NOTEBOOK : Harris Still Experiences Pain

Although the Padres were encouraged by pitcher Greg Harris’ showing Wednesday, they privately are saying they’ll be grateful if he’s able to return to the starting rotation by the All-Star break.

Harris, who last pitched in a game April 22, pitched on the side for 15 minutes on the one-month anniversary of his injury, diagnosed as elbow tendinitis.

It was the first time since the injury that he threw as hard as he was capable, but he still experienced pain in his elbow.

“I’m driving myself crazy with this thing, just climbing the walls,” Harris said. “The whole thing is just not knowing. We’ve tried everything. There’s still pain, but it’s getting to the point of toleration. It’s bearable. I threw full-speed, and there was a little pain, but I got through it.”

The Padres will continue to monitor Harris’ progress, but if he doesn’t improve, said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, they will consider arthroscopic surgery. If Harris is forced to undergo surgery, he likely would be out until at least mid-August.

“Hopefully, nature will take care of itself,” McIlvaine said. “We want to take the conservative approach.”

Padre starter Dennis Rasmussen completed his 30-day rehabilitative assignment Wednesday in Las Vegas and will activated Saturday for a start against the Houston Astros.

Rasmussen, who has been on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left shoulder, will start Saturday against former Padre Jimmy Jones. He originally was scheduled for Sunday, but the Padres thought it would be best to place him in the rotation between right-handers Andy Benes and Ed Whitson.

Said Whitson, who has been victimized by lack of run support this season: “If he (Rasmussen) goes out there and gets 10 runs, I’m going to be sick.”

It’ll be the first time since 1986 that Whitson has pitched on five days’ rest, he said. It also will be Rasmussen’s first start since Saturday.

The Padres still are undecided who’ll come off the roster to make room for Rasmussen, but from all indications it will be outfielder Kevin Ward. The Padres’ other options are to release third baseman Jim Presley or outfielder Shawn Abner. Yet Ward is the only player among the three who has remaining options, allowing him to be sent to triple-A Las Vegas without having to clear waivers.

“He’s done a good job for us,” McIlvaine said, “but unfortunately, some of the decisions we make are based on rules.”

There soon will be other decisions that will have to be made, perhaps more difficult. Second baseman Marty Barrett will leave the team today and join the Las Vegas club Friday for a three-day rehabilitative stint. He then is expected to be activated Monday, and right-handed reliever Larry Andersen likely will follow him a few days later.

The firing Wednesday of Kansas City Royal Manager John Wathan, who grew up in San Diego, actually came eight months later than originally scheduled. John Schuerholz, former general manager of the Royals and now with the Braves, recommended that Wathan be fired last September but was overruled by President Joe Burke and owner Ewing Kauffman. “Sometimes,” Schuerholz said, “your recommendations aren’t always accepted. But that’s not why I left Kansas City, believe me.”