his back, and has yet to start his rehabilitation.