Padres’ Henderson Banks on His Staying Power

Had Troy Percival not gone down with a shoulder injury in spring training, Thursday night’s starting designated hitter for the San Diego Padres--Rickey Henderson--could very easily be occupying that same role in Angel white and blue.

But the Henderson-for-reliever Chuck McElroy trade rumor, like all the rumors surrounding Henderson’s departure from San Diego, died a quiet death.

“Nobody gave him a chance in the world of breaking camp with us,” one Padre official said before Thursday night’s Angel-Padre interleague game at Anaheim Stadium.

There are many reasons why Henderson is still with the Padres, but the biggest, perhaps, is his $2-million salary, plus incentives for plate appearances. Last year, those incentives totaled $1.23 million.

Most general managers don’t feel a 38-year-old injury-prone outfielder is worth that kind of money. Apparently, some fans agree.

As Henderson headed back to the dugout for a new bat in the third inning, a fan in the lower deck behind the Padre dugout shouted: “While you’re at it, why don’t you retire?”

Henderson responded by cracking a 2-2 fastball from Matt Perisho over the left-center field fence. He seemed to put a little extra into his stutter-step trot that starts as he leaves the batter’s box.

Henderson has always been a showman and he’s always had the swagger. After he broke Lou Brock’s career stolen base record, he held the base up high and later proclaimed: “I am the greatest of all-time.”

But throughout his 18-year major league career, Henderson has been more than a base stealer and a showman. He’s been one of the game’s greatest leadoff hitters. He’s 10th all-time in runs scored with 1,849, seventh all-time in walks with 1,701 and is first all-time in leadoff homers with 70.

Even though he was the designated hitter Thursday, Henderson said he can still play the field: “I think I’m one of the best left fielders in the game.”

Henderson said he was playing DH Thursday so he could rest his ailing back, which has been acting up recently. Earlier this season, he spent some time on the disabled list with a strained right calf muscle. Lately, Henderson has been playing, and playing well. Entering Thursday, he had started the last seven games--going 11 for 24 with three runs scored, three RBIs, five walks and three stolen bases.

It’s those kinds of numbers that keep the rumors going. Texas and the White Sox are reportedly still interested in Henderson. Where does Rickey think he’ll wind up?

“I don’t even have a gut feeling,” said Henderson, who spent the first 17 years of his career in the American League. “If I had a gut feeling, I wouldn’t be out here.”

Henderson hasn’t remained in San Diego for lack of effort by Padre General Manager Kevin Towers.

“If a club steps up, we’ll get something done,” Towers was recently quoted as saying. “Basically, we’re waiting for an American League club to say ‘Let’s go.’ It hasn’t been a situation where someone wanted him and we held it up. We’re not going to haggle a lot. I’m open to anything.”

The Padres would eventually like to give outfielder Greg Vaughn more playing time. But Vaughn, who signed a $15-million, three-year contract in the off-season has been struggling and hurting--he’s hitting .212 with 45 strikeouts in 156 at-bats and has a sore left hand.

So for now, Henderson is playing every day, which is all he’s ever wanted.

“I don’t want to sit on the bench,” Henderson said. “That’s what I told them at the beginning of the year. I’m happy as long as I’m playing.”