Williams' advice kept Park off the mound

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Wednesday, September 6, 2006 1:26 AM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- If he were younger and more headstrong, Chan Ho Park admits, he would have tried to pitch on Aug. 21, the day he experienced a recurrence of the intestinal bleeding that forced him to go on the disabled list three weeks earlier.

At age 33, though, Park understands that there's more to life than pitching. He also understands that he's living for more than himself.

So Park heeded the advice of teammate Woody Williams, the Padres' 40-year-old elder statesman.

"Woody told me, 'Think about your family, the baby,' " Park said. "I was so lucky not to pitch."

Park yielded his starting spot to Tim Stauffer, and two days later he had surgery to stop the persistent bleeding in his small intestine. Six days after that, on Aug. 29, his wife, Rie, gave birth to the couple's first child, a girl named Elynne.

"One game is not a big deal for me," said Park, who spoke Tuesday for the first time since the operation. "What's important is the future of my wife and family."

Between the two episodes of bleeding, Park had 10 units of blood replaced. The total number of units in the human body? Ten, according to Park, who would know.

"Pretty soon my hair will change color and my skin will get lighter," he joked.

Park has lost 12 pounds since the surgery, and he said his current weight of 198 marks his first time under 200 in 11 years. The Padres have said Park could return to pitch for the final 10 days of the season, but he isn't so sure.

"I'll try. I hope I can do it," Park said. "But my body isn't ready. I'm still very weak."

Cust gets the call

Of the four players the Padres promoted from Triple-A Portland on Tuesday ---- pitcher Mike Thompson, infielder Paul McAnulty, and outfielders Ben Johnson and Jack Cust ---- only Cust was up for the first time this season.

The Padres rewarded the 27-year-old left-handed hitter for a season in which he batted .293 with 30 home runs, 77 RBIs and 143 walks, a total that led all of professional baseball. Cust hit behind Beavers cleanup man Jon Knott (32 homers, 113 RBIs) on a club that pounded 175 homers, the most in Triple-A.

"It was the best team I've played on as far as hitting," said Cust, originally drafted in 1997 by Arizona. "We had guys killing the ball. It was like playing on a high school team."

Cust believes he has gotten an unfair rap for bad defense, and he hopes his impressive offensive showing will earn him a big-league shot, whether in San Diego or elsewhere.

"It gets old sitting in Triple-A," he said. "This wouldn't be a bad place to play. Whatever my role is, I can handle it."

Short hops

The Padres officially sent Triple-A C George Kottaras to Boston to complete the trade for LHP David Wells. ... Mark Bellhorn gave 1B Adrian Gonzalez his second consecutive day off. "This is just a way to freshen everybody up down the stretch," manager Bruce Bochy said. ... 2B Josh Barfield's first career walk-off home run Monday leaves him four behind his father, Jesse, whose five game-ending shots between 1985 and 1991 tied him for the most in the major leagues during that span. Barfield, though, was more impressed by his RBI double to deep right-center field in the third inning. "I like that swing better," he said. ... Barfield batted third Tuesday for the first time, meaning he has occupied every spot in the lineup but the No. 4 hole.