Major league teams can start calling up minor leaguers Wednesday when 25-man rosters expand to 40, putting Craig Colbert, manager of the Padres' Triple-A Portland club, in a unique situation.

Locked in what looks to be a down-to-the-final-day pennant race with Tacoma in the Pacific Coast League's Northern Division, Colbert is well aware he could lose the heart of his club for his season's last week.

Looking for help off the bench, there is a possibility the Padres will bring up outfielders Xavier Nady, Jon Knott and Kerry Robinson, infielders Robert Fick and Ramon Vazquez, catcher Miguel Ojeda and pitchers Justin Germano, Brian Sweeney, Mike Bynum and Eddie Oropesa.

"I understand how this works, and I hope the Padres take who they need," said Colbert, who played in the big leagues with the San Francisco Giants. "If the Padres feel we have guys who can help them win, then they've got to take them."

Heading into Saturday night's game with Tacoma, Portland leads the Rainiers by a half-game with 10 to play. The PCL's four division winners advance to the playoffs.

Iowa (Cubs), Oklahoma (Rangers) and Sacramento (A's) lead the other divisions.

The PCL playoffs start Sept. 8.

"We're in a pennant race, and that experience will certainly help my guys," Colbert said. "But nothing compares to being in a big-league playoff race."

Nady, a good outfielder with power, is on fire with seven homers over a 12-game stretch. Knott leads the Beavers in homers with 22. Robinson is hitting .283 with 24 stolen bases in 38 games since the Padres sent him down.

Fick, an American League All-Star in 2002 with the Tigers, was signed after being released by the Devil Rays. He's hitting .389 in nine games with Portland and is a candidate to replace the struggling Dave Hansen as the Padres' main left-handed pinch-hitter. Fick plays first base, the outfield and catcher.

Vazquez, a mainstay with the Padres last season, "is playing extremely well after a slow start," according to Colbert.

Germano (8-5) and Sweeney (10-3) are starters, who were considered for Sterling Hitchcock's spot in the Padres' rotation. They could replace Dennis Tankersley, who struggled Friday in a start for the Padres in Montreal.

Padres manager Bruce Bochy has lost confidence in Bynum and Oropesa, both left-handers. But Bynum has held PCL left-handed hitters to a .143 average. Lefties are hitter just .043 against Oropesa at Portland.

"Those guys have been real good here," Colbert said.

Should the Padres raid the Portland club, the Beavers probably won't get much help.

Mobile is already assured of a spot in the Double-A Southern League playoffs and Single-A Lake Elsinore is battling for a spot in the California League playoffs.

"We'll play the hand we're dealt," Colbert said. "The big thing is winning at the big-league level."

Welcome to winter ball

Right-handers Brad Baker and Chris Oxspring, second baseman Josh Barfield, first baseman Paul McAnulty and outfielder Ben Johnson have been assigned to the Peoria Javelinas for the Arizona Fall League season.

Baker, who came to the Padres in a 2002 trade that sent Alan Embree to the Red Sox, leads the Southern League with 30 saves. Oxspring is 5-4 at Portland. He helped Australia win the silver medal at the Olympics.

Barfield is hitting .244, but has 17 homers and leads the Southern League with 80 RBIs. Johnson, is having somewhat of a breakout season at Mobile, hitting .250 with 20 homers and 74 RBIs. He came to the Padres in a 2000 trade that saw catcher Carlos Hernandez go to the Cardinals.

McAnulty, a 12th-round pick out of Long Beach State in 2002, is hitting .303 with 23 homers and 83 RBIs.

Einertson on fire

Mitch Einertson, the former Rancho Buena Vista High star, hit six home runs, knocked in nine runs and raised his average 19 points for Greeneville (Astros) last week.

He leads all Rookie League players with 24 homers, tying the Appalachian League record, and he has a league-record 65 RBIs with three games to play.

His surge earned him Appalachian League Player of the Year honors and the 15th spot on Baseball America's 20-man Prospect Hot Sheet.

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