PADRES UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / BOB WOLF : Templeton Not Reserved on Role

Garry Templeton could see it coming, but he had no idea that it would be this bad.

The Padre veteran, 35, recalled Sunday that Jack McKeon, then manager/general manager, had broached the subject of a utility role two years ago. He said he thought he would play a lot more under those conditions than he has this season as a reserve for the first time in his 16-year major league career.

“McKeon told me that if he got a shortstop, he wanted me to play utility,” Templeton said. “Nothing materialized, so I stayed at shortstop.

“But the thing was, I told him that was all right because I understood I’d still be playing a lot. I thought I’d fill in at shortstop and also at second and third, maybe even play some outfield. That way, I would have played quite a bit.

“The way it is now, I just play a little third and pinch hit. That’s tough after being a full-time player my whole career.”

With Tony Fernandez playing without relief at shortstop, Templeton has been limited to 48 at-bats spread over 23 games. He has nine hits for a .188 average, including two for 12 (.167) as a pinch hitter.

“I’m starting to get a little better feel for it, but it’s still going to take time,” Templeton said. “It may take the whole year to adjust. By that time, people may say I can’t play anymore.”

Templeton said he had sought advice from Tim Flannery and Kurt Bevacqua, former Padre utility men, and Greg Gross, a longtime pinch-hitting specialist who flunked a tryout with the Padres this spring.

“They always came off the bench, so they know the ins and outs of it,” Templeton said. “They told me a lot of things that might help, but it’s not easy. There’s just not enough time when you get four at-bats here and four at-bats there.

“I’m trying to stay focused. I feel that I’ve still got the talent to play every day, but my talent is being wasted sitting on the bench.”