Learning Zone

There was no denying it. The writing was on the wall, or rather, it wasn’t there.

Padre third baseman George Arias noticed. So did Tony Gwynn.

The numbers over the lockers in the Padre clubhouse this spring didn’t quite follow sequence . . . 12 . . . 13 . . . 14 . . . 19.

It didn’t take bifocals to read the message. Arias wears 14 and Gwynn wears 19.

“It’s not like we don’t have a 15, 16, 17 and 18 on this team,” Gwynn said. “Those numbers haven’t been retired. I think they wanted George next to me.”

Can’t imagine why.

There is Gwynn, the perennial Padre and a eight-time batting champion. He can jabber with the best but is so relaxed, a jolt of java is sometimes needed when talking with him.

Then there is the 27-year-old Arias, a boom in the minor leagues and the Mexican League. But as major leaguer, thus far, he has been a bust.

He failed as the Angels’ third baseman after being rushed from the minors. Now, he has been handed an even tougher assignment: Replace the popular and productive Ken Caminiti. It has made the hot corner a hot seat in San Diego.

Padre Manager Bruce Bochy believes the clubhouse seating chart could work wonders.

“Tony is such a good influence on young players,” Bochy said. “He has a way of making them relax and have some fun. It is good for George to sit around and listen to Tony because Tony has such a passion for the game.”

He certainly isn’t the only Padre who will be watched this season because Caminiti isn’t the only Padre to depart. Greg Vaughn, Steve Finley and Kevin Brown also hit the road, either by trade or free agency, making the team’s chances of repeating as NL West champions extremely slim, maybe nonexistent.

But Caminiti’s departure was especially difficult. He was part of two division championship teams and was the league’s most valuable player in 1996. Then he signed with Houston during this past off-season.

A tough act to follow. Arias knows it. If he forgets, there are plenty around to remind him.

“This is a big year for me,” Arias said. “I’m sure everyone knows it. People keep asking me, ‘Are you going to try to fill Cammy’s shoes?’ I’m still trying to fill my own shoes.”

Enter Gwynn.

“He’s a quiet kid, but he will sit around and pick my brain a little,” Gwynn said. “He really seems more relaxed this season. It’s tough sometimes. A team thinks it has the real deal and moves him along quickly. Then the guy doesn’t tear it up and they don’t want to wait it out.”

Gwynn had pretty much described Arias’ brief Angel career.

“Sometimes I think, ‘Did they put me next to Tony for a reason?’ ” Arias said. “I sure hope it rubs off. I pick at him and ask him things that I need answered. I’m lucky to be sitting next to him. So, yeah, I think they did it for a reason.”

People have always been impressed with the numbers Arias put up in the minor leagues.

He burned up the Pacific Coast League at triple-A Las Vegas last season and powered Mexicali to the Caribbean World Series during the off-season, hitting eight home runs during the playoffs.

His major league credentials, though, have not been as impressive. He hit .238 with six home runs and 28 RBIs for the Angels in 1996. He made brief appearances with the Padres the last two seasons.

Arias has had a good spring, hitting .344 and driving in 18 runs in 19 games. That won’t mean a thing once the regular season begins, something Arias doesn’t need to be told by Gwynn.

Arias hit .388 with four home runs and 15 RBIs during spring training with the Angels in 1996. He was awarded the third base job over veteran Tim Wallach, even though he had never played higher than double-A Midland.

He kept the job for a little more than a month, hit .184 and was demoted to triple A.

“I think I put a lot of pressure on myself,” Arias said. “I was scared and I was trying to prove to the people in that organization and that team that I belonged up here.

“I was the young guy. Tim Wallach was the other third baseman and a lot of the veterans were really good friends with him. They wanted him to start and when I made the team, it felt like people were avoiding me.”

It didn’t help his psyche when the Angels signed Dave Hollins during that off-season. Arias then went to San Diego in the deal that brought Rickey Henderson to the Angels in August, 1997.

“I was immature,” Arias said of his time with the Angels. “I did a lot of growing up the last two years. That’s what baseball is, you know.

“I know more about the game. I know more about myself, what I can and cannot do.”

Padre officials are confident Arias will succeed. They have to be; there is no option.

Arias was brought up late last season and stuck with the team during the playoffs and World Series. Even then, talk was that the Padres wouldn’t re-sign the 35-year-old Caminiti.

“George is in a situation now where it’s not going to be a three-week tryout,” Bochy said. “Maybe he wasn’t ready with the Angels. I wasn’t there. Sometimes guys aren’t quite ready when they get the opportunity. You just hope opportunity knocks again.

“I think most people know Caminiti was unique. We’re not looking for George to make highlight films. We just want him to be steady in the field and himself at the plate.”

And talk to Tony in the clubhouse.