Nolte Gives Padres a Fresh Arm and Fresh Air

Eric Nolte walked through the Padres’ clubhouse Sunday morning with an electronic muscle stimulator--a common aid for big league pitchers--attached to his left arm. He turned a dial. He punched a button.

“What does that machine do?” someone asked.

“Heck if I know,” he said.

“What are you doing to those buttons?” someone else asked.

“No idea,” he said.

The legend grows.

“The best way to describe Eric Nolte’s effect on this team,” said Padre coach Greg Riddoch, “is a breath of fresh air.”

Nolte, 23, made his major league debut against Houston Saturday in the Astrodome. It had been two days since his recall from Double-A Wichita, and only 2 1/2 years since his first professional pitch.

He won, 6-0, allowing five hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings. He ended it with several dozen high fives, including a punch to the chest of Manager Larry Bowa.

“He makes all of us think about when we broke in,” said Tim Flannery. Said Bowa: “He’s unbelievable.”

And neither is talking about his pitching.

The legend grows.

Some highlights:

During Friday night’s game, the Astrodome scoreboard illuminated Saturday’s starters--ERIC NOLTE VS. JEFF HEATHCOCK.

Nolte approached Bowa. During a game, one might as well approach a thunderstorm.

“Look, Larry,” said Nolte, pointing to the scoreboard, laughing. “My name in lights.”

After watching the Padres’ 6-2 victory Friday, Nolte returned to the hotel to contemplate the next evening. Here’s how he described his night:

“It was the usual. I went to bed about three in the morning and woke up a couple of times. In one of my dreams, I took a line drive in the face.”

After all the dugout hand slapping and chest thumping Saturday, Nolte quietly cornered Bowa.

“Where do I go now?” he asked.

“Go out and have fun tonight, you deserve it,” said Bowa.

Nolte: “Great. Where are we going?”

Bowa: “We?”

Nolte arrived at the clubhouse at 11 a.m. Sunday, looking worse for wear.

“He tried to live 20 years in one night,” said Bowa. “Almost made it.”

He had spent much of his time after his victory on the telephone. He made seven calls Saturday night, and three more Sunday morning.

One of his early calls Sunday was to former Wichita roommate Greg Harris. This season, they had survived on $12 daily meal money each.

“I told Greg, ‘Guess what? I just got a meal money check for $380, and it’s only for the rest of this trip. You know, I might finally be able to buy some dress shoes.’ ”

Nolte’s salary increased from $1,200 a month to $10,416.67 a month. Even if he is sent right back to the minors, he would be paid $3,466 a month for the rest of the minor league season because he has spent one day in the majors.

“It is unbelieable, isn’t it?” said Nolte, who will start at home against Houston Aug. 7. “Whatever I’ve accomplished, I still don’t know what it is.”