Manager Riggleman Already Setting the Tone for 1993 : Padres: General Manager Joe McIlvaine lauds the discipline he says was absent under Greg Riddoch.

“Two hundred dollar fine to anyone who shakes his hand,” Padre Manager Jim Riggleman barked.

All-Star shortstop Tony Fernandez had just slapped an infield single in Friday’s doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, and Riggleman was livid.

It not only led to a run, but extended Fernandez’s hitting streak to 17 games.

To Riggleman, that was totally irrelevant.

Ignoring the take sign, Fernandez swung on a 3-and-0 pitch. Riggleman was not going to condone this.

Once Fernandez returned to the dugout, Riggleman started screaming at him, jumping in his face so fast that Fernandez was too stunned to talk.

“When things happen that I don’t like,” Riggleman said, “I will address them. I’ve always been that way. I want them to know this is who I am, this is what aggravates me, and this is what I feel is acceptable.

“I know Tony has been one of our star players, but I feel that if I don’t address that there, maybe players on our club would think it’s a double-standard.

“There’s a way the game should be played, and a way it shouldn’t be.”

Said Fernandez: “He made his point, and I got it. I was wrong.”

Riggleman, only two weeks after replacing Greg Riddoch, has made it quite clear there will be changes for 1993.

No longer will leisurely strolls to first base on a ground ball be tolerated, Riggleman said. No longer will pitchers be allowed to watch the game on TV in the clubhouse. No longer will players be locking coaches in the bathroom, sticking gum on their caps, or any other such horseplay during games.

The country club atmosphere days are over. Riggleman isn’t going to pull a Lou Piniella and tackle anyone, nor will he be a Larry Bowa and throw tantrums, but discipline will return.

“He’s gotten all of our respect in the a hurry,” Padre starter Greg Harris said. “It shows you that he’s here to win. He doesn’t care about anybody’s stats but whether we win or lose.

“He means business.”

Riggleman may not be afforded the luxury of having an over-abundance of talented players in 1993 such as his predecessors--Jack McKeon and Riddoch--but there will be no excuses. Riggleman vows to get the last bit of potential out of his players.

“If Greg (Riddoch) had done that,” McIlvaine said, “maybe he’d still be here. He had to do one thing--just one thing--lead. Be a leader. He didn’t do that.

“I wanted Greg to take charge more, I wanted him to lead in crisis situations.

“Winning or losing is a product of what players do. What happens around the ballclub and in the clubhouse is more of a product of the manager.

“You saw what happened.”

The Padres collapsed down the stretch, losing 18 of their last 26 games. It wasn’t until their 4-3, 12-inning victory Sunday over Atlanta that they were able to ensure a winning record, 82-80.

Perhaps most embarrassing is that they actually were giddy with the victory, beating out Houston for third place.

“We have no one to blame but ourselves for this,” Padre catcher Dann Bilardello said. “We went into such a funk the last month that I don’t think Casey Stengel, could have gotten us out of it.

“Maybe no one else will remember what happened, but we sure will.”

Said Padre starter Andy Benes: “We never thought we’d have to win the last game just to beat out the Astros. When things go bad, they really go bad.”

Considering the Padres’ player payroll is $29 million and the Astros’ payroll is $13 million, it’s quite understandable why many played their final game Sunday as a Padre.

McIlvaine officially told All-Star catcher Benito Santiago he will not be back. The Padres won’t even offer Santiago arbitration, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.

“It’s kind of sad,” Santiago said, “but I’ll get over it. I’ll be all right. I wanted to stay here, but he said they don’t want me. He wished me best of luck, and that was it.”

There will be plenty of others leaving besides Santiago. Although bullpen stopper Randy Myers will be offered arbitration, he’ll be allowed to leave through free agency. Starter Bruce Hurst and Fernandez will be traded, as dictated by ownership. Reliever Larry Andersen was told Sunday his $2 million option would not be picked up.

The Padres, according to a source in the organization, placed outfielders Oscar Azocar, Kevin Ward and Phil Stephenson on waivers Sunday.

In all, the Padres will cut $14.75 million from their payroll with the moves--that includes the August trade of starter Craig Lefferts and today’s retirement by starter Ed Whitson.

“We’re still going to be competitive out there next year,” McIlvaine said, “it’ll just take a little more doing. I’ve had a few monkey wrenches thrown at me. But just like a pitcher who gives up a couple bad-hop singles and a couple of errors, you don’t quit. It just makes you more determined.

“A lot of things are going on right now that aren’t in the best interest of baseball, but what can you do? I don’t like it, but I have to live by it.

“We didn’t live up to our potential this year, but I don’t think that will happen again.

“I came out here two years ago to produce a winner, and we will produce a winner.”

The Padres’ budgetary problems have caused such unrest in the clubhouse that team President Dick Freeman took a flight to Atlanta to address the issue. Freeman explained the Padres will lose about $8.5 million, and were implored them to be patient.

“There’s nothing we can do about it,” said Padre first baseman Fred McGriff, “so it’s senseless to spend the winter worrying about it. It’s out of our control. They promised us that the nucleus will stay intact, so you’ve got to believe them.

“From a simple pride standpoint, if they come back with me and eight rookies, I’ve still got to go out there and play. I just can’t stand at first base an cry.

“Who knows, maybe we weren’t as good as we thought. Maybe were really are a .500 ballclub. But I also know that we just can’t stand pat.

“Let’s just say McIlvaine has his work cut out for him.

“Boy, has he got it rough.”

Padres in ’92

W-L At Home 45-36 At Home 38-43 Vs. NL East 39-33 Vs. NL West 41-31 Vs. Left-handers 26-20 Vs. Right-handers 56-60 On Grass Fields 64-56 On Artificial Turf 18-24 In Day Games 28-20 In Night Games 54-60 In One-Run Games 31-24 In Extra-Inning Games 6-14 In Doubleheaders 0-1