Padres’ Riddoch Is Hired for ’91

MONTREAL — Greg Riddoch, who replaced Jack McKeon as manager of the San Diego Padres on July 11, was hired for the 1991 season, the club announced here Friday.

“Oh, man, here come some more sleepless nights,” Riddoch said. “I already woke up two or three times Thursday night and started jotting notes down. I want a head start for next year.”

Riddoch got off to the worst start of any Padre manager at 1-11 but is 21-10 in his last 31 games.

“It’s a special feeling, but I know how this game works,” Riddoch said.

“If the team does great, everyone says you have great players.

“If they do bad, you’re gone. It’s that simple.”

Riddoch said that now, instead of spending his entire off-season as a substitute teacher at the high school in his hometown of Greeley, Colo., he will cut back to teaching two days a week.

“That’s the great thing about him,” Padre pitcher Ed Whitson said, “you know this won’t change him one bit. He’ll still be the same old Greg.

“We’re even going fishing Saturday to the St. Lawrence River, and I’ll tell you what, he’ll still act as crazy as ever, trying to burn my fishing line when I catch one.”