Padres Giving Bosses No Knocks on Riddoch

He has lost eight pounds and three waist sizes in his uniform pants. He feels much more scalp that he used to when rubbing his hand through his hair. Restless nights have replaced tranquility.

It has been just one month since Greg Riddoch was hired as manager of the Padres, but even with the stress, Riddoch has decided that it’s a job he wants to retain.

His players feel the same way.

The Padres, winning, 6-3, in 10 innings Saturday night over the Houston Astros in front of 25,830 at the Astrodome, have undergone a metamorphosis under Riddoch.

They’ve become the team everyone envisioned out of spring training, recapturing respectability by winning 15 of their past 20 games and pulling to within 11 1/2 games of the Cincinnati Reds, their smallest deficit in the National League West since July 4.

“It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?” Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn said. “What were were, just 21 games out three weeks ago? Now, look at us. Let’s just keep creeping and creeping, especially when the pressure’s off.

“We’re just quietly playing good ball, but you know ESPN, they’ll probably be talking all about it tomorrow.”

The Padres, who are guaranteed to become the first team since the Chicago Cubs on May 17-20 to win a series in the Astrodome, broke open the game in the 10th. Roberto Alomar led off with an infield single, and when Gwynn walked to the plate, he was ordered to bunt. The trouble was that the Astros knew what was coming, too and brought the infield in. So what does Gwynn do? He hits away, punching a single through the right side, moving Alomar to third.

Joe Carter then followed with a smash through the right side of the infield. It was hit so hard that by the time center fielder Eric Yelding stopped it by the warning track, Alomar and Gwynn scored, and Carter had his first triple since July 15, 1989. It also enabled him to take over the major league lead in RBIs with 92. Benito Santiago dealt the final blow with a sacrifice fly, and Craig Lefferts pitched the 10th for his 18th save of the season.

And just like that, Riddoch reached the .500 level as manager at 16-16. Not a bad feat, considering the Padres opened with an 1-11 record under Riddoch, leaving him to doubt his own abilities.

“Knowing the players the way I do, and thinking I could make an immediate input and didn’t,” Riddoch said, “that was very disheartening. You find out you’re not special. You can’t change everything. You can only change their attitude.

“That’s why I’m not egotistical enough, or naive enough to think I’m the reason we’re winning now.”

But something certainly has happened to this team, which has won just two fewer games on this trip (8-2) than they did the entire month of July.

“What he’s done, more than anything is get us to maintain our focus,” outfielder Fred Lynn said. “The atmosphere in here has changed dramatically. Just look at the way we’ve played lately. The way we played defensively Friday was as good as we’ve played all season.

“And I’m sure even the problems we have now, Riddoch will address next spring, if Riddoch is here.”

That decision, of course, has yet to be made. He already has been guaranteed that he’ll be back at least as a coach, but the Padre ownership still has until Oct. 15 to decide if its wants to exercise his option as manager.

Tom Werner, Padre chairman, said it’s premature to discuss Riddoch’s future, but if the Padres continue to perform anywhere anything like they have the past three weeks, the decision will be rather easy.

“Let’s just say Greg has had a very, very positive effect on the team,” Werner said. “It’s been great to see.”

Riddoch, 45, said he hasn’t wasted a moment worrying about next year. Yes, he wants the job. And considering he has a son in college, and one that’s a year away, that $160,000 salary as manager in 1991 sure would come in handy.

“You know, I hear a lot of people saying, ‘Hey, why don’t they make a decision now,’ ” Riddoch said. “I tell them, ‘Why should they?’ There’s no rush. I’m not worrying about it, and I’m sure they’re not worrying about it, either.

“I really don’t know if they want me back as manager, but I do know that I’ll at least be back as coach, and I can do that job well.”

As a manager, Riddoch is relying on the same skills that made him successful as a coach. In fact, one of the first things he did as manager was address the team collectively, and individually, to help rid the clubhouse of dissension.

He knows as well as anyone that it’s impossible for a group of 25 players to all get along with each other, but Riddoch stressed the need of being together once they cross the white lines, and the Padres have responded.

“I think that’s the biggest difference of all,” said shortstop Garry Templeton, Padre captain. “Everyone’s getting along better than they have all year. You have to pull for each other in this game, and believe in a guy’s ability.

“That’s why the negative vibes have been eliminated.”

