PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Presley Looking for Answers

Padre third baseman Jim Presley, preparing for his possible release today, met with Manager Greg Riddoch, but came away with no answers.

Presley has been so buried on the bench since the third baseman Scott Coolbaugh’s arrival that Sunday’s pinch-hit appearance was the first time he had been in a game since May 11. The Padres no longer believe he can help, and after exhausting trade efforts, are expected to release him when they activate second baseman Marty Barrett.

“I really don’t know what’s going on,” said Presley, who’s hitting .130. “I’ve never seen anything like this. Nothing.”

Jim Krivacs, Presley’s agent, also has contacted Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, to inquire about Presley’s status. There was really no encouragement McIlvaine, or anyone else, could provide.

“I was upfront with him,” Riddoch said. “I told him in the spring, ‘You were hitting the ball and playing good defense.’ Now, you’re not catching the ball and you’re just not hitting. We can live with one of the two, but not both.”

Presley said he told Riddoch that the Padres gave up on him too early. He started only five games, batting .118 with two RBIs, when the Padres first benched him. He played four times in the next three weeks before getting another opportunity. He started six games from May 4-May 10, but after batting .208 with one homer, two RBIs, and making an error, the Padres gave up on him.

“I know he’d like to have more at-bats,” Riddoch said. “Every player would like to have 300 at-bats. But we just can’t afford to give that opportunity when he’s not doing the job.

“He might have gone right back in there again if Coolbaugh struggled, but he’s done a good job, and we’re sticking with him. You can’t argue with success.”

If the Padres release him, they’re obligated to pay him $500,000. If Presley were to be on the team July 7, they would have to pay an additional $150,000.

“I’ve been told to be prepared for anything,” Presley said, “so I am. I’m just waiting to see what happens.”

Padre starter Greg Harris pitched for 12 minutes on the side before Sunday’s game, and was the most encouraged he has been since going on the disabled list April 22 with elbow tendinitis.

If everything goes as expected, Harris will throw on the side at least one more time, and perhaps then will pitch in a simulated game before the week’s end. He’s hopeful of returning before the All-Star break.

“There are still times I feel it,” Harris said, “but it feels good. I think I’m getting close.”

Mike Roarke, Padre pitching coach, told Harris he thinks the injury was caused by poor pitching mechanics. Harris’ delivery, he said, caused stress on the elbow, resulting in tendinitis.

“It was a mechanical flaw,” Harris said. “I was putting tension on my elbow. What I was trying to do was muscle the ball, and that was taking away from my velocity.

“The bottom line is that if I throw 90%, I can get better pop on the ball than trying to muscle it.

“I’ll also have a healthy arm.”