Thanks for DeSimone. (The game calls him "Gerald", btw.) AI Jerry Coleman has decided to give up on Jack Perconte at 2B, after a disappointing sophomore campaign, slide DeSimone over, and play Gerry Davis at 3B. Meh. I'm thinking "Coleman" just wants as many players named "Gerry" in the lineup as he can get, possibly because it would be easier to remember their names.
Steve "Beach" Comer was an interest of mine, as well. One of the reasons I wanted these Rangers (besides all the Mayor's Trophy leftovers) was to see if I could help Steve avoid his back-to-the-minors 1980 flameout. I'm GM-only, though, so when "Pat Corrales" gave the #5 slot in the rotation (behind Fergie, Gaylord, Matlack and Medich) to a young Danny Darwin, I couldn't really object.
Comer spent the 1980 season in long relief. Even when the 40-year-olds got hurt, "Corrales" gave the spot starts to Dave Schmidt and (up from AAA) John Butcher, with good results. Steve struggled (2-1, 5.37, 4 saves), but at least he got some post-$ea$on in the deal.
1981 saw him crowded out, though. Rick Rhoden took Gaylord's spot in the rotation (Perry had the cojones to ask for a FOUR-year deal!) and FAs Bill Castro and Bill Lee were bright spots in the bullpen. Which left Comer at Wichita. (Even John Butcher only got one game in the bigs.) Steve did well, going 9-4, 3.62, but even if a spot opens up, there's no guarantee he'd get the first call. Sorry.
Meanwhile, the Yankees, looking to get ALL the pitching, just traded for Frank Tanana, sending San Diego four prospects, of whom only Cecil Espy made the bigs in OTL. (John Denny [15-5, 3.51] is now ticketed for the bullpen; Lynn McGlothlen, who got the save in the Series-clincher, may not make the squad.)
It makes sense for San Diego, though, since not only does it clear a spot for #1 picks Kevin Gross (#22, the compensation for Winfield) and Ron Darling (#35, from Pittsburgh for signing Jerry Mumphrey) in case they match their AA success at AAA and are ready to say "Aloha" to Hawai'i, but also, one of the other players in the deal is Brian Ryder, the Yankees' #1 pick in 1978.
In OTL, Ryder did well in the Pinstripers' chain, but flopped when flipped to Cincinnati for Ken Griffey. (Fred Toliver, originally a PtbNL, turned out to be the better acquisition.) Here, no doubt, the Friars are hoping Brother Ryder can bring his success from Nashville (18-10) and Columbus (17-7) to Jack Murphy. We'll see…
The Padres also sent Rollie Fingers to rejoin Winfield in LA, getting back four prospects, notably Orel Hershiser. Hard to condemn, even if OH IV stays the reliever he was during his minors career IRL.