NOTEBOOK : PADRES UPDATE : Clark Might Remain Out for Series in Cincinnati

The Padres, who miss left fielder Jerald Clark’s bat much more than they ever imagined, will have to do without him for at least another three games. He is expected to miss the entire series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Clark, who has been out since April 30 with a strained left Achilles’ tendon, was expected to come off the disabled list Friday. After the Padres reevaluated his injury Wednesday, they said Clark likely will not come off the disabled list until Monday.

“I thought he’d be ready by now,” said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, “but it’s taken longer than that. Maybe Monday, I don’t know.”

Still hopeful, Clark said: “I haven’t done anything for two days, but I think I’ll be ready Friday. That’s the day I’m planning on. I’ll be taking batting practice, and that’s the day I plan to play.”

If Clark indeed is out, the Padres will continue to use Bip Roberts in center field, and Thomas Howard in left field against right-handed pitchers. But the Padres are 5-9 in games Clark has not been in the starting lineup.

“We really miss him,” Roberts said. “You’re talking about a guy who can hit 20 homers. With his bat out of there, we’re a different team.”

Montreal Manager Buck Rodgers, when asked to compare Expo catcher Gilberto Reyes to Padre catcher Benito Santiago, said: “Santiago is not even in the top 10 anymore. He’s living off his reputation ever since the guys in the media over there made a big deal about him throwing off his knees. He lost all his fundamentals. He would have to start all over again from A-B-C. He fell in love with his media reputation.”

Santiago, who did not play Wednesday, has thrown out seven of 27 runners attempting to steal this season.

Padre pitcher Greg Harris, after recovering from a bout of food poisoning, threw long-toss Wednesday before the game with hopes of returning within two weeks.

“It’s getting better,” Harris said, “but it may take time. I’d say if anything really bothers me, it’s my breaking ball. I hope to pitch off the mound Friday and see what happens.”

Reliever Pat Clements, after being examined again Wednesday, will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to repair a muscle tear in his left shoulder. He’ll rejoin the team Monday in Atlanta and begin therapy. He is expected to be out for a minimum of three weeks and perhaps as long as 10 weeks.

It’s incredible to believe that the Seattle Mariners have not had a winning record in their franchise history, Padre third baseman Jim Presley said, considering that their 1981 instructional league team consisted of 18 players who still are active in the big leagues.

The active players include: Presley, outfielders Danny Tartabull and Ivan Calderon, second baseman Harold Reynolds, catcher Dave Valle, and pitchers Mark Langston, Mike Moore, Matt Young, Edwin Nunez and Lee Guetterman. Outfielder Dave Henderson and pitcher Bud Black each were supposed to be on the team, but were called up in September.

Padre Manager Greg Riddoch, unabashedly rooting for Denver to receive one of the two National League expansion franchises, already has a vested interest. He and his family have plunked down $300 for six season-ticket applications. “Hey, in this business, you’ve got to make plans,” Riddoch said. . . . Right fielder Tony Gwynn, joking before the game about his homer Monday night. “Hey, that was my 50th,” Gwynn said. “I should have kept the ball.” Gwynn then turned to Padre first baseman Fred McGriff, who has nine homers this season: “Just think, Fred, it took me 9 1/2 years to get 50 homers. That’s a season and a half for you.” . . . Met third baseman Howard Johnson switched his uniform number--again. Johnson, who wore No. 20, switched to No. 44 in tribute to Reggie Jackson on May 10, after pitcher David Cone switched to No. 17 in tribute to Keith Hernandez. Now, after five days of hearing criticism of the switch, Johnson is back wearing No. 20. . . . The Padres are off today and then will begin a 10-game trip beginning in Cincinnati against the Reds. The scheduled pitching matchups for the series: Bruce Hurst (4-0) vs. Jose Rijo (2-2); Adam Peterson (0-1) vs. Jack Armstrong (3-1); and Andy Benes (1-4) vs. Norm Charlton (2-3).

Scorecard

SECOND INNING

Mets--With one out, Herr walked. O’Brien singled to center. Herr scoring. Gooden struck out. Coleman grounded to second, O’Brien forced at second. One run, one hit, one left.

THIRD INNING

Mets--Jeffries singled to shortstop. Magadan flied to center. Johnson struck out. Jeffries stole second. McReynolds singled to center, Jeffries scoring. Boston popped to shortstop. One run, two hits, one left.

SIXTH INNING

Padres--Whitson singled to right. Roberts struck out. Fernandez grounded to shortstop, Whitson forced at second. Gwynn singled to center, Fernandez taking third and scoring on the center fielder Coleman’s fielding error. McGriff grounded to first. One run (unearned), two hits, one left.

SEVENTH INNING

Mets--O’Brien doubled to left. Gooden sacrificed. Coleman singled to right, O’Brien scoring. Coleman stole second. Jefferies singled to center, Coleman scoring. Magadan homered to left, his first. Johnson struck out. McReynolds homered to left, his second. Rosenberg replaced Whitson. Boston grounded to second. Five runs, five hits.