PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Fregosi Gets Contract Extension; Padres’ Riddoch Gets Questions

The Phillies, stopping any further speculation that Manager Jim Fregosi might be fired at the end of the season, extended his contract Monday for one year.

“I don’t think anyone could have done a better job under the cirumstances,” Phillie general manager Lee Thomas said. “I don’t think anyone could have kept us afloat as well as he has.

“I wanted to do this for Jimmy because I think he deserved it.”

This decision prompted the Padre players wondering about their manager’s fate. Greg Riddoch’s contract expires at the end of the season and rumors continue to swirl that Riddoch’s job is in jeopardy.

“Everybody’s been speculating about Greg’s future ever since he got the job,” Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn said, “but you can’t concern yourself what’s going on. You can’t worry about it.

“Someone else will dictate the fate.”

Riddoch, who earns $225,000, is believed to be one of only five managers whose contract expires at the end of this season.

Perhaps the biggest irony in the Phillies’ decision to provide Fregosi a contract extension is that the Phillies are in last place. The Padres just so happen to be in third place, and there’s no talk of an extension.

“It’s not up to me,” Riddoch said.

Fregosi, former manager of the Angels and Chicago White Sox, is tremendously popular in the Phillie clubhouse, and news of his return was greeted warmly.

“He’s the best manager I’ve ever played for,” Phillie second baseman Mariano Duncan said. “I’ve played for Tommy Lasorda and Lou Piniella, but to me, Jim Fregosi is the best.”

Said first baseman John Kruk: “Hell yes, he’s a good manager. Look at what he has to work with. He knows what he’s doing, he just doesn’t have much to work with.”

The Phillies had great hopes entering this season, but injuries wiped out all but one of their starters, and they’ve used the disabled list 14 times. Still, there has been recent speculation of Fregosi’s job status, which prompted Thomas to stop all of the rumors.

“I think it’s a difficult thing for managers, coaches and players if the manager is sitting on a one-year contract and it goes through the end of the season,” Fregosi said. “They want to know whether he’ll be fired or rehired.

“The players want to know who their manager is going to be, and if the manager is in trouble, this clears the air for the players. It’s a natural thing that there are a lot of questions by the players in the clubhouse.

“I think this settles everything down.”

Said Phillie center fielder Lenny Dykstra: “I don’t know how you could get a better guy to play for. He’s honest. He’s easy to talk to. He makes you want to play for him. I hope they extend him as long as I’m here.”

There is no guarantee that a contract extension will mean Fregosi will be around to see the end of it. The last two Phillie managers, Lee Elia and Nick Leyva, didn’t last half a season after they had their contracts extended.

Gwynn on the talk that the Padres should be the favorites in 1993 because of realignment: “Everybody things it’s going to be easy. Who are they kidding? I think the (St. Louis) Cardinals will be the team to beat.”

Gwynn on the possibility of a severe player payroll budget cut at the end of the season: “If we don’t win this thing, and don’t look good doing it, there’s a chance it will be done. Common sense tells you there’ll be some moves made. My gut feeling is that the nucleus of the team will be back, but pitching-wise we’re not as young as we were, so anything could happen.”

The Padres have promoted pitcher Joey Hamilton, their No. 1 pick in the 1991 draft, to double-A Wichita. It’s Hamilton’s third stop of the season, going from Charleston, S.C., to High Desert (Calif.) to Wichita. He’s scheduled to make his double-A debut Wednesday in Jackson, Miss.

“He’s been very impressive,” said Ed Lynch, Padre farm director. “We just feel he continues to be challenged. This will be good for him.”

Hamilton was 4-3 with a 2.74 ERA at High Desert, striking out 43 batters in 49 1/3 innings. He did not allow a home run during his eight starts.

The Padres also have promoted pitcher Tim Worrell to triple-A Las Vegas, who’ll make his debut tonight. He was 8-6 with a 2.86 ERA in 19 starts, striking out 109 in 125 1/3 innings.

Although Ray McDavid continues to be the most impressive non-pitching prospect in the Padre organization, Lynch said they likely will leave McDavid at High Desert the rest of the season. McDavid is hitting .278 with 66 runs and 18 homers, but has struck out 84 times in 278 at-bats.

“We just want him to cut down on his strikeouts so he can utilize his speed,” Lynch said. “You can’t utilize your speed when you’re walking back to the dugout.”

Padre reliever Mike Maddux on the abundance of autographs he has signed of late: “If not for my brother, no one would know who I am.”

His brother just so happens to be Greg Maddux of the Chicago Cubs, who recently turned down a five-year, $28 million offer.