PADRES : Riggleman Running On Time for Big Time

The Padre players openly talk about it in the clubhouse. Scouts and baseball executives whisper in the stands. Reporters speculate in the press box.

The name is Jim Riggleman, and it might be worth remembering.

Riggleman is going to be a big-league manager one day.

His office could very well be at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Jim Riggleman is going to be a big-league manager, no doubt at all,” said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager. “It could be soon, too. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him managing a year from now.

“I just don’t know if it’ll be with the Padres.”

Riggleman, 38, the Padres’ new triple-A manager in Las Vegas, comes in with an impressive resume. He spent 6 1/2 years managing in the minor leagues in the St. Louis Cardinal organization. He was the Cardinals’ director of player development for one year. And for the past two years he was the Cardinals’ first-base coach under Whitey Herzog, lasting until new Manager Joe Torre hired his own staff.

“The Padres got themselves a good one,” said Giant center fielder Willie McGee, who spent the past eight years with the Cardinals. “I know he really impressed me. He’s very patient, works well with the young players, and let me tell you, the man is sharp.

“I look for him to be a manager at any time. I mean, the man’s that good.”

Said Padre pitching coach Mike Roarke, who also was with Riggleman in St. Louis: “He’s a good baseball man. I think everyone knows he’s going to be a manager some day.”

Riggleman listens second-hand to the tributes and accolades. He knows that Herzog speaks reverently of him. He hears that McIlvaine praises him.

Frankly, he’s flattered. He had no idea of the respect that he has attained. The only time he becomes troubled is when he hears rumors that he’s going to be the next manager of the Padres, replacing Greg Riddoch.

“Sure, I want to manage in the big leagues,” Riggleman said. “It’s something I’ve aspired to do since I began coaching. I think I’m ready. And I think I could do a good job.

“But I did not, in any way, take a job with the San Diego Padres because Greg Riddoch is on a one-year contract. This is Greg’s club, and I think he’s going to do a good job. And I want him to do a good job.

“I guess it’s kind of like when you’re a player, and you’re competing for the same job as your buddy. You want him to get three hits. It’s just that you want to get four.”

It wasn’t until 1988 that Riggleman learned how others judged his talent. His name surfaced in Sports Illustrated, ranking him among the top young managerial candidates in the game. No one has forgotten.

“I didn’t know anyone noticed me until that came out,” Riggleman said. “I thought I was doing a good job, but I didn’t think it was something I should talk about. I thought it would sound egotistical, or that I was better than other candidates.”

Riggleman realizes that perhaps more than ever before, he’ll be watched quite closely in Las Vegas this season. Dick Williams, who was hired as a scout by the Padres, will be reporting directly to McIlvaine on Riggleman’s progress. McIlvaine will be scrutinizing Riddoch.

“There’s so many situations that come up in a ballgame,” Riggleman said, “but I feel I can handle the strategy. I think I’m ready for a major-league clubhouse and the media. At least, I feel I’m ready for it, but no one knows for sure because I’ve never done it.”

Sounds familiar to Riddoch. Before he was hired at the 1990 All-Star break as the Padre manager, he, too, was a longtime manager in the minor leagues. He, too, was in player development. He, too, was a major league coach.

Now, here is Riddoch, knowing that if he fails, the Padres have a manager in waiting. It could be a bit uncomfortable. Riddoch insists the contrary.

“I’m not threatened at all by that,” Riddoch said. “He’s a quality guy, and I think he will be a manager some day, but that’s what we want. We’re trying to get as good as people as we can in this organization, and we got one right here in Jim.

“To tell you the truth, I think it’s rather comforting.”

The Toronto Blue Jays, after conferring among themselves Thursday, came to the conclusion that they will not be able to pry away starter Greg Harris from the Padres.

“I don’t think we ever got out of the batter’s box with them,” one Blue Jay executive said. “We don’t have anything remotely close.

“They like our outfielders, but they’re not in a position to trade away a guy like Harris.”

The Blue Jays attempted to sweeten their package by including pitcher Al Leiter in their trade discussions, but McIlvaine was not interested.

No longer will they have to worry about catching the right team bus. No longer will they wonder where relief pitcher Larry Andersen will show up. No longer will the Padres find out that there are mysterious games scheduled.

No longer will they have to worry about snow.

