NAMES AND NUMBERS

Paul Beeston, the Toronto Blue Jays’ president and CEO, has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Bobby Brown when Brown retires as American League president in December of 1993. Bob Watson, the Houston Astros’ assistant general manager, and Washington attorney Vernon Jordan are among early nominees to succeed Bill White, who is retiring as National League president at the end of this season.

The suspension of Steve Howe leaves a gaping hole in the New York Yankees’ bullpen. Left-hander Greg Cadaret will try to fill it, but it’s a demotion for Cadaret, who is being dumped from the rotation after going 1-4 with a 6.49 earned-run average in his last eight starts.

The Yankees and Mets are hoping that a uniform change will benefit relievers Lee Guetterman and Tim Burke, who switched boroughs Tuesday, but the Yankees’ decision to trade a left-hander in the wake of Howe’s suspension doesn’t figure. Right-hander Burke saved 48 games for the Montreal Expos in ’89 and ‘90, but has only six saves since and had given up 122 hits in his last 117 1/3 innings.

The Pirates’ 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in which Jose Lind drove in the winning run Wednesday prompted Pittsburgh pitcher Bob Patterson to complain about Lind’s omission from the All-Star ballot.

“Can you believe that?” he said. “He’s the best defender in the league. Ryne Sandberg can’t hold his--whatever. Of course, I’m prejudiced because he’s made so many great plays behind me. I told him if I ever got the chance I’d speak out, and this is my chance.”

Rick Sutcliffe turns 36 next Sunday, but there is no evidence of the shoulder problems that sent him to the minors, had him thinking of retirement and restricted him to a 6-5 record with the Chicago Cubs last season.

He is 9-4 with the Baltimore Orioles and on a pace to start 40 games and pitch 270 innings. He could win the American League comeback-of-the-year award to match the one he got in the National League in 1987, not that he would much care to.

“You know what that (award) tells you?” he said. “It tells you you were terrible the year before. How’s Cal (Ripken Jr.) going to win comeback player of the year? Great players are never considered for that. I’d just as soon they give it to someone else. I don’t want it.”

The enigmatic Mets made six errors in an 8-2 defeat by the Montreal Expos Wednesday, equaling a club record set in 1962 and matched in ’64 and ’80. The Mets averaged 108 losses in those three years.

Joe Torre of the St. Louis Cardinals has finally moved Jose DeLeon out of the rotation. DeLeon had made 142 consecutive starts since 1988 and was winless in 50 of his last 58, a span during which he was 8-26.

Ray Lankford has gone comparably dry on the bases. Lankford had stolen 19 bases through May 13 but has one since. He has been picked off four times and thrown out three times in that period.

“I don’t know what’s happening,” he said. “I’m running and they’re getting me. I’m running and it’s as if they know it.”