PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Roberts Says Umpire Has a Vendetta Against Him

Cincinnati Reds leadoff hitter Bip Roberts on Saturday accused umpire Bob Davidson of having a vendetta against him and said Davidson shouldn’t umpire games in which he plays.

Roberts’ accusations came in the aftermath of his fifth-inning ejection Friday after he was called out at first base on a close call. Roberts argued the call, went back to the bench and continued to complain, resulting in the ejection.

“I stood in the dugout with my arms spread and my mouth open,” Roberts said. “I could have said, ‘Great call,’ and he still would have thrown me out. What I said, I’ve said millions of times and didn’t get kicked out.

“But because he has a personal vendetta against me, he throws me out. If he called me out because of a grudge he has against me, he shouldn’t be umpiring games I play in.”

Davidson, who ejected Roberts on Aug. 1 in a game against the Houston Astros, refused comment.

Said Reds Manager Lou Piniella: “Hey, the last time I said something like that, I got sued.”

Indeed, Piniella was sued for defamation of character a year ago by umpire Gary Darling for saying he was biased against the Reds. Piniella later apologized, and the suit was dropped.

What kind of raise can Padre third baseman Gary Sheffield be expected to receive this off-season from his base salary of $450,000 this year?

In an informal poll of two general managers and two agents, Sheffield can expect to earn $2.7 million to $3.5 million in arbitration.

The Padres will wait until the off-season before discussing a contract, said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager. They have yet to decide whether to make a multi-year proposal.

“The way he’s going right now,” one National League executive said, “I’d give him a 10-year contract for $50 million. Hey, I know it sounds crazy, but if salaries keep escalating the way they are, he’s going to make that much easy.

“The thing that everybody forgets is that he’s only 23. He’s the youngest guy on that team.”

Piniella, becoming the latest to exalt the virtues of Sheffield: “He’s got the quickest swing I’ve seen in my three years in this league. When he got up there (Friday), and hit the ball to left in his first at-bat, I was shocked at how fast he swung the bat through the strike zone.

“My God, it stunned me.”

The quote of the week award goes to McIlvaine, after watching Schottzie 02 do her business in front of the Reds’ dugout before Saturday’s game: “That gives a new meaning to the word, ‘foul territory.’ ”

Schottzie apparently has relieved herself five times on the field before games this year much to the chagrin of the Reds.

Worse, Reds owner Marge Schott allows her St. Bernard to run freely on the executive floor, prompting General Manager Bob Quinn to keep his office door shut after being victimized a couple of weeks ago.

How extreme have cost-cutting measures become in the Reds’ front-office?

Every time a Reds player needs a new baseball cap, equipment manager Bernie Stowe must receive approval from Schott.

The ex-Padre of the Week Award goes to Mark Davis of the Atlanta Braves, who recorded his first National League victory since Sept. 13, 1989, on Thursday against the Padres.

The Braves are desperately hoping that the victory can help bolster Davis’ confidence and help him regain his Cy Young form.

“It’s there, you can see he still has the stuff,” Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone said. “It’s our job to get it out of them. If he does, watch out.”

McIlvaine, scheduled to leave for Phoenix today, said one of the primary purposes of his trip is to judge whether starter Greg Harris is ready to be activated from the disabled list.

Harris is scheduled to start Tuesday for triple-A Las Vegas, and if he pitches well again, is expected to be activated during the Padres’ home stand beginning in a week. He probably will replace rookie Frank Seminara in the rotation.

“I know Harris says he’s ready now,” McIlvaine said, “but I’d like to see it for myself.”

McIlvaine’s departure to Phoenix should dispel any rumors that Padre Manager Greg Riddoch will receive a two-year contract extension during this trip.

Although the owners have recommended that Riddoch be retained, McIlvaine is adamant about delaying a decision until he evaluates Riddoch’s job during the pennant stretch.

The Dodgers’ 4-3 victory over the Reds on Thursday came despite making six errors. The last time a major league team committed six errors and won came on April 29, 1989, when the Padres beat the Chicago Cubs, 6-5. Of course, the Cubs made five errors that day. Against the Dodgers, the Reds committed one error.

Padre second baseman Kurt Stillwell, who has missed five consecutive games with a sprained left ankle, is expected to return to the lineup today. He has missed 27 games this season, mostly with nagging injuries, without going on the disabled list. . . . Padre bench coach Jim Snyder celebrated his 60th birthday. Catcher Dan Walters turned 26.