PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Muscle Pain Causes Andersen to Consider Off-Season Surgery

Padre reliever Larry Andersen, who was unable to pitch Friday for the first time in three months because of a stiff neck, said he now is considering the possibility of off-season surgery.

“I don’t want to ever go through another season like this again,” said Andersen, who signed a two-year, $4.35-million contract last winter. “I’m going to talk to some specialists, get some other opinions, have another MRI, and see what happens. This has been miserable.”

Andersen, who was on the 15-day disabled list in May with a herniated disc and a ruptured disc in his neck, had been free of pain until this week. He awoke Monday with a stiff neck, and it has been getting worse each day.

Andersen said the pain has been shooting from his shoulder blades to his right arm and stopping at his elbow. He took muscle relaxants Friday, but when he warmed up in the eighth inning, the pain prevented him from pitching properly. Pitching coach Mike Roarke finally told him to stop.

“The way I look at it,” Andersen said, “let me get out there and throw. If it blows out, it blows out. There’s no assurance it will go away, anyway.

“I’ve missed a month already, and I don’t want to miss any more time going on the disabled list. This arm has been through the trenches.”

The most frustrating aspect of the injury, Andersen said, is that he believes he has let the club down. This is the first time in his career that he has been used as even a part-time closer, and now the bulk of the work has fallen to Craig Lefferts, who’s struggling.

“It’s hard to say what would happen if I was healthy all year,” Andersen said, “but I definitely want to go out and prove that it was worth it to get me.

“Right now, I’m sure they’ve got their doubts.”

The gates to Wrigley Field had not even opened Friday mornning when one fan already was spotted sitting in the stands with his white tank top and shorts, soaking in the sun.

It looked like . . . it sounded like . . . it was . . . Tim Flannery, one of the most popular players in Padre history.

Flannery is in town this weekend with his 6-year-old son, wanting to show him the nostalgia and beauty of Wrigley Field.

“You know, I didn’t even know the Padres were going to be in town this weekend when I made my plans,” Flannery said. “I just wanted to get away with my son and show him Wrigley. There’s nothing like it.”

Flannery is staying with his best friend, Dave Smith, the Cubs’ bullpen stopper. They live close to one another in Leucadia, and spend their free time surfing during the winter.

“It’s so nice to be a fan again,” Flannery said, laughing. “I think I’m going to have four hot dogs and four beers today. This is the life.”

Flannery also plans to take home a special souvenir from the trip. He’s leaving with a box of ivy from the wall of Wrigley Field, and will plant it at his Leucadia home.

“I’ve always wanted a piece of Wrigley,” Flannery said, “and now I’ll have it.”

Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn, who Wednesday missed his first game of the season with a sprained right ankle, still is sore, but was able to play Friday.

He was tested early when he led off the fourth inning with a walk, and Fred McGriff hit a double into the right-center gap. Gwynn ran at full speed, and scored.

“I didn’t have a choice,” Gwynn said. “If I didn’t score, Fred would have killed me.

“I’m actually OK running in a straight line, it’s those turns that are tough.”

Cub second baseman Ryne Sandberg has reached base by a hit or walk 202 times this season, surpassing the 200 mark for the 10th consecutive season.

The only other active players to have reached base 200 times in every year of their career are Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles (nine times); Alvin Davis of the Seattle Mariners (seven); and Kevin Seitzer of Kansas City (four).

The Cubs’ victory was their 20th in their final at-bat this season, and their 30th comeback victory of the season. They now are three games over .500 (62-59) for the first time since April 19. . . . The rock band ZZ Top attended the game, sitting in the Cubs dugout during batting practice. They gave out complimentary tickets and hats. The Padres kept the hats, and most gave away the tickets. . . . The Cubs have won only six games against the three California teams this season.