Teufel Continues to Deliver in Utility Role

The subject is home runs--more specifically postseason home runs--and there is but one current Padre that has ever hit one.

Fred McGriff? Tony Fernandez? Tony Gwynn? Benito Santiago?

No, no, no and never been.

Think back. Think hard. 1986 World Series. Game 5. New Yorks Mets vs. Boston Red Sox.

If you said Tim Teufel, you’ve got one on Tim Teufel.

“That’s unusual. I’d have never guessed that,” said Teufel, whose smile indicated he couldn’t wait to inform McGriff, then rub it in.

Other than Teufel--but maybe not even he--no other Padre remembers that home run more than Bruce Hurst, the man who served it up.

Teufel also had a double off Hurst that day, but Hurst and the Red Sox held on for a 4-2 victory and a 3-2 series lead. New York, however, won the next two games and the championship.

Last year, Teufel and Hurst became teammates, the former coming to the Padres in a May 31 trade for Garry Templeton. And considering Templeton is out of baseball and the many roles Teufel fills, few could argue it was not a good one for the Padres.

“Tim is a special person,” Padres first base coach Rob Picciolo said. “He’s a great guy to have on your ballclub. A lot of times, you look at a utility player, and they’re strong in one suit, whether it be offensively or in a backup role in the infield. Tim is different. He can do so much for you.

“You can use him off the bench as a pinch-hitter, you can use him to fill in on defense, and he can start a ballgame so he takes the role of three players. But he’s not just a defensive guy. He’s offense and defense. He helps you both ways.”

He did just that Sunday in the Padres’ 7-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

Batting eighth, Teufel had a one-out, bases-loaded single to give the Padres a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. A minute later, he helped the Padres score another run by sliding hard into second and breaking up a potential inning-ending double play.

Playing second base--after starting four games last week at first in place of the injured McGriff--Teufel was the pivot man on a 5-4-3 double play that enabled Frank Seminara to escape a first-inning jam.

“I call him ‘The Old Pro,’ ” teammate Kurt Stillwell said. “He can do everything pretty darn well.”

A nine-year veteran who started his career with the Minnesota Twins, Teufel has played first, second and third base for the Padres, though his natural position is second base. In addition, he has batted second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth this season alone.

“Whatever they want to play me at, wherever they want me to bat, I’m kind of the handyman around here,” he said.

Though he filed for free agency after last season, Teufel re-signed with the Padres in January and has not regretted it.

“I like it here,” he said. “I like it here a lot. The organization is going in a positive direction. They’ve signed some quality players as of late. The farm system seems to be improving.

“It’s been a nice change for me coming over here and having a chance to play last year. And this year, being a part of all the fun that’s going on around here, has been special. We believe we are a good team, and it’s been fun this year. There really hasn’t been any sorrow time here where we’ve hit a really bad streak. There’s not a lot of clubhouse courtroom stuff going on where people are getting on other people. It’s been pretty pleasant. Guys have gotten along with each other.”

Despite winning a World Series championship with the Mets, Teufel welcomed the trade to San Diego. He was batting just .118 (four hits in 34 at-bats) with one homer and two RBIs when the trade was made, but hit .228 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs in 97 games last year with the Padres. This year, he’s hitting .243 with two homers and 13 RBIs.

“That situation in New York took care of itself,” Teufel said. “I played there a long time. I had good years there for them. I had some good times. As the old saying goes, good things do come to an end. Most of the good times players that took part in all that are gone from New York now and playing elsewhere. I’m no different.”