Ed Whitson

At first, Padre starter Ed Whitson tried to be philosophical about it. Then, he tried patience. Now, he's so damn frustrated he doesn't know what to do. Whitson, who toyed with the idea of being a spring-training holdout before reporting Monday with the other Padre pitchers and catchers, said he instead is contemplating the idea of requesting a trade. "I really don't want to move from here," Whitson said, "but for the kind of money they're giving out now, I'd be a fool not to take it.

One of the Padres' all-time leading pitchers retired this week, and it hardly made it off page 17 of area newspapers. Newscasts mentioned it after hockey, of all things. It probably wasn't brought up at all over coffee or at the water cooler. It was almost as if the poor guy had disappeared into some misty, mystical village. Out of thought, out of sight, out of mind. And now out of baseball, at least as an active player. Eddie Lee Whitson never was a high-profile guy.

You haven't heard too much about him. You might not even know his name. Like it or not, it might be time to start familiarizing yourself with him. Padre fans, say hello to Dave Eiland. When the season opens in a month, he very well could be in the Padres' starting rotation. "I certainly wouldn't count it out," said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager. "We may have another Mike Maddux case all over again."

Ed Whitson has walked through the visitors' clubhouse door hundreds of times at Riverfront Stadium. You could blindfold him and Whitson still could walk through the lounge, down the hallway, and across the room to find his locker. Only this day was different. This day, Whitson would say, was the most difficult of his baseball career. Whitson closed his eyes momentarily, took a deep breath, and gingerly walked into the Padre clubhouse. There was no locker awaiting this time.

Billy Martin, New York Yankee manager, who suffered a broken arm and two cracked ribs last week in a brawl with pitcher Ed Whitson, said he has been coughing up blood and may have also re-injured a lung in the fight.

George Steinbrenner, principal owner of the New York Yankees, does not plan to take any disciplinary action against Manager Billy Martin or pitcher Ed Whitson during the remainder of the regular season after their weekend fight in Baltimore, he said Monday. "Ed Whitson will not be suspended as far as I know at this time. Nor will Billy," Steinbrenner told the New York Times. "I don't know how I could take action against one without taking action against the other."

Shortly before the start of the Padres' spring training, Manager Jack McKeon revealed that starting pitcher Ed Whitson's future might be in the bullpen. Upon arriving here Sunday, Whitson responded with the verbal equivalent of a dirty look. "I certainly don't want to do that right now . . . or anytime soon," said Whitson, who is coming off what he considers the best year of his career with a 13-11 record, 3.77 earned-run average and 118 strikeouts with only 45 walks.

Padre pitcher Ed Whitson is guaranteed to receive a minimum of $2.7 million over two years with his new contract, and possibly as much as $3.7 million over three years, according to sources close to the negotiations. Whitson's contract, which was agreed upon Friday afternoon, stipulates that he'll be paid a $200,000 signing bonus, slightly more than $1 million in 1990 and about $1.2 million in 1991. The Padres have an option for a third year in 1992 that will pay him $1 million.

Padre starter Ed Whitson tried to talk Friday morning, but his voice cracked each time he tried to form the words. He began to cry, only to be drowned out by the sobbing of Padre Manager Greg Riddoch, who was on the other end of the phone. Whitson, one of the most popular players in Padre history, acknowledged Friday that his baseball career is over. Whitson, 36, was told by Dr. James Andrews that he has a torn ligament in his right elbow.

It's creepy and it's kooky, mysterious and spooky--and the impending Padres pitching rotation continues to take on an altogether new shape daily. The first two games of their home stand here have provided mostly gems, with one potentially large brick: the condition of Ed Whitson, who took his sore elbow back to Ohio for further medical exams after spending less than 24 hours in camp.

Padre starter Andy Benes listens to the discouraging news on Ed Whitson. He reads the trade talks involving Ricky Bones. He watches the struggles of Bruce Hurst and Greg Harris. Now, more than ever, he realizes he no longer is just another pitcher in the Padre rotation. He very well could be the key to the fate of the pitching staff. Benes made his spring-training debut Monday in a B game against the San Francisco Giants, and vowed afterward that he'll be ready by opening day.

Padre starter Ed Whitson rolled over in bed Friday morning, shut off his alarm clock and his eyes sprang open. This was the day he would test his right elbow for the first time since Sunday when he sustained a strained flexor muscle in his elbow. "I've been thinking about this for 24 hours a day," Whitson said. "I've even been dreaming about this stuff." Whitson, admittedly nervous, boarded the team bus to Mesa Community College.

You haven't heard too much about him. You might not even know his name. Like it or not, it might be time to start familiarizing yourself with him. Padre fans, say hello to Dave Eiland. When the season opens in a month, he very well could be in the Padres' starting rotation. "I certainly wouldn't count it out," said Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager. "We may have another Mike Maddux case all over again."

A Binghamton, N.Y., attorney said he was the "unidentified patron" in a Baltimore hotel bar who inadvertently sparked the fight between New York Yankees' Manager Billy Martin and pitcher Ed Whitson. Albert J. Millus Jr., 29, told the Binghamton Press that he was being held by the throat by Whitson, although he did not know exactly who the player was, when Martin interceded early Sunday morning in the bar of the Cross Keys Inn.

It's creepy and it's kooky, mysterious and spooky--and the impending Padres pitching rotation continues to take on an altogether new shape daily. The first two games of their home stand here have provided mostly gems, with one potentially large brick: the condition of Ed Whitson, who took his sore elbow back to Ohio for further medical exams after spending less than 24 hours in camp.

Pitcher Ed Whitson, wondering about his future with the Padres after midseason shoulder surgery, threw off a mound again Saturday and is convinced he's ready for game action. However, Padres pitching coach Mike Roarke, preferring caution, wants him to throw again on the side--probably Wednesday--before being activated. The Padres have until Oct. 31 to pick up Whitson's option. He'd like a chance to convince them--or anyone else interested--that his arm is sound. "Tired (of throwing on the side)?

Joe McIlvaine, Padre general manager, had a spontaneous meeting Thursday afternoon with pitcher Ed Whitson in the middle of the Padre clubhouse to discuss the right-hander's contract status. McIlvaine informed Whitson that it's nothing personal, but only good business sense the club is delaying its decision involving his contract. Whitson, the Padres' 1990 pitcher of the year, is perturbed that the decision has not been made.