Hoffman Says Brother Did His Best to Right Dodger ‘Sinking Ship’

For Trevor Hoffman, the San Diego Padre relief ace, “playing the Dodgers now won’t be quite as personal.”

Hoffman spoke to his brother, Glenn, on Tuesday night and learned he would not be managing in 1999, but would remain on the coaching staff.

“I don’t think it’s something to be disappointed about because I think he did a pretty nice job given the circumstances, and I think the Dodgers did too, or they wouldn’t have offered him a chance to stay in the organization,” Trevor Hoffman said.

“He kind of took over a sinking ship kind of thing that was hard to right completely, given all the injuries and changes.

“I guess all managers have to put up with those kinds of things, but it would have been nice to see him get a fresh start, to be able to manage the team from the start of spring training. Naturally, I just want him to be happy. I just want the best for [him] and his family. I think he’ll be fine.”

*

In the aftermath of their victory in Game 1, the Padres weren’t sure whether Wednesday’s day off was a plus or minus.

“Usually when you win, you don’t want a day off, you want to keep playing, but this might help in this situation,” Manager Bruce Bochy said during an Astrodome workout, referring to his club’s physical state.

Right fielder Tony Gwynn aggravated his left Achilles’ tendon injury when he doubled and scored the first run in Game 1 but will play today, as will first baseman Wally Joyner, who has been battling tendinitis in his left biceps for six weeks, and second baseman Quilvio Veras, who was hit near the right knee with a fastball from Jay Powell in the ninth inning of Game 1.

Gwynn said he would have preferred playing Wednesday but that TV (he coughed disgustedly) dictated a day off between the first two games despite the fact that there will be no day off if the Padres and Astros have to return to Houston from San Diego for Game 5 next Monday.

Also, as of Wednesday, the Padres had not been told by the TV lords what time Game 3 at Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday would start, but later it was announced that it would be at 8 p.m.--or 11 in the East.

“You can’t let it bother you,” Gwynn said. “You just have to deal with it.”

Today’s Pitchers

PADRES’ ANDY ASHBY (17-9, 3.34) vs. ASTROS’ SHANE REYNOLDS (19-8, 3.51)

Site--Houston Astrodome.

Time--1 p.m. PDT TV--ESPN

* Update--Ashby won 10 of 11 decisions, including six in a row, through Aug. 28, then tried to pitch through tendinitis in the area of his left hip--which affected the strength of his landing leg--and lost three in a row before winning his final start, 3-2, against the Dodgers on Sept. 23. Pitching coach Dave Stewart said Ashby is throwing as well as he did before developing the tendinitis and “could have won his last two or three starts with a little run support.” Reynolds came within a win of being the first Astro pitcher to win 20 since Mike Scott in 1989.