Templeton Issue Takes Center Stage : Baseball: Padre shortstop shocked at how he was informed of move to outfield.

Garry Templeton strolled into the clubhouse at 7:30 Sunday morning, looked at the lineup card, and winced. He slowly started to rage inside. He felt like grabbing that lineup card, ripping it off the wall, and tearing it into pieces.

It was cruel enough that he was being put in the “B” game once again, joining all the other rookies and backup players fighting for a big-league job. But this has been going on all spring, so he hardly considered it unusual.

The difference this time was that there was an “8” written next to his name. Center field! After playing 1,967 games--1,965 at shortstop--Templeton was going to be in the outfield for the first time since 1976 when he played for Tulsa in the minor leagues.

If Padre Manager Greg Riddoch, or at least one of the coaches, had only asked him, it wouldn’t have seemed so cold-hearted. If only someone had mentioned the possibility, he could have at least braced himself for the shock.

But no one said a damn word to Templeton.

“No one’s said anything to me all spring,” Templeton said, “so why should things change now.”

But instead of showing anger at this moment, instead of marching into Riddoch’s office and demanding to know what’s going on, Templeton simply dressed, grabbed an outfielder’s glove, and quietly went with the others to the “B” game.

What a way to celebrate your 35th birthday.

“You know something,” Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn said, “I don’t even remember him playing on his birthday before. They usually always give him the day off.”

This day, he was out playing a “B”’ game in the morning, taking batting practice with the other extras in the early afternoon, and going over to the “A” game in mid-afternoon, just in time to drive in the game-winning run with a pinch-hit single.

When the game ended, with the Padres winning 3-2 over the Milwaukee Brewers, Riddoch sat in his office and flatly maintained that Templeton has no better shot of making the team than Paul Faries, Joey Cora or Marty Barrett.

Templeton bit his lip, rolled his eyes, and didn’t say a word. He has spent 14 years in this game, and nine years with the Padres, and now he’s being told that he should consider himself privileged if he’s allowed to stay around as a backup.

“When it’s time,” Templeton said, “I’ll say what I have to say. But now is not the time.

“All I can say now is that this is tough, very tough. This has been more difficult than any of the 15 spring-training camps. I’ve never gone though something like this.”

Templeton, who has been team captain the past four years until it was stripped of him last month by Riddoch, is being treated like a non-roster player in his first big-league camp. He never knows if he’s playing. He never knows where he’s playing. He never knows if each day will be his last.

Perhaps this is his punishment for rejecting the Texas Rangers’ overture to trade for him. Templeton’s tenure allows him to reject or approve any trades, and when the Rangers came calling this winter, Templeton asked for a $500,000 signing bonus and a one-year contract extension. The Rangers declined, and have yet to call back.

Maybe this is his punishment for second-guessing Riddoch on the bench last season, coming into the dugout after a blown strategical maneuver, and saying, “Are we even trying.” He was called into Riddoch’s office for two hours after that incident.

Or this could be his punishment for revealing publicly that Riddoch telephoned him in December to say he was going to be the starting shortstop this season, only to find out four days later they acquired All-Star shortstop Tony Fernandez.

Templeton has his ideas, but he’s not talking. The moment he opens his mouth, and utters a negative word, he knows he’s gone. He may have a guaranteed contract for $500,000 this season, but that won’t deter the Padres in releasing him if they feel he’s a negative influence in the clubhouse.

His teammates, the the ones who console him each day, know the torment that’s ravaging his body. He’s being degraded, right there for all the world to see, and he can’t say a word for fear that he’ll be relased.

“They’re treating him like a damn dog,” said one Padre player, speaking only on the condition of anonymity. “It’s like they’re doing everything they can to break the man. And I tell you what, it’s (teeing) off a whole lot of guys around here.”

This is a man who is a two-time All-Star. He’s one of only 12 active players who have 2,000 hits. He has played in more games, 1,254, than any Padre player in history.

Now, he’s at the mercy of the Padre management who realizes that he’s the best backup player in camp, but privately believe he’ll be a destructive clubhouse force once he’s on the bench.

“I hate to see a man of Tempy’s caliber going through this,” said pitcher Ed Whitson. “It’s been tough on him. He’s really had to rely on his his wife (Glenda) because this ain’t easy. He’s never had to go through something like this.

“I just don’t understand it myself. He’s a team player. And to me, he’s a leader. We’d be crazy to let him go.”

