NAMES AND NUMBERS

Chicago Cub General Manager Larry Himes saw a window of opportunity and jumped through it, trading Danny Jackson to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night for third baseman Steve Buechele. The oft-injured Jackson, a free agent who had a two-year streak of 20 starts without a victory, had pitched well enough recently to give Himes the chance to trade him, winning four of his last six starts.

Jackson will join Doug Drabek, Zane Smith, Randy Tomlin and Jeff Robinson in a Pittsburgh rotation that has been devoid of a reliable fourth and fifth starter. John Wehner and

Jeff King, who is expected to return from

Buffalo after the All-Star break, will play

third.

Buechele gives the Cubs their first long-term third baseman since Ron Santo retired and, in Himes’ view, also gives them “one of the National League’s best defensive infields,” with Mark Grace at first, Ryne Sandberg at second and former Dodger Jose Vizcaino at shortstop, pending the return of Shawon Dunston in 1993.

In trading Jackson and George Bell, Himes has weeded out two of the three free agents signed by predecessor Jim Frey, with pitcher Dave Smith, on the 60-day disabled list, still to go.

Two statistics that had a bearing on the Texas Rangers’ feeling they couldn’t wait longer to make a managerial move: The Rangers had fallen 6 1/2 games out during a period in which the American League West-leading Minnesota Twins had won 15 of 18, and attendance was down 170,485 through 45 dates.

Seattle Mariner rookie Dave Fleming responded to his All-Star snub by beating the New York Yankees, 5-2, Friday night. With an 11-3 record, he owns 31% of his team’s 35 victories. The Mariners could have trouble equaling the 64 victories of their first year, 1977.