Padres’ Victory End Year of Woe for Kurt Stillwell

Padre second baseman Kurt Stillwell sensed the stares each day the last few months of the season. He heard the whispers in the clubhouse. It’s almost as if he could feel their contempt.

“A lot of these guys have never seen me play before,” Stillwell said. “They didn’t know anything about me. Now look at what happened to me this year. They probably don’t think I can play at all.”

Stillwell quietly said, “I guess you can’t blame them.”

The Padres concluded their season with a 4-3, 12-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, ending Stillwell’s misery.

Stillwell finished by going hitless in three at-bats, dropping his batting average to .227. He ended up with 24 RBIs, the first time in five years he has not had at least 50.

“I can’t blame anybody, or point the finger at anyone for the season I’ve had,” Stillwell said. “I’ve stunk. I know I’m better than this, but I haven’t showed it.

“I had so many expectations of myself since coming here, and to do this, well, it’s embarrassing.”

Stillwell, who has a two-year, $3.5 million contract, was supposed to solve the Padres’ woes at second base. Instead, he struggled.

The Padres tried unsuccessfully to trade him. According to sources, he will be left unprotected in the expansion draft. Yet, considering that Stillwell has a year remaining on his contract that will pay him $1.75 million in 1993 and provide arbitration rights in 1994, the Padres expect that no one will be interested.

The Padres, perhaps with no other choice, are looking at returning him to shortstop next season.

“I’m a little apprehensive,” Stillwell said softly, “just because of the reasons why. In my eyes, I can’t fathom not having Tony Fernandez on the team. He’s the best in the league, if you ask me. The infield in San Diego is pretty tricky, and he makes it look easy.

“(Padre Manager Jim Riggleman) asked me about playing shortstop, and I told him I would. What am I going to do? I’m just an employee here.”

The Padres, according to a source in the organization, will trade Fernandez in the off-season as mandated by Padre ownership. Fernandez, whom the Padres hold a $2.3 million option that has to be exercised by Oct. 31, has plenty of trade value. There are as many as eight clubs believed to be interested, including the Houston Astros and New York Yankees.

Padre ownership simply wants Fernandez’s salary off the books, and because they’re paying Stillwell anyway, they figure Stillwell could be an adequate replacement.

Perhaps returning to shortstop will be best after all, Stillwell says. He still wants to continue playing second base, but maybe this will be best for the entire organization.

“I’ve been pressing all year,” Stillwell said. “I never thought it’d take this long to learn the position.

“I don’t know what it is, even though I’ve played at second base all year, I’m still more comfortable at shortstop. I’ve never been Ozzie Guillen, but I know I can play shortstop.

“Maybe I’ve got no choice.”

Padre first baseman Fred McGriff became the first player to win the home run title in each league. McGriff hit 35 homers this season, one more than Barry Bonds of Pittsburgh. McGriff also won the American League title when he hit 36 homers in 1989 for the Toronto Blue Jays.

“It’s a great honor,” McGriff said. “I just want to be consistent, and I’ve done that. But the big reason I’m so happy is because of my bet with DJ (teammate Darrin Jackson).”

Bet?

“I bet him a dinner in spring training that I’d hit twice as many homers as him,” McGriff said. “I thought I’d have to get 40 to do it, but it worked out all right.”

Jackson finished with 17.

Said Jackson: “How can you compete with that guy. He’s Superman.”

It’s the first time a Padre has won the home run title, and McGriff’s total is the highest by a Padre since Nate Colbert in 1972.

Padre third baseman Gary Sheffield won the batting title with his .330 batting average, finishing six points ahead of Pittsburgh’s Andy Van Slyke and Cincinnati’s Bip Roberts.

“I think me and Fred will be doing some celebrating when he gets home,” said Sheffield, who missed the final week with a broken finger. “It’s been a great season. No matter what happens, nobody can take this away from me.”

The Padres confirmed Sunday hitting coach Merv Rettenmund, pitching coach Mike Roarke and first base coach Rob Picciolo will be retained. Bench coach Jim Snyder and third base coach Bruce Kimm were fired. Also dismissed was bullpen catcher Ron Oglesby.

The Padres will await before announcing the two new coaches, but Bruce Bochy is expected to be the third base coach and Rich Hacker of Toronto is a leading candidate to become the bench coach.

Fernandez, playing probably his final game as a Padre, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 19 games with a two-run single in the eighth inning.

Atlanta third baseman Terry Pendleton was one for four Sunday, finishing one hit shy of 200 hits. He would have become the first Atlanta player since Ralph Garr in 1974 to accomplish the feat.