Around the majors, briefly

Since Manager Joe Torre took most of the heat when the Atlanta Braves blew their 10 1/2-game lead in the N.L. West in August, it seems only fair that Torre receive credit for their tremendous late-August/September comeback. Once the Braves did get up off the floor, they put together a stretch where they won 13 of 15 games, helped immeasurably by a team batting average of .331...Practically everyone I've talked with insists you can take this rumor to the bank - that at the end of the season the Cleveland Indians will replace manager Dave Garcia with Jim Fregosi.

Ken Griffey, Dave Collins, Goose Gossage, and Rudy May have all asked Yankee owner George Steinbrenner to trade them...The Dodgers have activated 44-year-old first base coach Manny Mota, who holds the major league record for pinch hits with 150...John Wathan of Kansas City broke the major league mark for most steals by a catcher in a single season when he grabbed No. 31 against the Texas Rangers on Aug. 24.