Palm trees are pleasantly arranged behind the outfield fence at Jack Murphy Stadium. New seats are positioned closer to home plate. Fresh faces, proven veterans making more than $4 million, are sprinkled throughout the playing field.

They call themselves the New Padres, valiantly attempting to shed the memories of the great fire sale that has haunted the city of San Diego the last two years.

Gone are Fred McGriff and Gary Sheffield. The Blue Jays aren't about to trade them Roberto Alomar back. And it's too late to protect infielder Dave Hollins and outfielder Shane Mack from the Rule 5 draft. Yet, there is reason to believe life will be different this season for the lovable Padres, who have provided so much comedy through the years.

No one argues that if s going to take time. The Padres' home crowds of 7,468 the second day and 10,037 and 13,663 for the next two night games, respectively, subtly remind them just how far they need to go before capturing the public's affection.

This is why no one, with the possible exception of the Mariners, needs a successful season more than the Padres. It is essential to their future in San Diego that they have a winning season.

Perhaps even a division-championship season.

You see, if the Padres don't win this year, they're not going to receive the public support to build a new stadium. And if the Padres don't get their new stadium, they will leave after the 1999 season, packing their bags for northern Virginia.

"These people will do everything necessary to give San Diego every opportunity to adopt this franchise,' says first-base coach Davey Lopes. "If San Diego doesn't then that's up to (owners John Moores and Larry Lucchino) to make a decision what they will do.

"I don't think you have to be a genius to figure out what will happen."

The Padres, who boosted their payroll by $5.5 million after the 12-player trade with the Astros, signed leadoff hitter Bip Roberts to a two-year, $4.8-million contract and flew starter Andy Benes in a private plane to spring training in an attempt to woo him to stay. They certainly. have done everything possible to assure a winner.

They have the finest pitching staff in the National League West. They have drastically improved their defense. They still have Tony Gwynn. They have a sharp manager in Bruce Bochy. A sage general manager in Randy Smith. And marketing gurus in Lucchino and assistant Charles Steinberg.