Gonzalez makes his Arizona return

One unpleasant memory in eight years? Luis Gonzalez really can’t complain, but he’ll talk about it.

He was an icon in Arizona after leading the Diamondbacks to the 2001 World Series championship and relished the role, devoting time and money to the community and making his home near Phoenix.

All he wanted was to end his career there, and he requested an answer from the Diamondbacks last September. Would they pick up his $10-million option for 2007?

He asked for a meeting with team general partner Jeff Moorad, who coincidentally had been Gonzalez’s agent when his three-year, $30-million contract was negotiated.

“That was awkward in itself,” Gonzalez said.

Moorad suggested breakfast.

Gonzalez had no sooner ordered when Moorad and General Manager Josh Byrnes informed him that the Diamondbacks were not interested in bringing him back.

“Those eggs tasted like nails,” Gonzalez said.

Tonight will mark his return to Chase Field. The last game he played there, his No. 20 was painted on the outfield grass. He had become so entrenched that it took two trips in a truck for him to haul all the belongings he’d accumulated over the years from the stadium.

“I was very disappointed, but at the same time, I’m extremely happy with the Dodgers,” he said. “I couldn’t be in a better situation.”

A perk of playing for another National League West team is frequent trips to Phoenix. Gonzalez will drive his 8-year-old triplets to school today and join them during their lunch break.

And he’ll get the last laugh on the Diamondbacks -- much of his salary was deferred.

“They will be paying me for the next five or six years,” he said.

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Gonzalez might be worth the $7.35 million the Dodgers will pay him against the San Diego Padres alone. He doubled, singled and drove in a run Sunday against starter Chris Young, who shouldn’t feel alone in being victimized by the 39-year-old outfielder.

Gonzalez is batting .444 against David Wells, .400 against Clay Hensley, .381 against Jake Peavy and .317 with 10 home runs against Greg Maddux.

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Padres Manager Bud Black was reluctant to address the problems of Dodgers starter Jason Schmidt, who recorded only six outs before getting pulled Saturday night.

But having been a longtime pitching coach, Black couldn’t resist -- at least momentarily. “His mechanics look the same to me,” he said. “The ball looked like it was coming out of his hand fine. He got a few balls up.”

Asked why Schmidt’s velocity has decreased so dramatically, Black demurred. “I don’t know, that’s probably a better question for him,” he said. “I only saw him throw 58 pitches.”

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A fledgling Wolfpack cheered Randy Wolf during his first home start -- five fans brought wolf masks into the left-field pavilion and wore them during the left-hander’s six-inning, three-run performance.

Wolf had a similar cheering section during his eight seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies that fluctuated from eight to 80 depending on how he was pitching.

The Dodgers normally don’t allow masks into the stadium but gave permission Sunday. The leader of the pack was Micah Weathers, a former teammate of Wolf’s at Pepperdine. Weathers said he planned to seek permission from the Dodgers to expand the Wolfpack and wear the masks to his home starts.

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Batboy Johnny Garcia was in stable condition after getting hit in the cheek when a foul ball caromed off a wall in foul territory and hit him.

steve.henson@latimes.com