PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Riddoch Happy to See Friend Davis Get Fresh Start After Royal Failure

Although reliever Mark Davis could prove to be a nemesis for the Padres in the pennant stretch now that he’s with the Atlanta Braves, Padre Manager Greg Riddoch couldn’t be happier to see him return to the National League.

“I’m real excited for him,” Riddoch said. “I can’t wait to see him. He’s the ultimate prankster. I guarantee the first time we play there, he’ll do something.

“I’ll have to check my locker. If I get a chance, I’ll get him first.”

Riddoch and Davis were best of friends when Davis pitched for the Padres, ultimately winning the Cy Young Award in 1989 with 44 saves. Davis signed a four-year, $13-million contract with the Kansas City Royals as a free agent and never was the same.

This could be the elixir Davis needs to regain his confidence, Riddoch said.

“I think Leo Mazzone is a good pitching coach,” Riddoch said, “and maybe he can unlock the door. Leo’s off the wall, and Mark needs that. He’s such a special guy, you hate to see what’s happened to him.”

The story that best describes Davis’ generosity and sincerity, Riddoch said, was when Davis volunteered for a charity auction in Riddoch’s hometown of Greeley, Colo., during the winter of 1989.

They were auctioning baseball memorabilia for Little League teams in town when a Roberto Clemente baseball card went up for sale.

“Mark said, ‘He’s my favorite, I’d give anything to have that card,’ ” Riddoch said. “I said, ‘Well, jump into the bidding, you big cheapskate. You just got $14 million.’ ”

The card was appraised at $120, but bidding reached $385 between Davis and a local couple.

“Finally, the woman realized what she was up against,” Riddoch said, “and told her husband, ‘How can we outbid him? He makes $14 million.’ ”

The card belonged to Davis. That night, Davis made a telephone call. He gave the couple the Clemente card for free.

“That’s all you need to know about Mark Davis,” Riddoch said. “I just hope he does great.”

Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn has more home runs this year (six) than Kevin Mitchell (five).

For the first time in his career, Gwynn could have more home runs than stolen bases. He has only three stolen bases this season, having gone since May 9 without a steal.

“It’s been a crazy season, let me tell you,” Gwynn said. “I can’t believe I’m ahead of Mitch, but I don’t know how long it will last, either.”

Riddoch ran into Phillie third-base coach Larry Bowa before the game and couldn’t help but laugh at his tantrum in Tuesday’s night game when he was ejected.

“I said, ‘Damn, you gave me some flashbacks from ‘88,’ ” Riddoch said, recalling when Bowa was manager of the Padres. “He told me, ‘All I told (the umpire) was that he’s (terrible) from the dugout.”

Oakland Athletic reliever Dennis Eckersley might be relieved that umpire Doug Harvey, who lives in San Diego, is retiring at the end of the season.

Rotten things tend to happen to Eckersley when Harvey is behind the plate.

Harvey was being the plate when Eckersley look the loss in the 1982 All-Star Game, was behind the plate in the 1988 World Series game when he gave up the infamous homer to Kirk Gibson and was behind the plate last week when he gave up two runs in the All-Star Game.

“What’s the deal with him?” Eckersley wondered. “He’s always behind the plate for me. Get him out of here.”

The last time the Phillies had a winning record at the All-Star break was 1984. No other team in baseball--not even the Cleveland Indians--have had to look beyond 1988.

Incredible-but-true statistics of the day:

* Detroit Tiger pitcher Bill Gullickson has gone 112 consecutive batters without striking one out swinging.

* Texas Ranger pitcher Nolan Ryan has allowed two or fewer hits in 70 of his victories during his career.

* Detroit DH Rob Deer has five multi-homer games this season. That’s one fewer than Roger Maris had all of the 1961 season.

Phillie President Bill Giles on extending Manager Jim Fregosi’s contract: “We always knew he’d be coming back next year, so we just thought we’d let the world know, too.”