Yes, believe it or not, it actually did snow for several minutes Thursday during the San Francisco Giants’ 10-6 victory, lending the crowd to start singing, “Jingle Bells.”

“I didn’t think I’d ever say this,” first baseman Fred McGriff said, “but I can’t wait to get back to Yuma.”

After 12 confusing, chaotic, damp days in Phoenix, the Padres are returning to their spring-training home.

“That’s the best part of all,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said. “Considering all the circumstances up here, we really got a lot accomplished. I think we have our infield established now, and now we just have to set up our pitching.”

And the outfield?

“I’m more confused than ever,” Riddoch said. “We’ve had so many guys come on for us, it may take a whole year to get straightened out.”

Tony Gwynn, of course, is in right field. Jerald Clark has emerged as starting left fielder. And in center field? It’s probably between Shawn Abner and Jim Vatcher. Although Abner, who homered Thursday, still is the favorite, the play of Vatcher virtually has guaranteed him a spot on the roster.

The infield already is set with McGriff is at first, Bip Roberts at second, Tony Fernandez at shortstop and Jim Presley at third.

“Bip’s done a great job for us,” Riddoch said. “We were a little worried coming in, but he’s handled himself well at second. I really like his range and quickness.”

Presley, who’s hitting .307 with two homers and eight RBIs, also has been more than adequate, sealing the third-base job. Although the Padres are impressed with Scott Coolbaugh (.333, two doubles), he will start this season in triple-A Las Vegas.

The pitching staff, however, is in a bit of a quandary. Just how muddled is the battle for the No. 5 starter?

“Everyone’s tied for second,” Riddoch said.

The Padres, according to a club official, have decided to option outfielder Oscar Azocar to their triple-A Las Vegas club, which could allow Greg Gross, 38, a spot on the roster as their primary pinch-hitter.

Azocar, 26, who was acquired during the winter meetings from the New York Yankees, was expected at least to platoon in left field, but he is hitting .091, with one single in 11 at-bats.

Azocar and Jim Vatcher are the only outfielders remaining with the Padres who still can be optioned to the minors without having to clear waivers. The Padres have six players on their 40-man roster who are out of options: infielder Joey Cora, outfielders Shawn Abner, Darrin Jackson and Jerald Clark and pitchers Mike Dunne and Eric Nolte. For the Padres to send any of these players to the minors, they must clear waivers, allowing any team 72 hours to claim them.

This is why the Padres are shopping Cora, knowing that if they attempt to send him to the minors, any team can claim him.

“He’s the one I’m pointing teams toward,” McIlvaine said.

The Padres will make their first round of cuts today, sending about 10 players to the minors. Besides Azocar, the likely cuts figure to include: pitchers Terry Gilmore, Ricky Bones, Frank Seminara and Rafael Valdez; first baseman Kevin Garner; catcher Chris Jelic and Mike Basso; and third baseman Tom Redington.

Padre Notes

Brian Dorsett, battling for the backup catcher’s job, staked his claim Thursday by hitting two home runs off Giants pitcher Bud Black. “I’m looking for an opportunity,” he said, “and hopefully this is it. I just have to establish myself. But personally, I don’t think I have anything more to prove at triple-A.” Dorsett, 29, has spent parts of four seasons in the big leagues, but he also has undergone three arthroscopic operations on his right knee and right shoulder. He’s competing with Tom Lampkin and Dann Bilardello to become Benito Santiago’s backup. It’s possible that the Padres could carry three catchers, Manager Greg Riddoch said, but the trouble is that none plays another position. “Hey, I also can play first base,” Dorsett said. “I don’t think they know that. I better tell them. It can’t hurt.”

First baseman Phil Stephenson is scheduled to have his right knee examined again Saturday before a decision is made on whether to undergo surgery. “It feels better than it did three weeks ago,” Stephenson said, “but it’s still not right.” . . . The Padres, who didn’t know they had a game against the Giants until two days ago, turned out to be quite grateful. Their game against the Seattle Mariners--the one they knew about--was rained out. Yet, the Giants’ field in Scottsdale was fine, allowing them to play. “Great planning, huh?” General Manager Joe McIlvaine said. . . . Tony Gwynn hit .160 (four for 25) on the Phoenix trip. “I’m scuffling,” Gwynn said, “I’m really scuffling.” Said teammate Darrin Jackson: “Geez, I wish I could scuffle like that.”