NOTEBOOK : Padres Continue to Shuffle Players In and Out of Town

The roster-juggling Padres continue to work their way toward the club record of 42 players used in a season.

Pitcher Atlee Hammaker was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday because of elbow tendinitis and infielder Jose Mota was optioned to the Padres’ Triple-A farm club at Las Vegas. The two openings on the roster will be filled Monday and one of the players brought up is likely to be a newcomer, who would be the 39th man to wear a Padre uniform this season.

The franchise record was set in 1969, the first season of the Padres’ existence. With 98 games to go, it may be broken even before the usual promotions in September.

General Manager Joe McIlvaine hinted strongly that Mota’s place would be taken by infielder Paul Faries, who has been on rehabilitation assignment at Class A High Desert after being put on the disabled list with a sprained ankle.

“I can give you good odds on that,” McIlvaine said.

However, McIlvaine kept the identity of the other roster addition a mystery, leading to speculation that the man would be someone new.

Ed Whitson is eligible to come off the disabled list, having been out since May 27 because of a sore elbow, but isn’t ready to pitch. He threw in the outfield Sunday for the first time since he last pitched, and will pitch off the mound for 10 or 12 minutes before tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I won’t do anything fancy,” Whitson said. “I just want to find out if there’s any tenderness left in the elbow. I feel great right now, like I’ve got a new arm.”

While encouraged by this sign of progress, Whitson won’t rush himself. It is reasonable to estimate that he will be out at least another week.

Hammaker started only one game, last Thursday, after missing spring training because of a broken finger on his (left) pitching hand. He gave up eight hits and seven runs, three earned, in four and two-thirds innings, and reported soreness in his elbow afterward.

Mota, son of Dodger coach Manny Mota, batted .222 in 17 games. He was a pleasant surprise at second base, but was pushed into the background when Tim Teufel was obtained from the New York Mets for Garry Templeton.

As disappointed as he was, Mota took his demotion well. He said, “I’ve just got to work hard on the things that got me up here. I appreciate the confidence the Padres showed in me.”

The pitching Maddux brothers, Mike of the Padres and Greg of the Cubs, enjoyed a reunion when the Cubs were here over the weekend.

Mike Maddux told about the golf game that he and Greg played Friday at Carmel Mountain.

“We both shot 86s,” Mike said. “And we didn’t concede any putts, either.”

Asked if the matching scores were representative of the brothers’ respective abilities, Mike said, “No. When we play at home (Las Vegas) in the off-season, he’s usually a couple of strokes better than I am.”

Tony Gwynn’s 8-year-old son, Anthony II, looked like the proverbial chip off the old block in the fathers, sons and daughters game at preceded the main event Sunday. With Tony on the mound, Anthony, batting left-handed like his father, went with an outside pitch and lined it to left field for a double ... Dave Smith, the Cubs’ relief ace from Poway High School and San Diego State, who lives in Olivenhain, left tickets for ex-Padre favorite Tim Flannery Sunday. Asked if the tickets were in the Cubs’ section, Smith said, “Of course.” ... Rick Sutcliffe, the Cub veteran who had rotator-cuff problems early last season, remains optimistic despite the ineffectiveness and arm weakness that forced him back onto the disabled 10 days ago. He said Sunday, “My arm strength is definitely coming back. I think I’m maybe two weeks away at the worst.”