New York Mets

Warren G. "Sheriff" Robinson, a former New York Mets first-base coach and scout who later became the Dorchester County treasurer, died of cancer Friday at his Cambridge home. He was 80. He spent 35 years in professional baseball, including time as a minor-league catcher and manager, and scouted Baltimore Orioles home games for the 1969 "Miracle Mets" -- winners of the World Series that year over the Birds. Mr. Robinson earned a World Series ring for his contributions. "He could read people and read players," said Dave Rosenfield, longtime general manager of the Norfolk Tides, a Mets farm team, and a friend for more than 50 years.

The Orioles have agreed to terms, pending physical, with veteran outfielder Endy Chavez, according to an industry source. Chavez's 1-year deal is worth $1.5 million, with an additional $500,000 in incentives. He fits what the Orioles have been looking for: a left-handed hitter who can play left field and backup in center and right. Chavez, 33, has played 10 seasons in the majors, including 83 games last season with the Texas Rangers. In 2011, Chavez hit .301 with a .323 on-base percentage, five homers and 10 steals in 256 at-bats.

New York Mets general manager Joe McIlvaine is considering putting together a package to acquire All-Star second baseman Chuck Knoblauch from the Minnesota Twins, club sources said.Knoblauch recently won $4.67 million in salary arbitration after Minnesota failed to sign him to a multi-year contract.

HAMMOCK'S GOOD DAY Robby Hammock didn't hurt his chances of claiming the backup catcher spot on the Orioles' Opening Day roster. In a battle for the position with Chad Moeller and Guillermo Rodriguez, Hammock hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, his first of the spring. He was 1-for-3 overall and is hitting .296 this spring. Though Moeller gets high marks for his defense and Rodriguez his throwing arm, Hammock is the best hitter and most versatile player of the group. SHERRILL PUTS UP ZERO It wasn't easy, and it rarely is for Orioles' closer George Sherrill.

New York Mets right-hander Dwight Gooden, who missed a month of the 1987 season to undergo treatment for cocaine use, was suspended for 60 days by Major League Baseball yesterday for violating his drug after-care program.Article, 3D

News of the dayThere were no labor negotiations. No talks are scheduled.Games lostThere were 669 games lost.Money lostOwners lost estimated revenue of $580 million. Players lost estimated salary of $230 million. New York Mets third baseman Bobby Bonilla, who has the highest salary this season at $5.7 million, lost $1,619,672. Each player at the major-league minimum of $109,000 lost $30,973.Quote"We won't be hearing the crack of the bat again until next April. Or in the Mets' case, maybe June or July."

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Val Majewski ripped a double to center field with one out in the 10th inning, scoring pinch runner Esix Snead from first base and giving the Orioles a 3-2 victory yesterday over the New York Mets that ended their five-game losing streak. Napoleon Calzado reached on an infield hit. Snead replaced Calzado and scored on Majewski's one-hopper to the fence off reliever Bryan Edwards. Orioles vs. Marlins Jupiter, Fla., today, 1:05 p.m.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The 11-4 score didn't show it, but the Orioles' loss to the New York Mets yesterday turned on one misplayed ball in the outfield. Starter Erik Bedard looked sharp early, striking out five batters through three innings. Mets third baseman David Wright started the fourth with a homer. But Bedard retired the next two hitters and appeared set to escape when Julio Franco lifted a fly to right. Orioles vs. Red Sox Fort Lauderdale, Fla., today, 1:05 p.m.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Pedro Martinez's first spring start resulted in three scoreless innings, and the Orioles committed four errors in an 8-0 loss to the New York Mets. The only hit off Martinez came from the game's first batter, Brian Roberts, who reached when third baseman David Wright collided with catcher Paul Lo Duca while chasing a high pop-up. Martinez walked one and struck out two. Orioles vs. Marlins Fort Lauderdale, Fla., today, 1:05 p.m.

BaseballAstros: Announced the resignation of Dan O'Brien, director of scouting.Athletics: Recalled INF Scott Spezio, RHP Jay Witasik and RHP Aaron Small from Triple-A EdmontonReds: Claimed LHP Pedro Martinez off waivers from the New York Mets. Sent OF Andre King to the New York Mets. Released pitcher Derek Lilliquist.Twins: Received 1B Dave Arias from Seattle to complete Dave Hollins trade.BasketballHeat: Signed F Martin Muursepp.Lakers: Signed G David Booth.Raptors: Signed F Mark Hughes.

