PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / SCOTT MILLER : Riddoch Says He Isn’t Worried About Speculation on His Job

Padre Manager Greg Riddoch said before Tuesday’s game that he has not spoken with General Manager Joe McIlvaine about his job status, nor does he plan to.

“I don’t approach him with those things,” Riddoch said. “I don’t hire and fire. He hires and fires.”

McIlvaine, not wishing to comment publicly, objected to a report Tuesday that Riddoch’s job is in jeopardy, saying it is only speculation.

But Riddoch, when asked if he thinks he will be here in a month, hedged.

“I haven’t the faintest idea,” he said. “I don’t know if I’ll be here tomorrow. I’m here today--I’ve got my uniform on.”

Riddoch said he is not worried about his job, saying, “The only thing I worry about is my coaches.”

And despite renewed speculation on the status of Riddoch’s job--it shadowed him most of last season, his first full year as a major league manager--Riddoch said he still have the same fervor for managing as when he started.

“Oh, I love baseball,” he said. “I love it. I like everything I’ve done in baseball--scouting, managing . . .”

The daily injury blotter:

Third baseman Gary Sheffield did not start and said he will probably sit out tonight, as well. Sheffield sprained his left middle finger attempting to steal third on Sunday.

“A ball hit hard to me, I ain’t going to be able to catch it,” Sheffield said. “And I can generate good enough bat speed in batting practice, but not in the game.”

After spraining the finger Sunday, Sheffield played Monday night against St. Louis, going 0-for-4.

“I tried to go with it but I wasn’t able to generate bat speed,” Sheffield said. “It’s just one of those things where I’m not able to help myself or the team.”

And the Padres received more news when pitcher Dave Eiland’s left ankle (strained tendon) was too sore for him to pitch off of the mound. Trainer Bob Day said Eiland probably will miss his start on Thursday.

Riddoch said he is not sure who will replace Eiland if he is unavailable.

If the Padres decide bring someone out of the bullpen, the most logical candidate is Rich Rodriguez.

Despite Randy Myers’ 1-2-3 inning Monday night, Riddoch said he is not yet ready to put Myers back into the closer’s role.

“Not yet,” Riddoch said. “He’s improved.

“The ideal situation is to give him the spot and let other people fill in where they are supposed to, but in that situation before, we had 50-some baserunners in 10-some innings.

“Maybe we have to live with that.”

With Benito Santiago due to return from a rehabilitation assignment probably within a week, the future is growing more mysterious for Dan Walters.

Will he stay with San Diego?

Will he be returned to triple-A Las Vegas?

“I haven’t heard anything,” said Walters, who is batting .275 with two homers in 30 games. “Hopefully, I’ll get to stay here with the club.

“Whatever my role is, if I do stay, I’m sure I’d be happy with it.”

Although the Padres haven’t made any decisions, Riddoch said he knows what he would like to do.

“I’d like to keep him,” Riddoch said. “But with all of the injuries we’ve got, we don’t try to figure out three days down the road. Let’s try to figure out today.”

Going into Tuesday’s game, the Padres were 15-17 since Walters’ first game.

“Hopefully, I’ve filled in adequately,” Walters said. “I’ve been able to keep my head above water so far. I just wish we could have won a few more ballgames the last couple of weeks.”

Santiago, in his first rehabilitiation apperance at Las Vegas, went 1-for-4 Tuesday in the Stars’ 10-5 victory at Tucson.

Shortstop Tony Fernandez, who has a sore hand, was originally not going to start Tuesday but, after speaking with Fernandez, Riddoch inserted him into the lineup. . . . The pitching rotation for this weekend’s Padres-Phillies series: The Padres’ Eiland (0-2) or Rodriguez (3-2) vs. Terry Mulholland (9-4) at 1:05 p.m. Thursday; Bruce Hurst (8-5) vs. Mike Williams (1-1) at 7:35 Friday; Craig Lefferts (10-6) vs. Kyle Abbott (0-11) at noon Saturday; Andy Benes (6-7) vs. Pat Combs (1-2) at 5:05 Sunday. . . . Former Padre Broderick Perkins, now a firefighter in San Diego, stopped by the stadium during batting practice to say hello to some of his friends.