Padres Playing Broken Record: Riddoch’s (1-11)

The office was bare. Gone are the portraits of Jack McKeon. Gone are the memorabilia that McKeon accumulated over the past two years.

There wasn’t even a scent of cigar smoke.

No matter, even with everything cleaned out of the Padre manager’s office, the same woes continue for whoever dares to sit in the chair.

Greg Riddoch, watching his team lose its eighth consecutive game, 9-2 Monday night to the Cincinnati Reds, is finding out firsthand what drove McKeon out of the office.

The Padres landed Riddoch in the team record book with their longest losing streak since 1980. Riddoch’s 1-11 record is the worst of any starting Padre manager in history.

No wonder Riddoch says, “‘I’m not sleeping real good, and I’m not eating. Heck, now I’m even starting to lose my hair.”

The Padres--who were booed loudly several times during the game by the crowd of 18,238 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium--put on their usual performance. They lost for the 24th time in the past 27 games. They failed to score more than three runs for the 19th time in the past 24 games, and the 50th time of the season. And, oh yeah, the second they committed three more errors and are proud owners of the second-worst defense in the major leagues.

Just how bleak has the Padres’ situation, 38-54, 21 games out of first place, become?

Well, look at this way: If the Reds continue at this current pace, the Padres will have to go 66-4 the remainder of the season just to tie for first.

Ouch.

Riddoch tried to forget all his problems while he was putting put up two snapshot pictures of his youngest son. He placed his hitting tendency charts in the desk. And that was about the extent of his decorating.

“I’ve learned in this business, you can’t put too many pictures on the wall,” Riddoch said, “because you might soon be taking them down.”

Riddoch then went about opening his mail, trying to put at least a dent in the bulk on his desk, which consisted of three stacks of letters, 10 telegrams and five telexes.

“I’m hearing from people I haven’t heard for years,” Riddoch said, “and most of them are wondering the same thing I am. What’s going on? People are used to me turning things around, working so hard that things will come together.

“I reached a point where I feel I can make an impact on people’s lives, but I haven’t done that. It’s difficult for anyone to say he can make an impact, and I still feel I can.”

Then came the kicker.

“I’m also intelligent enough to know that there’s a lot of things I can’t control.”

Yes, the Padres have now reached the conclusion that it might be impossible for even Connie Mack to turn this team around. And considering they’ve already changed mangers once this season, you can be assured that it’ll be the players who next will go.

Say hello to Trader Jack, whose fingers are starting to get callouses from dialing the phone these past two weeks to general managers.

“I’m totally embarrassed right now,” said McKeon, vice president/baseball operations. “I can’t understand it. I left the manager’s job, and I’m still beating my head against the wall.

“Something’s going to have to be done.”

McKeon is talking with three or four clubs about possible trades before the July 31 waiver period expires. He talked with the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals during the All-Star break, and spoke again with Red Sox General Manager Lou Gorman late last week. In fact, Eddie Kasko, scouting director of the Boston Red Sox, spent four games in St. Louis scouting the Padres.

McKeon said no specific trade proposals have been discussed with the Red Sox, but sources close to the Red Sox say that Gorman is interest in acquiring either left-handed starter Bruce Hurst or Dennis Rasmussen. The Padres, sources say, have expressed interest in left fielder Mike Greenwell, center fielder Ellis Burks and triple-A third baseman Scott Cooper.

Although the Padres would prefer obtaining Burks in a trade involving Hurst, sources say that the Red Sox are unwilling to trade him. Instead, they are offering Greenwell.

The Padres, however, are a bit skeptical of acquiring Greenwell for the simple reason that they have plenty of left fielders who are marginal defensively on their roster. Greenwell also is plagued by tendinitis in his left ankle, which requires him to wear an air cast, and is scaring off several teams.

“It’s like a pitcher with rotator-cuff tendinitis, trying to throw the ball,” said Red Sox physician Arthur Pappas, describing Greenwell, who has only four homers this season. “You just don’t develop the same power thrust.”

“I have no idea whether anything will happen,” McKeon said. “I do know what they want is pitching.”

The Padres still are interested in acquiring reliever Mark Davis and either outfielder Bo Jackson or outfielder Danny Tartabull from the Royals, but Jackson and Tartabull are on the disabled list.

