PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Clark Seems to Have Solved Problems, But He Hasn’t Quite Figured Them Out

It would be nice, Padre outfielder Jerald Clark said, if he could pinpoint a reason for this newfound success. It’d be nice if he could insert a videotape of his batting stroke and show the world how he’s resolved his woes.

Instead, Clark, in midst of his hottest streak of the season, has no idea how he’s doing it.

Clark, who drove in the game-winning run Saturday in the Padres’ 3-2, 11-inning victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, is batting .467 over his last 12 games with two homers and eight RBIs.

And this is the guy who didn’t climb over the Mendoza line until July 1?

“This is the best I’ve felt all season,” said Clark, who raised his batting average to .221. “I’ve never felt like this.”

So what’s his secret?

“That’s the scary part,” Clark said. “I’ve got no idea. I’ve got no explanation for this. Whatever it is, I just hope it continues.”

Catcher Dann Bilardello’s season came to an end Saturday, but it’s premature to call it a career, he says.

Bilardello was placed on the disabled list Saturday with a herniated disc in his neck, and he said he probably will remain on the DL the entire season.

“The doctors say I need to have a couple of months of rest,” said Bilardello, who was batting .125 with only 32 at-bats. “It’s been bothering me all year, and would spasm up and down my arms, but I was able to cope with it because of my (limited) playing time.”

When Bilardello was informed Tuesday that he was being placed on waivers, he was examined by two doctors who confirmed the herniated disc. If it doesn’t improve by the end of the season, he said he would undergo surgery.

“If I want to to play,” Bilardello said, “I’ll probably have to have surgery. That scares me. The only thing that thrills me about it is you get drugged beforehand. I had surgery in ’81 on my face, and it was an awesome feeling.

“But seriously, if I didn’t think I could play, I might think of another avenue to go. But anyone who sees me catch, knows I can.”

Bilardello, who would have been released if he was not placed on the disabled list, was taken off the roster to make room for Benito Santiago. The Padres decided to go with rookie Dan Walters, who’s batting .276 with three homers and 17 RBIs, as the backup.

“This is a good organization, they’ve treated me right,” Bilardello said. “Maybe I’ll come back next spring.

“To be honest with you, they made the right decision. Danny’s done a great job. I’ve really been impressed with the way he’s improved defensively.”

The ex-Padre of the Week Award goes to Texas Ranger scouting director Sandy Johnson, who left the organization after the 1984 season.

Johnson is responsible for signing eight players who will be playing in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

He signed Tony Gwynn and Santiago of the Padres; Roberto Alomar of Toronto; Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga of Cleveland; John Kruk of Philadelphia; and Ivan Rodriguez and Kevin Brown of Texas.

While much of the attention during the All-Star game will be focused on the five Padres and seven former Padres, the day may be a bit embarrassing for the Angels.

There’s not a single player at the All-Star game who was originally signed by the Angels.

The Dodgers have not fared much better. Their only original signee is pitcher Juan Guzman of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Other teams with the distinction of originally signing only one All-Star: The New York Mets (Rick Aguilera); the Cincinnati Reds (Jeff Montgomery) and the Kansas City Royals (David Cone).

Remarkably, of the 57 players selected to play in the All-Star game only 26 are representing their original team.

While all but five of the Padres have the burden of having to clean out their lockers for the All-Star game, Padre reliever Mike Maddux wasn’t moving a thing. He’s leaving his locker completely intact.

“It’s a nice bonus when your brother makes it,” Maddux said.

Indeed, while Maddux is going home to Las Vegas for the break, his brother, Greg, of the Chicago Cubs, is coming into town for the All-Star game. Instead of wasting time to find another locker and search for another nameplate, Greg Maddux will simply occupy Mike’s locker.

“I just hope he cleans it when he leaves,” Mike Maddux said.

Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves, who’s expected to be announced Monday as the National League’s starting pitcher for the All-Star game, will become the first National League pitcher to start two consecutive All-Star games since Robin Roberts in 1954-1955.

The Texas Rangers discussed the possibility of hiring either pitching coach Marcel Lachemann of the Angels or hitting coach Don Baylor of the St. Louis Cardinals to replace Bobby Valentine as manager, but apparently now have decided to stick with Toby Harrah the remainder of the season.