Riddoch also devised a way to help eliminate their mental blunders and physical mistakes by instituting a fine system and kangaroo court. Players are fined now by Riddoch for violating club rules, and for certain mental mistakes. And those that are not worthy of fines by Riddoch usually end up being ridiculed in the players’ kangaroo court.

“He’s really not like any manager I’ve ever had,” Lynn said. “He’s not old school at all. He doesn’t go out and drink and smoke, like a lot of the old-time guys. He’s a guy with good, fresh ideas.

“It’d be very interesting to see what ideas he brings in to spring training if he’s back. And I’m telling you now, he should be return.

“If he doesn’t come back, we’re going to go backwards. It means starting all over again, learning a whole different system. It’s not going to work.”

As starting pitcher Ed Whitson said: “Maybe we’ll just surprise everyone, and catch them all snoozing, then they’ve got to bring him back, right?”

Padre Notes

Padre starter Andy Benes left the club Saturday afternoon and took a flight home because of family matters. He will be unable to make his start tonight against the Astros, and Derek Lilliquist (2-8) will take his place. “I don’t know what the problem is,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said. “He called me about 5 o’clock and said he had family matters he had to take care of, and I said to go on home. I didn’t want to pry.” . . . Padre first baseman Jack Clark was able to take batting practice for the first time Saturday since sustaining a strained right hamstring Thursday night against the Atlanta Braves. He still was kept out the lineup for the second consecutive game and likely will miss today’s game against the Astros, Riddoch said. He is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday against Montreal. “There’s no use taking chances,” Riddoch said. “Since we’ve got the off day Monday, that would give him four straight days to be healthy. I’d rather him just miss these games than the rest of the season.”

Fred Lynn said that he’ll broaden his defensive skills next spring by learning to play first base. “Jack (McKeon) wanted me play first this spring,” Lynn said, “but because of the lockout, I never had the chance. I’ll pick it up next spring. I’ve already got my glove, and everything.” . . . Padre third baseman Eddie Williams, who was not claimed on waivers, has 72 hours to report to triple-A Las Vegas or become a free agent. Williams, who was outrighted Thursday, likely will not re-join the Padres even when they expand their roster Sept. 1. . . . When Padre reliever Rich Rodriguez retired Franklin Stubbs in the fifth inning, it marked the first time he got a batter out since Aug. 1, nine batters ago. . . . Padre left fielder Bip Roberts stole two bases Saturday, his first since in 19 games. He had been caught stealing in each of his previous four attempts. It was the fourth time this season that Roberts has stolen two bases in a game.

The active 2,000-hit club that Padre shortstop Garry Templeton joined Thursday night: George Brett, Kansas City; Andre Dawson, Chicago Cubs; Dwight Evans, Boston; Carlton Fisk, Chicago White Sox; Ken Griffey, Cincinnati; Keith Hernandez, Cleveland; Eddie Murray, Dodgers; Dave Parker, Milwaukee; Dave Winfield, Angels; and Robin Yount, Milwaukee. . . . Birdie Tebbets, one of the Baltimore Orioles’ top scouts, is in Houston scouting the Padres, seeking pitching help. . . . Lance Dickson, the Chicago Cubs rookie left-hander from La Mesa, has told reporters for years that was a die-hard Padre fan. So what does he say this week? “I’ve been a Cub fan all my life,” Dickson told Chicago reporters this week. When they played the Padres in ’84 (during the playoffs), I was rooting for the Cubs. I cried when Steve Garvey hit that home run.” . . . Clark and Padre third baseman Mike Pagliarulo have delayed their efforts in obtaining tattoos. “I think we’ll do it in San Diego,” Clark said. “Well, maybe.”

Much to the distress of the Padres, they won’t be returning home from their 11-game trip until around midnight tonight. Their game against the Astros is the Sunday night ESPN game of the week, with a 5:05 (PDT) start. Andy Benes (8-8) and Bill Gullickson (8-8) are the scheduled starters. . . . The Padres are off Monday, and then will open a nine-game home stand beginning Tuesday with a three-game series against the Montreal Expos. The scheduled pitching matchups: Dennis Rasmussen (8-10) vs. Dennis Martinez (8-8) on Tuesday; Bruce Hurst (7-8) vs. Kevin Gross (8-9) on Wednesday; and Ed Whitson (9-7) vs. Oil Can Boyd on Thursday.