Former New York Mets right fielder Ron Swoboda will be visiting Baltimore this weekend to spend some time with his father at the family home on Lakeview Avenue in Sparrows Point. Swoboda, 64, is now a television color commentator for the New Orleans Zephyrs, the New York Mets triple-A farm club. He retired from professional baseball in 1973 and was a television sportscaster in New York before moving to New Orleans, where he also did 20 years of local TV sports. "I try to relieve myself of overt Baltimorese, but it comes out after a couple of beers," he said of the local accent.

It's pretty simple, actually: Whether or not you believed he was grandstanding or using gamesmanship (and, seriously, why would you?) all last weekend, if that U.S. Open playoff hadn't included Tiger Woods, would you have paid any attention to it? It took the Boston Celtics six more years to win their next NBA championship after Len Bias died than it took Maryland to win its first national championship afterward. Nobody would have guessed that 22 years and three days ago. More people cheered and supported Rafael Palmeiro after his return from flunking an actual steroid test than cheered last week for Miguel Tejada, who is only suspected, not proven to have used performance enhancers.

How gracious of the New York Mets to give the Orioles faithful a present for the one-year anniversary of their team's regime change: crystal-clear proof of how lucky they are. Lucky to have Peter Angelos making those decisions. That's right, I said it. Lucky because your team, downtrodden as it has been for the past decade, could be owned and operated by the frauds in charge of the Mets. By the way, notice how the words "gracious" and "Mets" clash up there, as if they don't belong in the same sentence.

He's 36. He's brittle, pitching in just five games last season. And he has made 30 or more starts only three times in his past nine seasons. But when healthy, he can dominate, especially in a pitchers' park such as Shea Stadium. If Pedro is Pedro, the Mets will cruise into the National League playoffs as the favorites behind the 1-2 punch of newly acquired ace Johan Santana and Martinez. But if Pedro can't sustain his health, the Mets come back to the rest of the pack. Here's betting Pedro bounces back with 15 wins after combining for just 12 the past two years.

Now that the New York Mets have acquired Johnny Estrada, you'd think they no longer have interest in Ramon Hernandez. But not so fast. They could non-tender Estrada next month, making him a free agent. And they would still be in the market for a catcher. They'd like one who is low-maintenance, unlike Paul Lo Duca, who turned out to be on the high end of that scale. They would also like one with healthy oblique muscles. And one who runs out every ground ball. That could work against Hernandez.

Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail spent part of last week's general manager meetings listening to offers for Erik Bedard. But his focus is expected to change in the coming days to finding out how much it will cost to keep the ace pitcher in an Orioles uniform beyond 2009. According to a club source, MacPhail likely will begin conversations with Mark Pieper, Bedard's agent, about a contract extension for the pitcher before the winter meetings, which begin Dec. 3 in Nashville, Tenn.

Players selected in the expansion draft by the Florida Marlins,with place in draft in parentheses:Pitchers(4) Jose Martinez, Mets; (8) Trevor Hoffman, Cincinnati; (10), Pat Rapp, San Francisco; (12) Greg Hibbard, White Sox; Bryan Harvey, California; (24) Kip Yaughn, Orioles; (29) David Weathers, Toronto; (31), John Johnstone, New York Mets; (37) Cris Carpenter, St. Louis; (39) Jack Armstrong, Cleveland; (41) Scott Chiamparino, Texas; (43) Tom Edens, Minnesota; (45) Andres Berumen, Kansas City; (47)

Former New York Mets right fielder Ron Swoboda will be visiting Baltimore this weekend to spend some time with his father at the family home on Lakeview Avenue in Sparrows Point. Swoboda, 64, is now a television color commentator for the New Orleans Zephyrs, the New York Mets triple-A farm club. He retired from professional baseball in 1973 and was a television sportscaster in New York before moving to New Orleans, where he also did 20 years of local TV sports. "I try to relieve myself of overt Baltimorese, but it comes out after a couple of beers," he said of the local accent.

After working in the New York Mets' front office for 14 years, Jim Duquette, 40, was named the Orioles' vice president for baseball operations on Oct. 20, 2005. On June 12, 2003, he was named the Mets' interim general manager; the interim tag was removed a little more than four months later. Duquette oversaw the development of current Mets stars Jose Reyes and David Wright, but also drew criticism for trading prospect Scott Kazmir, now one of the best young pitchers in the game. What is the most misunderstood part of being a baseball executive?

One of the most intriguing contract negotiations this winter will occur in Los Angeles between Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti and super agent Scott Boras. At stake is the future of 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne. From 2002 to 2004, Gagne was one of the most feared closers in baseball. In January 2005, he signed a two-year, $19 million deal that included a $12 million option for 2007. Because of various injuries, he has made just 16 appearances since signing the deal.