PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB NIGHTENGALE : Riggleman Has Seen Plenty in Only One Week on the Job

In only one week on the job, Padre Manager Jim Riggleman already has seen his team be eliminated from the National League West race, his four-time batting champion’s season end, and his star third baseman slam his hand in a car trunk.

Can anything else go wrong?

“And they said I wouldn’t last,” Riggleman said, laughing.

Although it certainly would have been easy for Riggleman to start afresh in spring training, he said he’s grateful for the opportunity to manage the final two weeks of the season.

“If I knew I was going to be the manger of the San Diego Padres,” Riggleman said, “I’d say maybe it’d be better to start in spring training. But not knowing that, I wanted the job any time it came open. I’m glad it did, because there were no guarantees I’d ever get the job.

“I’m being honest with you; I feel lucky to get the job.”

Although the Padres are only 2-5 since Riggleman inherited the job, they have yet to lose a game by more than one run.

“I’m really happy with the way we’ve played in terms of intensity,” Riggleman said, “trying to win ball games instead of playing out the season. I see a lot of intensity out there.

“Hopefully the things that are happening now won’t be happening next April or May.”

Although he Padres’ talent will be diminished next season with the expected departures of catcher Benito Santiago, closer Randy Myers and starter Bruce Hurst, Riggleman still believes the club will be a contender.

“A manager’s job is to manage the talent he’s been given,” Riggleman said. “I’ve managed a lot of teams in the minor leagues where we’re not as strong as the other team in the dugout, but I know we can beat them, and we have.

“I think we’ll be just fine.”

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The Padres confirmed the firings of triple-A Las Vegas pitching coach Jon Matlack and third base coach Tony Torchia on Wednesday. They also confirmed that coaches Danny Garcia of Wichita, Bryan Little of High Desert, Fred Cambria of Spokane and Jack Lamabe of Charleston were fired.

Padre scouting director Reggie Waller also said that four scouts have been fired: Andy Hancock, Ray Coley, Brian Granger and Dave Bartosch.

John Cumberland, who was formerly in the Padre organization, is expected to replace Matlack at Las Vegas, according to sources.

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The Padres have extended their working agreement with the Spokane Indians for two more years, spanning the 1993 and 1994 seasons.

The franchise is owned by Bobby Brett, the brother of Kansas City Royal star George Brett.

“We’re happy to be involved with Spokane, which is a first-class organization,” said Ed Lynch, Padre farm director. “We look forward to two more successful years with the Indians.”

Spokane has been the Padres’ farm team in the Class A Northwest League for the past 10 years.

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Perhaps the Padres didn’t trade the wrong catcher after all. . . .

Sandy Alomar, who was traded to the Cleveland Indians three year ago, underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Since winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1989, he is batting .238 with two homers and 33 RBIs, playing in only 89 games.

“I think Sandy will be just fine next year,” said Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove, “there’s nothing left to fix.”

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Around the basepaths: It won’t matter whether the Giants move to St. Petersburg or stay in San Francisco, according to sources, Manager Roger Craig will be fired. . . . Kansas City center fielder Brian McRae hit the 61st inside-the-park homer by a Royal at Royals Stadium since it opened in 1972. During the same period, the Royals have only six on the road. . . . San Diego resident Joel Skinner, who missed the entire Cleveland season because of rotator cuff surgery, underwent surgery last week to tighten the shoulder and is expected to miss all of 1993.

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Odds and ends from the Astro season: Closer Doug Jones, who has 11 victories and 35 saves, will become the first full-time reliever to lead the team in victories in the 31-year history of the franchise. . . . Manager Art Howe did not use only nine players in a game during the entire season. . . . Unless the Astros have a late surge, this will be the first time left-handed reliever Rob Murphy has ever played for a sub-.500 team. He played for the Reds in 1985-1988, Boston in 1989-90 and Seattle last season. . . . Astro starting right fielders drove in 33 runs last season; this year, Eric Anthony (71) and Pete Incaviglia (16) have driven in 87 runs this year.