BASEBALL 1992 PREVIEW : Can Padres Do It? . . . Maybe

Some questions you might have wanted answered about the 1992 Padres . . .

Can they finish first in the National League West?

This might surprise you, but the answer is yes. Nobody who figures to finish ahead of them, and as many as five teams could finish ahead of them, is so strong it can overcome injuries or off years by key players.

Will they finish first?

I didn’t say they would finish first. It’s highly unlikely, because so many teams--all but Houston and maybe San Francisco--look to be better than they do.

But they finished third last year . . .

They have to be better than they were a year ago to stay the same. Atlanta was no fluke. The Dodgers and Cincinnati have improved. Houston cannot possibly be worse. Maybe San Francisco will be luckier.

Are the Padres better?

Gary Sheffield, a new face, makes them better at third. Kurt Stillwell, a new face, makes them better at second. Jerald Clark, an old face, will make them better in left if he stays healthy. Darrin Jackson, an old face, will make them better in center if he can go the route of a full season as a starter. Tony Gwynn, an old face, will make them better in right if he stays healthy. Randy Myers, a new face, makes them better in the bullpen.

So they are improved?

Definitely. Joe McIlvaine, the general manager, has done nothing drastic or dramatic, but little things add up.

Where are there problems?

No one knows what to expect from or what is going to happen with Benito Santiago. The loss of Ed Whitson and Larry Andersen weakens the pitching staff until young arms prove they can throw and Craig Lefferts proves he can start.

Anything else?

Tony Fernandez is far from the ideal leadoff man, for one. Greg Harris, he with the consistently low earned-run average, has to find a way to translate that into wins. The bullpen does not have a right-hander you would want to bring into a game in the ninth inning.

Why isn’t Fernandez the ideal leadoff man?

He needs to get either his average (.272) or his walks (55) up. If he can get on base more often, Gwynn will be more effective in his more comfortable No. 2 spot and Fred McGriff will improve on his already impressive 106 runs batted in.

Gwynn is better at No. 2 than No. 3?

His best years--.351 in 1984 and .370 in 1987--were accomplished when he was primarily hitting second. That position plays to his strength as far as moving the ball around the field and takes away the notion that he needs to hit for extra bases.

What Padres are best bets to play in front of their hometown fans as National League All-Stars?

Benito Santiago, Tony Gwynn and Fred McGriff, in that order, provided San Diego fans are still hometown fans to Santiago. McGriff would be the best bet of the three to be voted into the starting lineup, if only he would hire a campaign manager.

What happens if Santiago is traded? Who catches?

The backstop.

Isn’t Sheffield supposed to be somewhat of a problem child?

He was in Milwaukee. However, he is 23 years old. He can no longer be considered a child. If he has grown up, he can be a solid citizen and a solid contributor for years to come.

If Lefferts is supposed to be the No. 5 starter, who is No. 4?

It would have been Ricky Bones, but he went to Milwaukee for Sheffield. Maybe Randy Jones or Gaylord Perry or Juan Eichelberger is coming out of retirement.

Is Manager Greg Riddoch on solid ground?

He should be, unless Alex Spanos buys the Padres.

Do the Padres have any bench strength?

Probably the best in years. They get punch from Tim Teufel or Oscar Azocar, versatility from Craig Shipley and workmanlike catching from either Dann Bilardello or Tom Lampkin. You don’t win with those guys as starters, but they can help considerably in reserve if their attitudes are healthy.

Who will be the Padres’ opening day pitcher Monday?

Bruce Hurst, at 34 the senior citizen of the starting rotation. He is Mr. Reliable, starting between 31 and 35 games eight of the last nine years. He has had only one losing season, none in his three years in San Diego.

So he is the Padres’ best starter . . .

Not necessarily. Andy Benes was 11-1 with a 1.77 ERA over his last 15 starts last year. Keep that up for a whole season and there won’t be a better starter in either league.

So it shapes up as one of those just-maybe-they-can-do-it years?

That’s right. Just maybe they can do it. They look better now than they did a few months ago. Either that or the giddiness of springtime is warping reality.