PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Thumb Sidelines Fernandez Against Left-Handed Starters

Padre shortstop Tony Fernandez, unable to play Tuesday because of his sore right thumb, probably will sit out against left-handed starters for at least another week.

“It’s starting to feel better,” Fernandez said, “but I don’t want to push it. I can’t bat against left-handers for awhile.”

Fernandez, however, should be able to play in four of the Padres’ next five games. The only scheduled left-handed starter during that span is Bob Ojeda of the Dodgers on Friday night.

“The big thing,” Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said, “is communication on this is real good. He told me (Monday), ‘If the game’s close, and if they put in a left-handed pitcher, I don’t feel I could do the team justice.’

“That’s great. That’s the honesty we like to hear.”

Craig Shipley started in place of Fernandez and was hitless in three at-bats. Second baseman Kurt Stillwell, who batted leadoff, went two for four.

First baseman Fred McGriff hasn’t wasted any time launching his season, hitting the second homer in as many days to equal his output of all last April.

“It always hurts to lose,” McGriff said, “but it feels good to start off the way I have. When I can hit a homer off a left-hander like that, it tells me I’m staying in there good.”

John Barr, Padre assistant general manager, was a bit astonished Monday night when he sat in his hotel room to see highlights of the Padres’ opening-day victory, only to hear the announcer say, ‘Well, the Padres avoided a three-game sweep in Cincinnati by winning today.’ ”

“I couldn’t believe it,” Barr said. “I had to call my wife just to make sure I wasn’t hearing things.”

Said Padre catcher Dann Bilardello: “It’s unbelievable around here. We got a good solid team here, and nobody gives us any respect.”

Pitcher Larry Andersen, on the disabled list with an inflamed right shoulder, will pitch off the mound against batters Friday for the first time since incurring the injury. If he has no pain, he’ll likely pitch again Sunday, and the Padres will activate him Tuesday for the first game of their three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

“Physically, there’s no question in my mind I could throw now,” Andersen said. “I don’t know if I could get anyone out, but I could throw.”

Reds Manager Lou Piniella was perturbed Tuesday after reading the newspaper and broadcast reports of their opening-day defeat, particularly second-guessing his decision to let Jose Rijo to pitch the entire game.

“Let me ask you something,” Piniella said. “You pay a guy $3 million a year, he’s supposed to go nine innings, isn’t he? What the hell.”

Piniella also is concerned about the rave reviews his club received during spring training.

“Hey, we’ve got a good ballclub,” Piniella said, “but we haven’t won crap. There’s all this hype. Let’s win on the field, and forget the hype. I’ve never seen a team yet who won the division in the newspapers.”