Padres Dismiss Coach Alomar, Dobson Still Seeking New Job

PITTSBURGH —  Sandy Alomar, who has been on the Padre coaching staff for the past five seasons, was fired Tuesday, but no decision has yet been made on his replacement.

Alomar was the only coach on the Padre staff that Manager Greg Riddoch decided not to retain. Pitching coach Pat Dobson was given a deadline of Oct. 31 to find a job, or return to the Padres for the final year of his contract.

“I was kind of expecting this,” Alomar said from his home in Puerto Rico, “although I think his mind was made up a long time ago. It’s part of the game, I guess.

“The only part I’m upset about is the way it was handled. It as weird. They could have told me when I was still there, before I left for Puerto Rico, but now I have to go back and get all my stuff, clean out my bank account, and all that.

“It was painful to hear, but I’ll get over it.”

Dobson, meanwhile, is waiting to be interviewed for possible job opportunities. John Schuerholz, Kansas City Royal general manager, said that Dobson will be included on his list of candidates for their vacancy as pitching coach, but no contact has been made.

“I’m just waiting for the phone to ring,” Dobson said. “I’m sure I’ll get a call from someone.”

The only other major league club with a vacancy as pitching coach is the Philadelphia Phillies, although former St. Louis pitching coach Mike Roarke is expected to be the leading candidate. The New York Yankees and Houston Astros also are expected to have vacancies.

The Padre also announced Tuesday that they have renewed the option on pitcher Atlee Hammaker’s contract, but have yet to decide on the fate of pitcher Eric Show, who also has an option year remaining on his contract.

Meanwhile, Jack McKeon, who was fired three weeks ago as vice president/baseball operations of the Padres, has been informally interviewed by the Atlanta Braves for their vacant general managerial position.

“It’s been informal, and nothing more so far,” McKeon said. “If they want me, they want me. If anybody wants me, all they have to do is call.”

McKeon is one of several candidates for the Atlanta job. Larry Himes, who left the Chicago White Sox, also has been interviewed.

In other news, one general manager, who refused to be identified, disclosed that Joe McIlvaine received a home and several lucrative incentives in his contract with the Padres that pushes the net worth of the five-year deal to about $2.5 million.

“Believe me,” the general manager said, “he got a sweet deal from the ownership.”

McIlvaine was unavailable for comment.