PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : You Know a Manager’s in Charge When He Suspends His Brother

Rookie Manager Felipe Alou, the rage of Montreal these days, says the most difficult moment of his managerial career actually occurred 11 years ago. It happened in the Dominican Republic.

It was the day he suspended his own brother, Jesus.

“Pedro Guerrero was in center for me,” Alou said. “I wanted to (re-position) him, but he refused to move. I called time, went onto the field and waved until he moved.

“I was coaching third, and when I went out to the coaching box for the next inning, I saw a baseball roll by me. Then I saw a Dodger blue glove between third and home plate, and I figured it out. Guerrero had thrown the glove with the ball in it at me.

“I called time, the hitter was already in the batter’s box, and I went to the dugout for Guerrero, who was at the end of the bench. Jay (Jesus) was my coach, and he came to defense of the player, so I suspended Jay Alou.

“This created some problems in the family. My dad and mother asked me to put him back on the team. I did reinstate him--next year.

“Believe me, if I didn’t suspend him, I’d have lost the team. After that, we won 10 straight games and in the Dominican League I never had a problem with a player again.

“I lost my head, but I guess sometimes you have to lose your head.”

More Alou: He disdains computers, and says he would never be a slave to any machine unless it can measure a man’s heart.

“Steve Boros was a computer guy when he was hired in San Diego,” Alou said. “What happened to his program? All of that stuff is forgotten on the first pitch.”

The Oakland Athletics continue to be interested in Padre starter Bruce Hurst, and the Padres have sent Ken Bracey, their top American League scout, to study the Athletics’ roster this weekend during their series against the Detroit Tigers.

Although the Padres are listening, they still appear to be reluctant to trade Hurst.

Although neither want to be accused of disloyalty, New York Met pitcher David Cone and Chicago Cub pitcher Greg Maddux each said during the All-Star break that they would like to pitch for the Padres next season.

The problem, of course, is that it’s going to cost at least $25 million over five years to sign the potential free agents. The Padres aren’t about to shell out that kind of money.

The Ex-Padre Player of the Week Award, by choice of the fans, goes to Bip Roberts of the Cincinnati Reds.

Roberts received the loudest and longest ovation of any of the seven former Padres introduced at the All-Star game and responded by going two for two with three RBIs.

“I still get goosebumps thinking of that night,” Roberts said. “It was a great experience. Believe me, I’ll never forget it.”

Padre starter Dave Eiland, who’s on the disabled list with a sprained right ankle, felt no discomfort while pitching on the side and will start Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Padres are expected to make room on the roster by sending Jim Deshaies to triple-A Las Vegas. Deshaies, however, has the right to reject the assignment and become a free agent.

The Expos survived a scare Friday when starter Ken Hill was hit in the right wrist by a foul ball off teammate Larry Walker’s bat in the sixth inning. Hill (10-4) sustained bruises on the wrist, but X-rays Saturday proved negative.

Around the basepaths: Why did pitcher Greg Maddux turn down a five-year, $28 million offer from the Cubs? “I would have signed that during the winter,” Maddux said, “but that was before (Bobby) Bonilla signed, (Ryne) Sandberg signed and (Danny) Tartabull signed. I’m not saying I want to play somewhere else, but there are some places where I wouldn’t mind going to, if you know what I mean.” . . . The title of Blue Jay second baseman Roberto Alomar’s book is, “Second to None.”