Players manager Baker is this player's choice

By: BRIAN HIRO - Staff Writer | Saturday, November 4, 2006 12:34 AM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- The Padres remain about a week away from naming a new manager, but at least one player has cast his vote.

Center fielder Mike Cameron said if he were a one-man search committee, the choice would be obvious: Dusty Baker. The former Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants manager will interview for the job on Monday, following five other candidates.

Though Cameron has never played for Baker, he said he has long admired the longtime manager from afar.

"I've always loved Dusty Baker," Cameron said Friday. "This is not a knock against the other (contenders). But every time I play against Dusty Baker, he makes it a point to come talk to me. And how can you not respect a guy who played with Hank Aaron?

"I know Dusty is a great communicator. He's a great leader. He's a motivator. He's a winner. He can get the most out of players because of his communication skills. I would love to play for him."

Three days before Baker comes to town, the Padres on Friday interviewed Ron Wotus, who began his major-league coaching career in 1998 as Baker's third-base coach in San Franciso. The next season, Wotus became the bench coach, and he has stayed in that post since.

Wotus, who lost out to former Padres manager Bruce Bochy in his bid for the Giants' managing job, has been assured by Bochy that he can remain bench coach if the Padres, as expected, don't hire him.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach Tim Wallach is scheduled to meet with the Padres today.

Riddoch returns

Fourteen years after he managed the Padres, Greg Riddoch is returning to the organization.

The 61-year-old Riddoch was named manager of the Padres' short-season Single-A affiliate in Eugene, Ore. He was hired by Padres vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson, with whom he worked in the Texas Rangers' system.

Riddoch took over for Jack McKeon as the Padres' manager in July 1990 and posted a 200-194 record before being fired and replaced by Jim Riggleman in September '92.

The Padres also announced that Jose Flores will be the Emeralds' hitting coach and that Gary Jones will succeed the fired Tony Franklin as roving infield instructor. To fill Jones' job as manager of the Double-A team, now in San Antonio, the Padres are expected to promote Randy Ready from Single-A Fort Wayne.

Hoffman spells relief

Padres closer Trevor Hoffman won the Rolaids Relief Man Award for the second time. Hoffman, also honored in 1998, earned the award by leading the National League with 46 saves, which helped him to 124 points in the Rolaids merit-based system.