Show Loses to Pirates; Expects to be Traded

Padre pitcher Eric Show sees it in their faces. He senses it in their actions. He listens to the insinuations.

The man who has won more games than any pitcher in Padre history, the man who has been with this organization longer than anyone in the front office or on the playing field, and the man who was racked once again in the Padres’ 10-2 defeat to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Show is convinced he’s going to be traded.

“I think my name’s always been in trade talks, but especially now,” Show said. “That’s all right, they’re not going to hurt my feelings. I don’t expect loyalty. There’s no loyalty in baseball, anyway. They traded Babe Ruth, didn’t they?

“I never deluded myself that I was wanted because of who I am. I was wanted because I produced. We’re only commodities to be dispersed of, and anyone with any brains at all should know that.

“There’s really not a whole lot to say. I don’t need to bury myself.”

No one in the Padre organization is willing to say anything publicly right now, and the subject carefully is being avoided by Padre Manager Jack McKeon, but the word on the street already is out.

The scouts that were littered among the 10,694 fans at Three Rivers Stadium, watching the Pittsburgh Pirates beat up on the Padres (12-14) for the fifth consecutive time certainly weren’t there to watch Shawn Abner perform as a pinch-hitter.

They came to see Show, but the notebooks and speed guns were quickly put away. Show lasted just 1 1/3 innings, yielding five hits and four earned runs to the 11 batters he faced. He has pitched just 21 2/3 innings in five starts this season for a 6.23 ERA.

For the first time in his nine-year career, he is 0-4.

“We all know he’s on the trading block,” said a Cleveland Indians scout, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity. “We need another starter, and we know they’re looking for some insurance at shortstop. I think they’re going to deal a starter, but it’s just a question of which one.”

The Padres have not talked specifics with any club, but they have invited everyone to come take a good look. Show is the pitcher most available, but clubs also are scouting starter Dennis Rasmussen and reliever Calvin Schiraldi, who also is capable of starting.

The Padres are willing to deal one of their starters for the simple reason that they want to make room for Mike Dunne, who’s on rehabilitation assignment at their triple-A Las Vegas club. Dunne, who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery in November, pitched a no-hitter in his last outing, is expected to make three more starts for Las Vegas before being called up May 22.

If no trade is made, Dunne likely will replace outfielder Jerald Clark on the roster, leaving McKeon the decision of who will be yanked out of the rotation. But the Padres certainly don’t need an 11-man pitching staff, simply because after Tuesday’s defeat, they won’t have to face the Pirates again until July.

The Padres have been humbled by the Pirates in every game they’ve played this season, outscored 37-11 in the five games, while becoming the first Padre team in history to lose each of its first five games to the Pirates.

It’s been painful. Take a look, if you’ve got a strong stomach.

--The Padres have never led at the end of the 43 innings played against the Pirates.

--The Pirates have smacked the Padre pitching staff around for a .341 batting average and a monstrous .604 slugging percentage, collecting 10 homers, 12 doubles and three triples.

--Pirate center fielder Barry Bonds is batting .600 (12 for 20) against the Padres, with three homers, nine RBIs and nine runs scored. Yes, Bonds has produced more runs in his 20 at-bats than the Padres have scored as a team in their 166 at-bats against the Pirates.

What’s a team to do?

“The way they were hitting,” Padre center fielder Fred Lynn said, “we needed about five outfielders out there.”

Actually, the Padres could have used a couple more infielders, particularly during Show’s stint. The Pirates obtained only three singles out of the infield off Show, but a mental lapse by him cost him two runs in the first, and he never had a chance to get untracked in the second.

The Padres scored two runs in the top of the first inning off Walt Terrell, who was traded by the Padres last year, but failed to retain the lead for even an inning.

Wally Backman, who’s hitting .625 (10 for 16) against the Padres this season, opened the inning with an infield single to shortstop. Backman took second on Jay Bell’s groundout, and Show then induced another ground ball to Andy Van Slyke down the first-base line. Joe Carter, playing deep behind the first-base bag, grabbed the ball cleanly and looked to feed the ball to Show. He wasn’t there. Show had forgotten to cover first. Van Slyke kept running and beat Carter to the bag.

Still, Show appeared to regain his composure, striking out cleanup hitter Bobby Bonilla while Van Slyke stole second. With first base open, Show elected to pitch to Bonds. He threw two pitches past Bonds, but on a 2-2 pitch, Bonds slapped a fastball up the middle, scoring two runs.

It was two runs that never should have scored if it wasn’t for Show’s blunder, and although four Padre pitchers failed to shut down the Pirates, it was Show’s play that most upset McKeon.

“If you’re pitching 10, 12 years, but if you can’t cover first base and help yourself,” McKeon said, “you’re not going to be around long.

“You can’t be a spectator. You’ve got to be in the game. Pitchers have to bunt, they have to use the bat, they have to field the position.

“If you don’t do that, you’ll be a loser.”

It was a performance that Show didn’t even bother discussing with McKeon and pitching Coach Pat Dobson. When Dobson came to the mound to get him, Show was already on his way to the dugout, flipping the ball to him without the two exchanging a word.

Show and Dobson have been irritated with one another because of an incident last week when Show criticized Dobson for not telling him that he would be passed over for a start in the rotation because of two off-days. Dobson insisted that he did inform Show earlier in the week, saying that Show even consented because of his reluctance to pitch at Wrigley Field since the July, 1987 beaning of Cub outfielder Andre Dawson.

Show’s 11-day wait resulted in a 34-pitch performance, spending 1 1/3 innings on the field, and the remainder of the game in the clubhouse, wondering what has gone wrong.

“I’m shocked at what’s happened, absolutely shocked,” Show said. “I can’t say I’m not trying, but then again, I’m not producing either. I’m just not pitching like I should.

“I might have pitched good enough to win three games if I was with the Oakland A’s or something,” Show said. “But I’m not. And I’m the one to blame. Who else is there?

“The only thing I can do is regroup. At least I haven’t lost my confidence. And I feel perfectly healthy. I just have to be patient.”

But, of course, it’s the Padres’ prerogative if they want to reciprocate.

Padre Notes

Padre reliever Mark Grant and pitching Coach Pat Dobson each telephoned former Padre Mark Davis of Kansas City, trying to bolster his confidence. Davis, who signed a four-year, $13 million free agent contract with the Royals, already has blown three saves this year and owns a 7.11 ERA. “He’ll be all right,” Grant said. “Actually, he was helping me out as much as I was helping him. He told me to forget the past, and be the aggressive pitcher I’ve always been.” . . . Although the Padres have had to make two position changes to adjust for first baseman Jack Clark’s absence, center fielder Fred Lynn and first baseman Joe Carter said they feel right at home. Lynn, who had been a center fielder for most of his 15-year career until last year, said he actually feels more comfortable in center, despite being 38 years old. “This is great for me,” Lynn said. “I feel like a fish in water in center.” Although Carter started just 11 games at first base last year, he was the Indians’ everyday first baseman in 1987. “Either way is fine by me,” Carter said. “I feel just as comfortable at first base as the outfield.” . . . Center fielder Alex Cole of the Padres’ triple-A club in Las Vegas has been moved to right field to make room for Charlie Hillemann. Hillemann replaced outfielder Thomas Howard on the roster. Howard underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week and is not expected to return until mid-June.