Ruppert Jones on fire

While it's still early to be thinking about Comeback Players of the Year, no better candidate appears on the horizon at the moment than outfielder Ruppert Jones, whose flaming bat has done so much for the San Diego Padres. Manager Dick Williams has Jones hitting cleanup and reportedly has rejected two trade offers that would have put Ruppert back in the American League. In 397 at-bats last season, Jones had only four homers and 39 runs batted in. Already Ruppert has doubled his home run output of 1981 and has also been playing extremely well in the field.