Padres play it safe, place Nevin on the disabled list

By: JOHN MAFFEI - Staff Writer | Sunday, June 26, 2005 8:41 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- Phil Nevin was supposed to test himself today, take batting practice and see whether his strained left oblique would hold up under pressure.

Instead, Nevin was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, retroactive to Tuesday. He is eligible to come off July 5.

"It's possible Phil could have been ready to play Friday," said Padres manager Bruce Bochy.

But with center fielder Dave Roberts sidelined another two or three days because of a leg problem, Bochy didn't want to play two men short any longer. So Nevin was placed on the DL, and outfielder Ben Johnson was summoned from Triple-A Portland.

"This is a kind of injury you can't tough out," Nevin said. "If I reinjure it, I might be gone for a month. So I'm going to have to sacrifice a few games and hope I'm ready to go when I'm eligible to come off the DL."

Nevin's misfortune has given the 24-year-old Johnson a chance. Acquired in a July 2000 trade that sent catcher Carlos Hernandez to the St. Louis, Johnson was hitting .299 for Triple-A Portland with a team-high 17 homers and 49 RBIs, including a six-RBI effort against Fresno on Friday.

Johnson was pulled from the Beavers' lineup at Sacramento on Saturday and took a flight to San Diego that night. He made his major-league debut Sunday afternoon as a defensive replacement in left field in the ninth inning of the Padres' 5-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

"It took me a long time to get here, but I'm not surprised by that," Johnson said. "I really didn't know the game, and I wasn't very good or consistent. I had to mature and trust my ability. Once I learned to do that, I was able to wreak some havoc."

Welcome home

Padres rookie first baseman/outfielder Paul McAnulty can't wait for tonight's game at Dodger Stadium.

"I grew up in the left-field bleachers there," said McAnulty, who went to Oxnard High and Long Beach State. "I was one of those guys who sat in the front row and yelled at the opposing left fielder. We especially got on Bobby Bonilla. It would be a hoot if I got to play left up there and the fans got on me."

Since it will be a three-game series and the Padres will return to San Diego afterwards, Bochy will allow his players to drive to Dodger Stadium.

"He said we can report to the park as early as we want," McAnulty said. "I wonder if 9 a.m. is too early?"

Star gazing

Bochy doesn't think catcher Ramon Hernandez's stint on the DL should knock him out of the All-Star Game.

"I still feel he's the best catcher in our league," Bochy said. "He'll be healthy by the All-Star Game (July 12 in Detroit), and he deserves to represent us."

Short hops

Utilityman Eric Young, healing from a dislocated right shoulder, started rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Portland on Sunday. Padres manager Bruce Bochy said he would like to get Young back as soon as possible but figures Young will need a minimum of 10 games to get ready. ... Chuck Fick, the older brother of Padres utilityman Robert Fick, was a clubhouse visitor. Chuck Fick is the national high school cross-checker for the Cardinals. ... Mariners RF Ichiro Suzuki didn't start but appeared as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning and lined out to center field for the final out of the game. He has played in all 74 Mariners games.

Contact staff writer John Maffei at (760) 740-3547 or jmaffei@nctimes.com.