“I’m talking to some clubs,” McKeon said, “but I don’t see things breaking loose. My phone’s not exactly ringing off the hook with teams wanting these guys.

“I don’t know. You look at the names, and it’s not a bad ballclub. But that’s individually, not collectively.

“You can’t bet your ass we’ll be hearing about how good they were (from their agents) this winter, though.”

The Padres are scheduled to address their plan of attack in a meeting this morning between Padre chairman Tom Werner, McKeon and Riddoch. One of the primary topics will be whether to retool for 1991 or to continue plugging holes.

“I think we’re going to go for the championship,” McKeon said. “Look at the Reds, they bounced back. We need to plug a gap here, and a gap there. I just can’t see how these guys can keep staying down.”

The Padres also could address the potential free-agent market, and sources in the organization said that St. Louis Cardinal center fielder Willie McGee will be atop their list.

McGee, 32, who was National League Player of the Week with his .448 batting average, said he would be highly interested in playing for the Padres on one condition.

“The main reason I’d want to come is because of (first baseman) Jack Clark,” he said. “He’s a great player, and a great guy to have around. I played with him once, and wherever he plays next year, that’s where I want to play.

“He can make a big difference on any club.”

McKeon grunted when he heard McGee’s comments.

The way things are going, it’s not a question of who goes, but just who stays.

Padre Notes

National League President Bill White is expected to rule today on Padre first baseman Jack Clark’s ejection Sunday in St. Louis. Clark threw his bat and helmet on the field. Then, after he reached the dugout, he threw two more helmets and made an obscene gesture. National League officials said Monday that Clark definitely will be fined; it’s unknown whether White will suspend Clark for between one and three days. . . . Padre starter Andy Benes will miss his second successive start Wednesday because of a stiff left shoulder he sustained July 12 in a melee with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He will be replaced by either Calvin Schiraldi or John Davis will make the start. . . . Padre catcher Benito Santiago, who sustained a broken left arm June 14, is expected to get his cast off in another 10 days to two weeks, when his arm will be X-rayed again. The Padres don’t expect to be back before Sept. 1. “We’re not going to rush him,” Manager Greg Riddoch said. “I don’t want to say he’s going to lead us to the promised land, because he’s not.”

You want to know why the Padres aren’t scoring? Take a look at the Padres’ top of the order with two out and runners in scoring position: Bip Roberts: .233, no homers, eight RBIs; Roberto Alomar: .286, no homers, 11 RBIs; Tony Gwynn: .229, no homers, eight RBIs; Jack Clark: .167, one homer, eight RBIs; Joe Carter: .137, two homers, 12 RBIs. Shortstop Garry Templeton is the only starter with success in that situation, batting .344 with two homers and 14 RBIs. . . . The Padres and Chicago White Sox are working on a trade, but it’s expected to involve an exchange of minor-league players. . . . The Padres had their first Kangaroo Court meeting since it was installed at the All-Star break. The judges were outfielder Fred Lynn, pitcher Ed Whitson and catcher Mark Parent. Whitson and pitcher Eric Show were fined the most, $35 apiece. The judges did not disclose the total amount of the fines, but let’s just say the San Diego Children’s Hospital, the recipient of the money at the end of the year, is quite appreciative.

Reds owner Marge Schott spent the game visiting with former Padre owner Joan Kroc. The two plan to spend today at the San Diego Zoo, and then will watch tonight’s game on Cable TV. . . . Joe Carter, who leads the team with 64 RBIs, has had 233 men on base when he has batted this season. . . . The Padres will play the second game of their four-game series at 7:35 tonight to accommodate ESPN-TV. Bruce Hurst (5-8) and Jack Armstrong (11-5) are the scheduled starters. . . . There were 21 players in attendance Monday from the Padres’ Class A team, which had the night off. . . . Injuries continue to plague the Padres’ minor-league teams. The latest occurred Saturday night when center fielder Craig Pueschner of Class A Charleston sustained a broken leg and dislocated ankle while sliding into second. Manager Jack Krol told Tom Romenesko, director of player development, that “it was as nasty an injury as I’ve seen in 35 years.” The injury was so severe that it took 30 minutes for Pueschner’s leg to be immobilized, and then removed from the field by helicopter. And what were Pueschner’s final words before leaving the field? “Don’t forget my Copenhagen.”