PHOENIX -- And you thought Eli was bad.
Say hello to chairman Tom Werner and the rest of the San Diego Padres' 15-man ownership group. The Padres finished third in the National League West last season, featuring the league batting champion (Gary Sheffield) and home run king (Fred McGriff). Now, they're the laughingstocks of baseball.
Werner and Co. say they lost $8 million in 1992, and they've responded with a cost-cutting crusade that makes Eli Jacobs look like Santa Claus. Hey, at least the Orioles had a Christmas tree this winter. The Padres didn't, saving all of $40.
Ownership has ordered the payroll reduced to $21 million, so what we're looking at is a third NL expansion team, albeit one with Sheffield, McGriff and Tony Gwynn. The payroll is now at $25.5 million. Left-hander Bruce Hurst and outfielder Darrin Jackson could be the next to go.
The beneficiaries of all this are the Padres' young players, four of whom once were property of the Orioles. Outfielder Darrell Sherman will make the team, and infielder Ricky Gutierrez could join him shortly. Pitchers Mike Linskey and Erik Schullstrom are not as close, but the way the Padres are operating, you never know.
Heck, the chaos could even work in favor of former Orioles scouting director John Barr, the man who drafted Ben McDonald and Mike Mussina. Barr, the Padres' assistant general manager, is among the candidates to succeed Joe McIlvaine, who is expected to be fired by the All-Star break.
The question is, why would Barr want the job? McIlvaine is his best friend in baseball. Besides, it's doubtful the next GM will have it any easier. The Padres eliminated 19 positions this winter, including a coach on every farm team, about a half-dozen scouts and the entire community relations department.
This team always seems to be mismanaged, no matter who is in charge. The list of former Padres amounts to an All-Star team -- Roberto Alomar, Sandy Alomar, Carlos Baerga, Joe Carter, Tony Fernandez, Ozzie Guillen, Kevin Mitchell, Bip Roberts and Ozzie Smith.
Oddly enough, the trade drawing the most criticism in San Diego is the one that sent Craig Lefferts to the Orioles. The deal was the first in a series of salary dumps, but it could prove a steal if Gutierrez develops into a quality middle infielder and Schullstrom a major-league pitcher.
