The Associated Press

Durwood Merrill, an American League umpire for 23 years who worked the 1988 World Series, died Saturday at 64.

He died of complications from a heart attack last Sunday. He had been taken to a Texarkana hospital.

Merrill retired after the 1999 season. He umpired several AL championship series and the 1996 AL division series. He also worked All-Star Games in 1984 and 1995 and was behind the plate for the 1999 All-Star Game held at The Ballpark at Arlington.

Merrill lived in New Boston, Texas.

COURT RULING: The Virginia Supreme Court rejected an appeal of a lawsuit by a woman hit by a foul ball at a minor-league game, ruling that spectators assume the risk of injury when they enter a ballpark.

The high court turned down an appeal filed by Donna P. Thurmond, whose suit against a Single-A baseball team previously had been rejected by a lower court.

METS: Tsuyoshi Shinjo was one of the few bright developments for the Mets over the past two seasons. Now, a year after trading him, the Mets are close to having Shinjo, a free agent, rejoin their crowded outfield, possibly prompting another move.

The Mets have let Shinjo, a good defensive outfielder who played for San Francisco last season, choose between offers of one year or one year plus an option with a base salary between $500,000 and $600,000. He would become their fifth outfielder, joining Cliff Floyd, Roger Cedeno, Jeromy Burnitz and Timo Perez.

MINOR LEAGUES: Garry Templeton, a two-time All-Star during his 16-year major-league career, is the new manager of the Gary RailCats of the independent Northern League.

"At that particular time, I realized I had a gift, and that was to teach," Templeton said.

SHORT HOPS: Brian Jordan has rescinded his demand that the Dodgers trade him, because he's thrilled they signed 39-year-old Fred McGriff, who is a career .250 hitter with five home runs in 184 at-bats at Dodger Stadium.

"I like the direction we're going and I want to be part of it," Jordan said.

Todd Hundley, who refused the Cubs' request to work out at first base in the spring of 2001, will prepare to back up McGriff at first.

An audit by the Padres revealed 11 of their Dominican minor-leaguers played last season under false names and ages, including one who used the identity of his sister and proved to be five years older than he had claimed.

Free agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez still is trying to jump-start life after 10 All-Star seasons with Texas. He told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram he has had no offers other than that three-year, $18 million one from Baltimore.

"They've been talking, but they're far from what we want," Rodriguez said of the Orioles. "Until we find what we want, we're not going to sign.

"It's frustrating," Rodriguez said about being jobless. "I can't believe they're doing this to me. I don't think people believe I'm healthy. If that's the problem, then they're completely wrong.

"My back is 100 percent. My knee is fine. I don't have any problems with my knee. ... I can't believe this is happening. Nobody calls."