BASEBALL MISCELLANY : NAMES AND NUMBERS

Ohio Bound?: Syd Thrift, who recently resigned as general manager of the New York Yankees under pressure from owner George Steinbrenner, is rumored to be headed to the Cincinnati Reds in a similar position, replacing Murray Cook, who has reportedly taken all he can from owner Marge Schott. Thrift has never lived up to his name. He is a free spender whose philosophy would seem at odds with the miserly Schott, whose latest budget edict is to restrict the distribution of pregame press notes to save on paper costs.

Job Market II: Hard as it is to believe, persistent rumors have Steinbrenner replacing Thrift with Reggie Jackson, who told a source he would take the job to get his foot back in baseball’s door.

Comeback: The Texas Rangers’ Charlie Hough, 5-11 when he went on the disabled list with a strained arm in late July, is 5-1 since coming off and almost certain to have his 1990 option at $1.2 million picked up by the Rangers.

Apathy: The Atlanta Braves are drawing their typical September crowds. The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday total for games with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants was 9,595, including 1,528 Tuesday. The Padres, in for two games, took out net receipts of $3,498.60. Meal money expense for 27 players for two days was $2,781.

More Braves: Since Atlanta’s roster was expanded on Sept. 1, Manager Russ Nixon has said: “You know things are going bad when I’m putting in guys I don’t even know.”

Sidelined Saver: Dan Plesac notched his 28th save and was leading the American League on Aug. 11, but the injuries that riddled the Milwaukee Brewer offense and pennant chances took Plesac out of action. He did not have another save opportunity until he preserved Wednesday night’s 7-4 win over the Angels. “It’s been like having a convertible in the garage and it keeps raining,” pitching coach Chuck Hartenstein said.

How to Explain It: Kansas City’s title hopes seemed to be buried by the Detroit Tigers’ three-game sweep this week. The Royals have lost 13 straight in Tiger Stadium and are 3-10 against the hapless Tigers and Chicago White Sox this year.

Statistical Milestone: The Toronto Blue Jays’ Fred McGriff had 36 homers and 97 walks through Friday and could become the first American Leaguer since Carl Yastrzemski and Frank Howard in 1970 to collect 40 homers and 100 walks in a season.