PADRE NOTEBOOK : Harris Vows to Rebound from Discouraging Year

Padre starter Greg Harris says reality has landed a cold blow to his face.

“It’s not fun to get embarrassed,” Harris said after the Padres’ 6-1 defeat Sunday to the Cincinnati Reds, “and that’s what’s happening. I’ve got to live with this all winter, but believe me, it will make me that much more determined to get back to where I was before.

“I’m tired of getting my butt kicked.”

Harris, who was rewarded with a two-year, $3 million contract in the off-season, is 2-8 with a 4.62 ERA. He has had two different stints on the disabled list and is winless since May 31, albeit he was victimized by five blown saves.

“It’s not even frustrating anymore,” Harris said, “it’s just embarrassing. I’m just angry at myself. I haven’t lived up to anyone’s expectations they had of me, or expectations I have of myself.

“But believe me, I will get back to where I was. I will do it. My arm strength isn’t where it should be right now, but believe me, I can fix that. I’m going to work hard all winter, and be ready next spring.”

Although catcher Benito Santiago understands the Padres’ desire to bench him the rest of the season, bullpen stopper Randy Myers clearly was aggravated by the move.

He said he’s annoyed by the Padres’ concession that they are out of the National League West race because mathematically they’re still alive. The Padres are 12 games out with 14 to play and have seven games remaining with the division-leading Atlanta Braves.

“I don’t see how you can take him out of the lineup and say to the fans that we’re not trying to win the division when we’re not mathematically eliminated,” Myers said. “You’re always in the race until you’re mathematically eliminated.

“For someone to say we’re out of it, when we’re not mathematically eliminated, is not a winning attitude.”

Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn realizes it will be a difficult decision but says he would vote for teammate Gary Sheffield as the National League MVP.

Sheffield went one for four Sunday and is batting .332 this season with 32 homers and 96 RBIs. The Reds pitched him tougher than any team this season, limiting him to a .232 batting average with two homers and nine RBIs.

“I know it will be a tight vote,” Gwynn said, “but I still think Sheffield should win. I think his numbers are so good you can’t overlook him. I’ve never seen a year like he’s put together.

“But you can’t count out (Barry) Bonds or (Terry) Pendleton. My gut feeling is that the biggest impact for the voters will be, ‘Do we take a guy from one of the winning ballclubs, or do we go by sheer numbers?’

“I know I’m biased, but it’d sure be nice to have an MVP around here.”

Reds leadoff hitter Bip Roberts, making the Padres pay all season for trading him away, tied a career-high Sunday with four hits. He finished the season batting .333 against the Padres and stole four bases in the series.

“I love it,” Roberts said. “I think maybe getting traded was the best thing that happened. You play with teammates for so long, you get taken for grant. But when they see you play for someone else, maybe they say, ‘He’s good, I wish we had him.’ ”

Triple Crown Watch

Batting Average

Gary Sheffield, Padres: .332

Andy Van Slyke, Pittsburgh: .330

John Kruk, Philadelphia: .326

Home Runs

Fred McGriff, Padres: 34

Gary Sheffield, Padres: 32

Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh: 30

Runs Batted In

Darren Daulton, Philadelphia: 101

Terry Pendleton, Atlanta: 100

Gary Sheffield, Padres:96

Fred McGriff, Padres: 96