NOTEBOOK : PADRES UPDATE : Miller a Hero to Some Players, But Unknown to Younger Set

The hottest reading material in the Padre clubhouse Monday was Marvin Miller’s new book, in which veteran reliever Larry Andersen purchased three copies for his teammates.

Miller, the longtime chief of the players’ association, remains a cult hero for today’s players, and is responsible for free agency, the average salary being in excess of $750,000, and a lucrative pension plan.

“It should be required reading for every player,” Andersen said. “Without him, I’d probably be washing dishes in the off-season to make ends meet.”

The unfortunate aspect, Andersen and several veterans concurred, is that many of the young players of today probably have no clue to the identity of Miller.

To prove his point, Andersen called over a young Padre infielder, and asked him.

“Never heard of him,” he said.

Said Andersen: “Case closed.”

Crazy injury of the week award: Padre reliever Rich Rodriguez, holding his briefcase in one hand and a present for his daughter in the other, got out of a taxi Monday and slammed the door against his left knee.

It did not prevent Rodriguez from warming up Monday during the game, but he was limping in the clubhouse, hoping an ice treatment would ease the pain.

“I feel pretty stupid right now,” Rodriguez said.

The Cardinals announced Monday that they have extended the contracts of Manager Joe Torre and General Manager Dal Maxvill through the 1993 season.

“The excellent performance of the team to-date indicates that Dal knew what he was doing when he put the team together,” said Fred Kuhlmann, president and CEO of the Cardinals. “And Joe has taken those players and is carefully cultivating them into a winning team that we expect will be a contending team in the National League East for many years to come.”

PADRES AT A GLANCE Scorecard FOURTH INNING

Padres--Roberts led off and doubled to left. Fernandez popped to shortstop. Gwynn grounded to second, Roberts taking third. McGriff singled to center, Roberts scoring. Clark singled to left, McGriff stopping at second. Santiago grounded to second. One run, three hits, two left. Padres 1, Cardinals 0. SEVENTH INNING

Padres--With one out, Clark homered to left, his sixth. Santiago struck out. Howard singled to right. Faries was hit by pitch. Peterson struck out. One run, two hits, two left. Padres 2, Cardinals 0. EIGHTH INNING

Padres--With one out, Coolbaugh singled to right. McClure relieved Tewksbury. Gwynn singled to left, Coolbaugh taking third, Gwynn taking second on the throw. Terry relieved McClure. McGriff intentionally walked. Clark grounded to third, McGriff forced at second, Clark safe at first, Coolbaugh scoring. Santiago grounded to first. One run, two hits, two left. Padres 3, Cardinals 0. NINTH INNING

Padres--With one out, Faries singled to center. Abner grounded to shortstop, Faries stopping at second. Roberts doubled to left-center, Faries scoring. Coolbaugh popped to third. One run, two hits, one left. Padres 4, Cardinals 0.

Cardinals--Smith singled to center. Lanford struck out, Smith stole second. Guerrero grounded to third, Smith taking third. Jose singled to center, Smith scoring. Zeile grounded to shortstop, Jose forced at second. One run, two hits, one left. Padres 4, Cardinals 1.