Riddoch Could Be Fired as Early as Today : Baseball: Decision has been made, source says. Padres give manager 200th win, however, with 2-1 victory over Giants.

By BOB NIGHTENGALE

Sept. 23, 1992 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

SAN DIEGO —

The Padres have decided to fire Manager Greg Riddoch, according to a highly placed source in the organization, and are expected eventually to replace him with Jim Riggleman.

Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, refused to confirm or deny the firing Tuesday after the Padres’ 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants. However, the source said the decision to fire Riddoch could be announced today.

Riggleman was in Los Angeles on Tuesday being interviewed by Padre chairman Tom Werner for the managerial job, according to two sources.

Riggleman, 39, who was hired two years ago by McIlvaine, spent the past two seasons at triple-A Las Vegas. He previously spent nine years in the St. Louis Cardinal organization, including two years as Whitey Herzog’s first base coach.

It’s unknown whether other candidates will be interviewed, or if Riggleman would immediately join the team. The Padres might use a member of their coaching staff as interim manager until the season’s conclusion.

Riddoch has been told by McIlvaine only that he will announce his decision before the series with the Atlanta Braves begins Friday at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Yet, Werner was notified of the decision Monday, according to the source.

McIlvaine, according to those close to him, knew months ago that he did not want Riddoch to continue managing past this season.

The biggest difficulty was convincing ownership that Riddoch should be fired. The Padre ownership, according to one owner, requested that Riddoch be given a two-year extension. McIlvaine balked, and asked for a delay while evaluating Riddoch during the pennant race.

The Padres since have collapsed, losing 20 of their last 34 games, and many Padre veterans have been critical of Riddoch, saying that he should be fired.

“Joe never changed his mind about Greg,” said one of McIlvaine’s associates. “It’s the owners who finally did.”’

The Padres also are expected to fire bench coach Jim Snyder, and possibly third-base coach Bruce Kimm. It’s unknown what will happen to the rest of the staff, although hitting coach Merv Rettenmund, first base coach Rob Picciolo and pitching coach Mike Roarke are expected to stay.

Ironically, the news of Riddoch’s firing comes on the heels of his 200th career victory in 394 games. He becomes the third-most successful manager in Padre history. Only Dick Williams reached 200 victories quicker as Padre manager, when he accomplished the feat in 388 games.

“I know one thing,” Riddoch said, “(the players) won them, I didn’t. They’re the ones who lost 194.”

The Padres won Riddoch’s 200th largely because of starter Andy Benes’ performance. Benes (13-13) struck out 11 batters in 7 2/3 innings, trying the club-high this season, and drove in the key run with a single in the fourth inning off rookie Larry Carter (1-3). Center fielder Darrin Jackson made a game-saving catch in the ninth, helping preserve Randy Myers’ 36th save--the third-highest total in Padre history.

The victory ended the Padres’ four-game losing streak in front of only 6,601 fans--the smallest crowd at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium since Sept. 11, 1986, when they drew 6,187 fans against the Atlanta Braves. However, the Padres left the stadium knowing that if the Braves won Tuesday night, the Padres would be mathematically eliminated from the National League West race. The Braves lost to the Dodgers, 4-1, keeping the Padres alive.

“You know, I just realized that this morning,” Benes said. “It’s been a rough year, but there have been a lot of distractions, too. There’s been a lot of uncertainty.

“Is the manager going to be back? Who’s going to be playing next year? Who are we going to sign? Who are we going to protect in expansion?

“It’s just been a lingering thing, and at times it has been a distraction. But they hired me to pitch every five days, not manage or coach third base. It’s a matter of keeping your focus.

“I know I’d be distracted if I knew every time I had to go out and do well, or they’d get rid of me.”

Yet, in what has become a minority viewpoint in the Padre organization and clubhouse, Benes said that he believes Riddoch had done a good job this season.

“I don’t think you’ll ever have a situation where all 25 guys are happy with the manager, or get along with him too well,” Benes said. “You’re asking for too much. I think he’s done a good job.

“We haven’t done real well lately, and he gets the blame for that. If we don’t execute, he’s to blame for it. Is that fair? I don’t know.

“I’d like to see him back, but that’s not my decision.”

Instead, the decision belongs to McIlvaine, and sources say it already has been made.

For the third time in Benes’ three-year career, he’ll be playing for a different manager.

Triple Crown Watch

*Batting Average

Gary Sheffield, Padres: .332

Andy Van Slyke, Pittsburgh: .327

John Kruk, Philadelphia: .325

*Home Runs

Fred McGriff, Padres: 34

Gary Sheffield, Padres: 32