Newest Padres Hit Town, Ready to Pitch Right In

Calvin Schiraldi and Darrin Jackson, the two newest Padres, arrived in San Diego 31 minutes late Thursday but still in time for Thursday’s game with Philadelphia.

That’s OK. The pennant race, of which the Padres suddenly believe themselves to be a part, was five months late getting here.

Schiraldi and Jackson were acquired Wednesday to aid the playoff push. The Padres also will receive a player to be named for Marvell Wynne and Luis Salazar.

Schiraldi, a 27-year-old pitcher, and Jackson, a 26-year-old outfielder, arrived at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium about 35 minutes before game time. Jackson walked into the clubhouse and found out he was starting in center field.

Schiraldi was a little less conspicuous. He didn’t pitch, and after the Padres’ 5-1 victory, his most important chore was to track down a mirror and razor.

The Padres have a no-beard rule, which Manager Jack McKeon told Schiraldi after the game.

“I’ve had the beard since spring training, and I kind of started to like it, too,” Schiraldi said.

Schiraldi, 3-6 with a 3.78 ERA, will probably make a couple of starts before the Padres decide what to do with him permanently.

“I think we’re going to end up starting him in Houston Wednesday,” said Pat Dobson, the pitching coach. “That gives me an opportunity to work with him Saturday and Monday . . .

“I think he needs some work on his mechanics. If he can make a few adjustments and start pitching down in the strike zone more than he has been, he can have some success. He’s got a good arm.”

Schiraldi’s biggest problem this year has been lack of control; he walked 50 in 78 2/3 innings in 54 games for Chicago, all in relief. Last year, he started 27 games, relieved in two and finished 9-13.

“I prefer starting,” Schiraldi said. “If it was up to me, that’s what I’d do.”

Schiraldi and Jackson left Wrigley Field Wednesday after the Cubs’ 8-4 loss to Houston. Both reached home, found out they had been traded, then returned to Wrigley to get their equipment. Schiraldi was surprised; Jackson wasn’t.

“I enjoyed Chicago,” Schiraldi said. “I can’t say I won’t miss it because I will.”

Jackson said he requested a trade after he was sent to Iowa, the Cubs’ triple-A team, this season.

“I put it in their minds when I was optioned down that if anything came up, I’d like to go somewhere where I would get a chance to play,” he said.

As for leaving a first-place team, Jackson said, “I don’t look at it as a letdown, because this team is right there.”

Jackson was hitting .229 with one home run and eight runs batted in in 45 games for the Cubs. He went one for three against the Phillies Thursday, drawing an intentional walk in the second and singling in the eighth, on no sleep.

“None at all,” he said. “Found out about the trade at midnight (Chicago time), went back to the park to get my gear at 1:30, spent the night tossing and turning, finally gave up and watched TV and then picked Calvin up at 7.”