Templeton, meanwhile, just waits. He plays whatever position they choose. He plays in every “B” game. And most important to the Padres, he keeps his thoughts to himself.

“I’m just going to do any job they ask to the best of my ability,” said Templeton, who flawlessly handled all three outfield chances in the “B” game. “Wherever they want to play me is fine. Everything is up to them.

“Then, when it’s time for them to say something, I’ll be listening.

“What else can I do?”

Padre reliever Larry Andersen has been noticing it all spring. He saw the problems. Yet, he was hesitant to say anything, simply because he’s new and didn’t know how the coaching staff would react.

“I didn’t want to make it look like I was undermining anyone,” Andersen said. “I just wanted to help him out.”

Andersen couldn’t stand it any longer, and finally took fellow pitcher Calvin Schiraldi aside a couple of days ago for a talk. Andersen told Schiraldi that when he pitched from a windup, he had a totally different delivery than when he pitched out of a stretch. It was little wonder, Andersen said, why Schiraldi has struggled so badly with men on base.

“We just had to get him to change to using the same delivery, no matter if was pitching from the stretch or not,” Andersen said.

Schiraldi, who entered the game with a 13.50 ERA, heeded Andersen’s advice, and presto: five innings, five hits, one run, one walk, three strikeouts.

“It’s the most comfortable I’ve felt all spring,” Schiraldi said. “By far this was my best outing.”

But even though the outing puts Schiraldi back into the picture for the Padres’ fifth starter, Riddoch hardly is convinced that he has found his man.

“Not one time out,” Riddoch said. “I don’t think you can go hot and cold like that.”

The Padres still are mum on the issue, but according to several of the Padre coaches, Greg Gross likely will be on the Padres’ opening-day roster as a left-handed pinch-hitter. Not bad for a guy who still has yet to sign a contract, and was brought into camp after not playing all of last year.

“I haven’t heard a word,” Gross, 38, said. “I’m just plugging away, doing everything I can to make this team.

“Really, no matter what happens, I’ve got a peace of mind, a good feeling. I found out I can still hit. I can still do it.”

Although Gross is hitting only .182 (two for 11) this spring, the Padres believe he can help them off the bench, and also fill in occasionally for Fred McGriff at first base. He started at first base in Sunday’s “B” game, and then played first base for the final four innings in the “A” game.

“I can’t believe how smooth he looks over there,” Riddoch said. “I wouldn’t hesitate at all using him there during the season.”

Jerald Clark, who’s batting .214 this spring with two RBIs, has won the opening-day left field job, leaving center field as the lone starting position that has yet to be filled. Riddoch, however, said that only time will tell whether Clark will remain as the starter, and may continue to experiment in left field and center field the entire season.

“I don’t think spring training can answer our outfield problem,” Riddoch said. “It’s tough to judge somebody in a three-week period. We’ll keep experimenting.”

Padre reliever John Costello made a strong bid to make the team as a right handed setup man Sunday when he allowed just one hit in two innings, and was the winning pitcher. “I think I’m a damn good middle reliever,” he said. “I think I can make this club. I feel I can definitely pitch in the big leagues.” . . . Just how fast was that anonymous Padre player traveling when he was pulled over for speeding on his way to Yuma on Wednesday night? Try 120 m.p.h. “I got lucky, though,” he said, “the cop only gave me a ticket for going 75 m.p.h.” . . . Padre pitcher Bruce Hurst celebrated his 33rd birthday by staying in bed. Hurst, along with center fielders Shawn Abner and Darrin Jackson are sick with the flu. Reliever Craig Lefferts has bronchitis, and is not expected to pitch again until mid-week. . . . Larry Andersen has a bit of stiffness in his lower back, and has asked to pitch at least three innings Tuesday in a minor-league game. . . . The Milwaukee Brewers, according to a source, could be on the verge of trading left handed reliever Dan Plesac to the Dodgers in exchange for two starting pitchers: Mike Hartley, and either Jim Neidlinger or John Wetteland. . . . Padre starter Andy Benes allowed four hits and two earned runs in a six-inning “B” game stint. . . . The Padres will play the Seattle Mariners at 12:05 p.m. (PST) today. Greg Harris and Eric Nolte are the scheduled Padres’ pitchers. . . . Former Padre players Ozzie Smith and Rollie Fingers, and former manager Dick Williams, were inducted Sunday into the Yuma Hall of Fame. . . . The Padres have a meeting scheduled this morning with the FBI to talk about gambling.