BASEBALL ’90 PREVIEW : STARTING PITCHING

Bruce Hurst. Eric Show. Andy Benes. Dennis Rasmussen. Ed Whitson . . . Sure, there are questions. Will Show’s back be able to withstand the rigors of a full season? Will Benes go on to brilliance or pitch like someone with two months of big league experience? Will Rasmussen struggle as he did a year ago or perform brilliantly as he did in 1988? Will Whitson return for an encore or was last year a mirage?. . . . Only Hurst, who has averaged 16 victories a season for the past three years, enters the season without any questions. In his first season in the National League, he tied for first in complete games with 10, and was fourth in innings pitched with 244 2/3. His changeup is what makes him so effective. . . . Show underwent surgery in August to remove a disc from his lower back. He has not pitched in a major league game since June 25. . . . Benes was voted the rookie pitcher of the year by The Sporting News, despite playing in the majors just two months. Benes proved to be Dodger pitcher Orel Hershiser’s biggest nemesis, beating Hershiser, 1-0, in each of his two starts against them. . . . Rasmussen, who pitched just one complete game last year, is due to for a splendid season. In even-numbered years, Rasmussen has posted a 43-22 record. In odd-numbered years, he is 26-23. . . . Whitson is coming off the finest season of his 12-year career, establishing career bests with 16 victories and a 2.66 ERA. He was 9-2 in his first 12 starts, but won just two games after July 5. He gave up 22 homers, but 16 were with the bases empty, and the other six were with just one runner on.

RELIEF PITCHING

Pat Clements. Mark Grant. Greg Harris. Craig Lefferts. Calvin Schiraldi. Rafael Valdez. . . . So much for the easy times. Mark Davis and his 44 saves fled to Kansas City, leaving the Padres with five relievers who combined for 29 saves last year. . . . Lefferts, who had 20 for the San Francisco Giants last season, is being counted on to fill the shoes of Davis. Lefferts opened last season with 13 2/3 consecutive shutout innings, retiring 29 batters in a row. In his first 17 appearances, he allowed just one run in 25 1/3, posting a 0.36 ERA. He relies heavily on his screwball and must have location with his fastball to be effective. . . . He’s expected to receive right-handed help from Harris, who might have the best arm on the staff. Harris would likely be a starter in any other organization and one day might be added to the rotation. But the Padres need him to be a stopper and setup man for the bullpen. Last season, he saved six games in eight opportunities and allowed just six of 28 inherited runners to score. . . . Grant and Clements are capable middle relievers and will be used to set up the save situations. Grant and Clements will each be primarily pitching in middle and long relief. McKeon is looking for more consistency out of the two. Grant is coming off the finest season of his career, going 8-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 50 relief appearances. It was the first time since his professional career began in 1981 that he did not make a start. Clements’ only defeat of the year occurred in his only start, July 1 in St. Louis. He’ll also be used in spot situations this season to face left-handed hitters. . . . Schiraldi is the wild card of the bullpen. The Padres hope he’ll fit into the stopper’s picture. If not, he’ll be used as the setup man. Schiraldi, who joined the Padres on Aug. 30, 1989, can be used in all roles. He would rather start, if he had his choice, but for now will remain in the bullpen. He’ll be the man to join the rotation if one of the starters falters. . . . The bullpen has one rare quality. All but Lefferts started at least one game last season. . . . Valdez will be on the roster for the first three weeks of the season.

CATCHER

Benito Santiago will play all but 25 or 30 games. Mark Parent will play the rest. . . . Santiago just received a hefty raise to $1.25 million. His relationship with his manager never has been better. The Padres expect great improvement over his 1989 season in which he batted .236 with 16 homers and 62 RBIs. . . . Few in the league are better than Parent in his role.

FIRST BASE

It wasn’t the kind of club record the Padres were looking for when Jack Clark walked a record-setting 132 times. But after hitting just .217 with nine homers and 39 RBIs through June 28, Clark finished the last three months by hitting 17 homers and driving in 55 runs with a .267 batting average. He finished the year with 26 homers and 94 RBIs. Now, with Joe Carter batting behind him, those figures should only increase. . . . Before you ignore the contributions Phil Stephenson could provide, you might want to note that he’s the best defensive first baseman on the team, set the NCAA record at Wichita State with 87 stolen bases in 1982 and was a consistent .300 hitter in the minors. . . . Rob Nelson will remain with the team as one of three extra players allowed until May 1.

SECOND BASE

Roberto Alomar, 22, is a rotisserie player’s dream. He has speed. He has power. He makes contact. He hit .295 with seven homers and 56 RBIs in 1989, and figures to only improve this season. It’s essential that he improves in the field. He made a league-high 28 errors last season, much too many for a player of his talents. . . . Joey Cora will be Alomar’s primary backup. He’s a contact hitter with no power and decent range in the field.

THIRD BASE

Bip Roberts will never win a Gold Glove, but his quickness and agility enable him to be an everyday third baseman, if McKeon chooses. Roberts’ strength is his offense. He scored 81 runs in just 329 plate-appearances as the Padres’ leadoff hitter last season. He’s capable of playing any position with the exception of catcher, first base and pitcher. . . . Mike Pagliarulo will play primarily against right-handed pitchers. He hit just .154 against lefties last season and likely will be allowed to face few this season. He’s a solid defensive third baseman with a strong arm.

SHORTSTOP

Garry Templeton’s left knee prevents him from having adequate range. Too many ground balls get past him, say the critics, but he possesses a strong, accurate arm. Templeton is coming off his best offensive season since 1985, batting .255 with six homers and 40 RBIs. . . . Cora will be Templeton’s backup, and Roberts will be the No. 3.

LEFT FIELD

Fred Lynn was supposed to be washed up. He’s not only getting old, critics said, but he’s fragile. So would you believe this injury-plagued 38-year-old man would be the Padres’ opening day left fielder?. . . . Roberts will also spend much of his time in left. Although Lynn is a better outfielder, Roberts is a more dangerous offensive weapon. . . . Jerald Clark, a rookie, will add offensive punch off the bench but is a liability in the field.

CENTER FIELD

Joe Carter has averaged 31 home runs and 108 RBIs over the past four seasons while being surrounded by inferior talent. It’s frightening to imagine what he might do with this supporting cast. Scouts say he’s probably more suited for left, but that move probably won’t occur until 1991. . . . Darrin Jackson will back him up in center and be used as a defensive replacement on occasions. . . . Shawn Abner will be one of the three extra players allowed until May 1.

RIGHT FIELD

They have a four-time batting champion who owns a career .332 batting average. He also has a streak of 74 consecutive at-bats without striking out. And in the field, he is a three-time Gold Glove winner. Anything else you want to know about Tony Gwynn?