PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Fregosi Is the Latest Manager to Attempt to Fix the Phillies

Jim Fregosi, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, was sitting in his office Friday, smoking a cigarette and chatting with friends, when the telephone rang.

It was the Phillie promotions department, needing to know the ages and uniform sizes of his children for a benefit game.

Fregosi provided all the pertinent information, hung up the phone and shook his head, laughing.

“They’re taking a lot for granted aren’t they?” Fregosi said. “They’re asking me about something in July. How do they know I’ll even be here in July?

“I’m on a day-to-day contract here.”

Fregosi, the one-time Angel star, was hired Tuesday as manager of the Phillies, a rather precarious situation considering the team’s history. They have employed eight managers since Dallas Green left after the 1981 season. And they have finished over .500 only once in the past seven seasons.

“We’re in a division that tends toward a lot of change,” Fregosi said. “The teams are relatively equal, and it’s a competitive division. If you don’t win, changes are made. And this is a town that expects to win. The fans like to win, and they’re very vocal if you don’t.”

Cerainly, the odds, let alone the talent, don’t favor Fregosi succeeding.

Since World War II, 40 managers have been fired 50 games into the season or earlier--an average of nearly one a season.

And yet:

* Only two of the 40 teams went on to finish in first place.

* Only 10 went on to winning records.

* Thirteen teams finished in last place.

* Three of the managers were fired before the next season.

“Hopefully,” Fregosi said, “we can change all that.” General Manager Joe McIlvaine said the team will decide today whether starter Greg Harris will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Harris, who has tendinitis in his right elbow, will pitch on the side, and the Padres will make their decision on basis of his performance.

The Padres still need a starter for Tuesday’s game against the New York Mets, and if Harris is unable to start, the Padres will start either Mike Maddux or call up a pitcher from triple-A Las Vegas.

Said Harris, who arrived to Philadelphia shortly before game time: “The doctors told me there’s a 35 to 40% chance I’ll be able to start. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

“They haven’t said anything to me yet,” said Jim Riggleman, Las Vegas manager, “but (Derek) Lilliquist and (Adam) Peterson have been throwing the best. That’s who I’d recommend.”

Lilliquist is scheduled to start Sunday for Las Vegas, and Peterson is scheduled Monday. While several Padres spent their off-day in Atlantic City or playing golf, Padre center fielder Shawn Abner drove two hours to Mechanicsburg, Pa., to see his former high school team play. It was the first time he returned to his high school since he left in 1984.

Did he give any batting tips?

“Nah, you kidding?” Abner said. “They wouldn’t listen to me. I’ve got to hit .380 for that.” Padre pitcher Atlee Hammaker, attempting to return from a fractured finger on his left hand, pitched three innings in his first simulated game of the season.

“I felt good out there,” Hammaker said. “My finger felt fine. All my pitches felt fine, at least, the ones I got.”

Hammker is expected to make one or two more simulated starts, and then is expected to be placed on one of the Padres’ minor-league teams for a rehabilitation assignment. Padre third base coach Bruce Kimm returned home to Iowa for personal reasons. He’s expected to return in time for today’s game. He was replaced at third by bench coach Jim Snyder. ... Padre third baseman Jim Presley had the flu and was sent back to his hotel room before the game. . . . Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn drove in his 500th run in the first inning, and drove in another in the seventh inning. ... The Padre bullpen leads the major leagues with 28 points in the Rolaids standings with a 4-1 record and eight saves in nine opportunities. . . . The Phillies have five potential free agents at the end of the season: first baseman John Kruk, reliever Mitch Williams, infielder Randy Ready, pitcher Danny Cox and catcher Steve Lake. . . . The Phillies have lost six one-run games this season, most in the National League. . . . The Padres are 3-1 in one-run games. . . . Opponents have been successful in 30 of 35 stolen base attempts against Phillie catching. . . . The Padres will play the Phillies at 4:05 p.m. (PST) today. Andy Benes (0-2) and Danny Cox (0-0) are the scheduled starters.