MARCHING ORDERS

The son of a former big-leaguer is selected in the 38th round of the amateur baseball draft out of high school.

Translation: Some scout did the old man a favor.

The son of the former big leaguer spends two years with the same Class-A team.

Translation: The kid probably doesn’t take after dad in the talent department.

The son of the former big leaguer is protected on the 40-man roster, flourishes in spring training and has the front office doing handstands over his potential.

Translation: The kid has become his own man.

Gary Matthews Jr. is no longer simply son of Sarge, the popular outfielder from San Fernando High who spent 17 years with five major league teams in the 1970s and ‘80s.

He isn’t mentioned in the same breath as juniors named Griffey and Cruz, but Matthews is a fleet, strong-armed switch-hitter the San Diego Padres are counting on to break into their outfield by 2000. Maybe sooner.

“He’s on a real good course of progress,” said Jim Skaalen, the Padres’ director of player personnel. “The tools are definitely there and he’s maturing into a fine player.

“Who knows where he’ll be, if not at the end of this year, certainly next year.”

Still, this fast track seems to require one step back for every two forward. Matthews, 23, is having a respectable spring, batting .250 with two home runs in 28 at-bats, and the Padres informed him last week he will begin the season at double-A in Mobile, Ala.

“I’m still waiting for him to come into my office and ask me why he’s not going to [triple-A] Las Vegas,” Skaalen said.

When Matthews’ father was 23, he was an everyday player with the San Francisco Giants. But young Matthews learned to shrug off comparisons to his dad long ago. That knock on Skaalen’s door won’t be coming any time soon.

“It’s hard to be patient, but I recognize there are things I need to work on,” Matthews Jr. said. “I’ll just let it come to me.”

Ever since his childhood, Matthews has taken a long-range view. How else could he have endured a senior year at Granada Hills High in which he batted only .245 because he was intent on learning to switch-hit?

“All my buddies were raking .400 and I was struggling,” he said. “It makes me wonder how I had the self-control to do it. It hindered my game, but eventually switch-hitting enhanced my future.”

Matthews’ mature perspective helped him stick with baseball even though it didn’t come as easily as it did to Dad.

“Early on, I had the feeling my dad didn’t want me to play,” he said. “Now I see that he wanted to make sure that if I chose baseball, it was because it’s what I truly wanted.”

Unpressured, Matthews’ desire grew naturally. There was no getting away from the game.

“My dream was always to play professional baseball,” he said. “Every boy wants to emulate his father, the dominant male role model in his life. He was a big influence, and he still is.”

Matthews Sr. is the Toronto Blue Jays’ batting instructor. He speaks with his son about once a week, although the conversation is rarely about stances and swings.

“We talk about personal stuff,” Matthews said. “It’s hard to talk hitting because he can’t see me. My dad’s letting me go out and do my thing. He’s really letting me experience this on my own.”

Keeping tabs on his son is easy for Matthews Sr. because his generation dominates the coaching ranks. Everybody, it seems, knows Sarge.

“Dusty Baker called me and said Gary’s been taking too many pitches,” the elder Matthews said. “I called Gary and told him not to let the umpire dictate his at-bats.”

Although his time is spent instructing young Blue Jay standouts such as Jose Cruz Jr., Shawn Green and Shannon Stewart, Matthews Sr. knows his son is in good hands.

Padre batting coach Merv Rettenmund has taken a particular interest in Matthews, and role models surround him on the field. Tony Gwynn in right field, Steve Finley in center, Matthews in left. That was the Padres’ outfield Monday night in a spring training game against Milwaukee.

Matthews (6 feet 3, 190 pounds) hit a home run, displaying power that he only recently has developed. His father hit 234 homers, but their games are different.

“They are two different-looking players,” said Arizona Diamondbacks coach Chris Speier, a former major league shortstop who played with the elder Matthews for many years.

“Sarge had more power early on. With age, his son will probably get more. Sarge was real strong and aggressive. Gary Jr. is fluid. He has more quickness and a stronger arm. You wouldn’t see Gary Jr. and say he looks like his dad, no way.”

Their greatest similarity is below the surface. Dad seems to have passed intangibles to his son.

“People are noticing him as much for his dedication and work ethic as for his ability,” Matthews Sr. said. “He has a lot of respect for the game.”

Sometimes respect is born out of hardship. Matthews Jr. carries the name of a big leaguer, but only recently has he earned the label of big league prospect.

He didn’t sign after being drafted out of Granada Hills in 1992 by the Minnesota Twins, and he had a mediocre freshman season at Mission College.

His arm and speed, however, prompted the Padres to pick him in the 13th round of the 1993 draft, a development that shocked Matthews. His lingering memory of the Padres was their victory over the Chicago Cubs in the 1984 National League playoffs, ruining a chance for his father to play in the World Series a second time.

“I hated the Padres for so long,” he said. “I remember being 10 years old and standing outside the clubhouse watching them party after Steve Garvey hit the home run that beat the Cubs.

“The day they called to say they drafted me, it was unreal. But I got over it.”

Matthews returned to Mission and had such a good sophomore season he was projected as a second- or third-round pick. The Padres held his rights until draft day and signed him before the draft.

Then came four years of struggling in Class-A and wondering if he’d made the right decision. Ho-hum performances in the Northwest League and Midwest League in 1994 and ’95 were followed by a breakout year at Rancho Cucamonga of the California League. Matthews batted .271 with 39 extra-base hits in 1996 and expected a promotion.

Nope. He was sent back to Rancho Cucamonga.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed,” he said. “But instead of sulking, I went on a mission.”

He batted .302 in 69 games and was promoted to Mobile at midseason. A torn ligament in his wrist restricted him to 28 games and he rushed back before he was fully healed and batted .244.

Despite Matthews’ slow progress, the Padres placed him on their 40-man roster. Their faith was rewarded when he followed a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League with a solid performance in spring training.

“If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will believe in you,” Matthews said. “Since I decided baseball is the direction I want to go, I’ve believed I will make the big leagues. There is no other way to think.”